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Kiwi wine is turning green with a new tool for calculating the carbon footprint of vineyards and wineries.
The free tool - introduced by New Zealand Winegrowers - was developed through an international partnership of industry organisations in New Zealand, the United States, South Africa and Australia.
Wineries and vineyards can use the downloadable calculator to work out their level of greenhouse gas emissions.
New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said the industry aimed to have all grapes and wine produced under Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand or an alternative independent scheme by 2012. "There are not yet any regulatory requirements around carbon emission levels but there is a strong demand in the market for an internationally credible system such as this," Gregan said.
Reporting on emissions and minimisation would eventually become a requirement of the Sustainable Winegrowing NZ programme, he said.
"This is another step in arming members with the tools they need to help them meet sustainability standards."
The new tool was one of several initiatives by the industry to understand and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
