Familia Torres revises its C02 emissions target upwards in bid to achieve carbon neutrality

Spanish winemaking giant Familia Torres has set itself ambitious plans to achieve its CO2 emissions per bottle target, reivsing it from a minimum of 60% compared to 2008, with the goal of reaching 70%.

This is down to the reforestation project in Chilean Patagonia, which is helping the winemaker to  boost its environmental commitment to offsetting the climate crisis and move towards emission neutrality before 2040.

The company has already reduced its CO2 emissions by over a third – 34% - across its entire estate including both direct and indirect emissions produced by grape growing, wine production and bottling, distribution, consumption, and waste generated after consumption.

Increased use of renewable energy has been the most significant factor contributing towards the emissions reduction, with the company currently producing 30% of the energy it consumes at its Pacs del Penedès winery.   The increased use of a biomass boiler installed at the winery, which has made it possible to eliminate practically all natural gas consumption has also played a big part in going towards the reduction of emissions.  

In addition, energy efficiency measures have been implemented in all facilities and remote working has been introduced, with the consequent reduction of travel and business trips.

"Even though it’s been an atypical year due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, we’ve continued making efforts not only to reduce our CO2 emissions but also to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through reforestation,” said president Miguel Torres. “We’ve also started a regenerative vine-growing project with the aim of incorporating carbon into the soil and for this to contribute by reducing our emissions by 2% or 3%."

The Torres & Earth programme, launched by Torres in 2008 with the pledge to commit 11% of profits each year, is structured around three key pillars: reducing emissions, adapting to the new climate reality, and influencing the industry with initiatives such as the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) association, co-founded by Familia Torres and Jackson Family Wines of California to drive the decarbonization of the industry at the global level.