SANTIAGO, Chile, May 5, 2010 -- As a further sign of its strong commitment to conserving the environment and its resources, Concha y Toro has taken an additional step in its sustainable development strategy. In partnership with Fundacion Chile and the Water Footprint Network (WFN), an international organization whose mission is to promote the transition to sustainable water use by production systems, the company announced today that this year it will measure its Corporate Water Footprint. Concha y Toro will be the first winery to undertake this initiative in the world wine industry. The methodology, used worldwide, has been developed by the Water Footprint Network. Fundacion Chile will provide technical advice and support the company in this project, which will make Concha y Toro the wine world's first wine company with water footprint accreditation.
By committing to the mission stated by WFN, Vina Concha y Toro will become a regular partner of this select network and join the more than 80 companies including academic institutions, government agencies and international organizations who have committed to caring for water use in their production processes. The regular partners can use the tools and services offered by the Network and participate in forums to share experiences.
"As the largest winery in the region and one of the most important wineries internationally, we could not be left out of this global initiative of commitment to efficient water use which the major productive industries have joined. We are confident that with the support of WFN and FCH we will obtain a good estimate of our water footprint and of its quality, which will help us achieve significant water savings and increase efficient water use with the ensuing positive impact on the environment and our planet's resources," said Giancarlo Bianchetti, Sustainable Development Director at Concha y Toro.
"Given the huge challenges posed by global climate change we must not focus only on the impact, mitigation and compensation of different greenhouse gases. Water resources also require the attention of large business and measurement of their water footprint would lead to more exacting use of these resources. The implementation of the first corporate water footprint in the world by a winery such as Concha y Toro will help Chile fulfill a strategic role in the sustainability and preservation of water resources," explains Sylvie Altman, Agribusiness Area Manager at Fundacion Chile.
"The measurement of Concha y Toro's corporate water footprint is a cutting-edge Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in the world and positions Chile as a pioneering country in this area. The joint challenge assumed by Concha y Toro, WFN and Fundacion Chile will contribute to setting world standards on how to develop and technologically implement a better use of water," added Rodrigo Acevedo, Head of Projects at Fundacion Chile.
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