In order to enhance compliance with the principles to which they are committed, the directors of Castel decided to appoint a person in charge of EMS (Environmental Management System) on a national scale in early 2010. In doing so, they asserted the key role that sustainable development plays in the wine division’s strategy, on both a regional and national level. Alexis Raoux, who has been with the group since 2007, holds this new position, and reports directly to executive management. Alexis Raoux’s primary objective is to apply the environmental commitments shared by the entire wine division to all entities throughout France. This mission calls for coordinating all the various establishments belonging to the Castel group and, to begin with, creating a database of all the information concerning respect for the environment which had previously been processed by each separate quality department. Above and beyond this environmental database, which enables the management to decide which direction to take with respect to overall corporate strategy and economic imperatives, Alexis Raoux’s mission is to encourage actions already undertaken and develop existing practices. Specific goals in three areas – waste management as well as water and energy consumption – will be defined later this year. Castel’s objectives in the vineyard: – To broaden the application of sustainable agriculture methods introduced since 2007 by continuing to reduce pesticides and input products as well as optimising waste treatment and vehicle transport. – To assist each estate in obtaining Terra Vitis certification, guaranteeing sustainable viticulture. After all the Castel vineyards in Muscadet in 2008 and Domaine de la Clapière in 2010, two estates in Bordeaux should be certified later this year. Castel’s objectives for facilities located in the region of production: – To continue improving environmental performance, which has already led to cetain sites reducing their electrical consumption by 15% and water consumption by 50%, and recyling 50% of their waste. – To accompany these facilities in working towards obtaining ISO 14001 certification, in keeping with the environmental management system. – To promote research and development to embrace new, more ecological techniques such as recovering hot air, closed water circuits, and the use of entirely natural filtering substances. Thanks to these measures, Castel also meet the growing demands of distributors in terms of respect for the environment. Furthermore, the group is undertaking numerous actions in partnership with regional and national institutions. For instance, Castel work in close conjunction with the CIVB Bordeaux Wine Council to introduce a collective environmental management system. The pilot group it belongs to will announce their conclusions in late spring. (You can reach the writer at info@vitabella.fr)
Sustainable development in the world of wine: Castel confirm their forward-looking policy
Castel have been committed to instituting QMS (Quality Management Systems) in all facilities belonging to their wine branch since the early 1990s. These efforts was rewarded, starting in 1998, with ISO 9002 certification for six of the group’s main sites, followed by recognition of their conformity to the ISO 9001, IFS, BRC, HACCP, ECOCERT and NOP standards. This quality-focused corporate culture has had a profound influence on the entire Castel team for the past twenty years, enabling the wine division to be respectful of the environment in general, and sustainable development in particular.
