Sustainability
Mission is proudly a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand
Mission is committed to sustainability through our environmental management and sustainable programmes. Every aspect of Mission’s production is managed to create wines which minimise the impact on the environment.
Mission is proudly a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand
Mission is committed to sustainability through our environmental management and sustainable programmes. Every aspect of Mission’s production is managed to create wines which minimise the impact on the environment. New projects spanning across the business are continuously being developed and reviewed to ensure we are always looking ahead and continuing to improve our commitment to environmental sustainability.
The current production facility has been designed to deliver maximum energy and water efficiencies which is a vital element in our ongoing commitment to the environment.
In 2007 our winery underwent a multi-million-dollar upgrade which was designed to maximise energy efficiency. The winery has had ISO14001 certification since 1998 which recognises our ongoing commitment to sustainable viticulture and winemaking practices.
Over the past ten years we have introduced advanced science and technology in the winery allowing us to make some of New Zealand’s finest wines in the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly manner.
The Gaia Project
Founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand
Mission Estate is proudly a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand since 1995 and operates under the Sustainable Winegrowers New Zealand (SWNZ) scorecard system.
ISO 14001
Mission was one of the first wineries in New Zealand to be certified with ISO 14001 in 1998; it remains one of very few wineries to hold this standard. It represents a longstanding commitment to minimise the impact of operations on the environment.
Water Conservation
Our aim is to use as little water as possible and to ensure any water used is returned safely to the environment. Our ISO 14001 certification benchmarks us against other wineries of comparable size and Mission is proud to consistently be an industry leader. In 2021 our water efficiency is reported as 67% more efficient than other wineries of comparable size.
Minimising Energy Usage
Minimising energy usage is another core focus at Mission. Our ISO 14001 certification benchmarks us against other wineries of comparable size and Mission is proud to consistently be an industry leader. In 2021 our energy efficiency is reported as 60% more efficient than other wineries of comparable size.
Packaging with a lighter touch
By working closely with environmentally conscious suppliers, our packaging is lighter on Earth with 30% recycled content in the labels, the use of lightweight bottles and up to 73% recycled content in our cartons.
Sustainability initiatives in the vineyards
We employ regenerative viticulture techniques and have been a leader in organic vineyard research winning the 2015 Ballance Farm Environmental Awards for Excellent Soil Management. Our Mere Road vineyard located in the Gimblett Gravels is 100% certified organic.
Future Sustainability
With many smaller initiatives underway and planned, the next five years of The Gaia Project will see Mission undertaking a major project delivering large scale tree planting of the gullies and hills surrounding its Taradale home and vineyards. This will allow us to naturally and responsibly offset our own carbon footprint.
As guardians of our place for more than 170 years, Mission will continue to work hard toward delivering positive sustainability initiatives and making some of New Zealand’s finest wines in the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly manner.
