Recently, our friends at Fetzer Vineyards earned B Corporation certification, and “Changemaker” status, from B Lab in recognition of the storied winemaker’s commitment to regeneration, a key part of any sustainability plan. According to a statement from Fetzer and B Lab, a nonprofit that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good, Certified B Corporations, like Fetzer, “meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.”
Fetzer has a long and well-earned reputation for sustainability, having recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of “Earth-friendly winegrowing,” according to a statement from the company. That anniversary is made sweeter by the recognition from the observers at B Lab and the company’s new “Changemaker” title. The Changemaker List, published in early September, singles out the leaders from among the 2,500 global B Corporations that have made the “most positive improvement on their overall impact,” and Fetzer is among the very first recipients of the honor.
Sustainable Sustainability
Savvy consumers already know that Fetzer is a leader in the wine industry in pioneering sustainable farming policies and putting them into practice. The brand’s identity, and much of its undeniable appeal among consumers, is built on the company’s ethical business practices (and the incredible quality of the product). B Corp certification is just one more way we have to reach consumers with the Fetzer message. Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab, noted that "People are hungry for companies like Fetzer Vineyards, who are changing the system by building businesses that seek to create the greatest positive impact.”
In a recent statement from Fetzer Vineyards, Chief Operating Officer Cindy DeVries said "We are humbled by this recognition, which highlights our company-wide efforts to continue to evolve and improve our sustainability initiatives," adding "We have a strong foundation of environmental focus dating to the last century, and today we are expanding on that to increase our overall positive impact as a company."
Last year, Fetzer Vineyards detailed its 2020 sustainability goals and initiatives in a report titled "Road to Regeneration." Fetzer Vineyards' latest B Corp Impact Assessment is also available online.
"At Fetzer Vineyards, we strive for continuous improvement, and being a part of the B Corp community has pushed us to make tangible positive improvements in every area of our business, from our employees to communities to supply chain, " said Elizabeth Drake, regenerative development manager at Fetzer Vineyards.