Winepress - August 2024

Sharing experience

The Marlborough Environment Awards aim to spread knowledge and inspire

BEV DOOLE

ENTRIES FOR the 2025 Marlborough Environment Awards open in September and two previous winners of the Wine Industry Award share their experiences of entering, the judging and what happened next.

Belinda Jackson, group marketing manager, Lawson’s Dry Hills. Winner of the 2021 Award for their commitment to Sustainability and Carbon Neutral ISO accreditation and leading the way in recyclable packaging, solar power and water conservation.

“Compared to other sustainability awards we’ve entered this was a relatively easy process, with a simple online form. Winning the award was a lovely endorsement for what we’ve been doing since the 1990s and it was important to us because it was local recognition from our peers. We want to inspire others to be sustainable, so having lots of people coming along to the field day and hearing our story fits well with our own philosophy of sharing. And it’s a really nice feeling to get an award. We’re a pretty humble bunch here, not all glitzy and glam, and it was nice that people looked at us and wanted to find out more about the work we’re doing.

Dansy Coppell, general manager of Repost Winner of the 2023 Award for their process to recycle broken treated grape posts into farm fencing, solving a serious waste disposal issue for winegrowers.

“Entering the awards was a big moment for us. Up until then we’d just been keeping our head down trying to develop the business. We knew we were on to something but were feeling worn out and we needed to take stock. The environment awards came at a time when we needed fresh eyes and feedback, and that’s what the judges gave us. They came on site, were kind and considerate and put us at ease — it was more mentoring than judging. Their written report was like gold – customised to our business and giving us contacts that moved us on to the next stage. And then came the field day, which exposed us to a new people and networking opportunities. We also caught up with vineyard managers who we’d been talking to previously but hearing our full story at the field day got them across the line. We’ve gone on to win other awards, but this was our first one and it was the catalyst for our growth.”

Guide to entering the Marlborough Environment Awards

Wine Marlborough is a long-term sponsor of the Wine Industry category and advocacy manager Ruth Berry is keen to see companies and individuals enter: “The Awards are a fantastic way to share with the wider community what is happening in the industry to look after the environment and reduce our carbon footprint. Judges are interested in what you’re doing and why. You don’t have to enter a completed project – your entry can be a work in progress; and it can be all or part of your operation.”

Wine entries fall into one of the following Award categories:

• Wine Industry — aimed at vineyards, wineries and companies servicing the industry. Previous entries include wastewater treatment, irrigation management, power-saving in the winery, and research into brown beetle control

• Landscape and Habitat — aimed at vineyards and wineries involved in planting and restoration projects. Previous entries include native and riparian plantings, weed control and wetland restoration.

• Electrification and Energy Efficiency (new category this year, sponsored by Marlborough Lines) — examples of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, promote generation of renewable electricity and energy efficient buildings.

More information and to enter online: cmea.org.nz