AT CIRCULUS WINE, WE HAVE AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY.
We are certified members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and are seeking to become Carbon Neutral Certified by Climate Active.
Climate change and weather volatility will require winegrowers to manage water more efficiently, protect the soil from extreme weather and provide areas on farms to retain water and reduce erosion and land degradation.
For these reasons, our sustainability initiatives focus on five key areas: 1) water management and energy efficiency, 2) soil carbon enhancement, 3) biodiversity expansion, 4) weed and pest management, and 5) closing the loop on the materials, products and resources that flow in and out of our business.
Our recent emissions assessment has yielded promising results. We've managed to achieve a negative 4.2 tCO2-e in our carbon footprint, a feat we're particularly proud of. This was made possible by powering our operations with 100% solar electricity, reserving 4.9 hectares for biodiversity conservation, achieving full cover cropping of all vineyard areas, and minimizing chemical and synthetic fertilizer use.
Since 2020, we have been actively reducing our carbon footprint. We installed an 11.4kW roof solar system, which has significantly reduced our reliance on grid electricity and we plan to go further with more panels in the future. We are progressively replacing the existing energy equipment, with the vision of being 'grid-independent.' We have replaced the existing inefficient irrigation pump with a variable-speed pump, significantly reducing energy costs; replaced two petrol pumps used for livestock watering with solar pumps; upgraded site electricity with a 2-phase / 63-amp supply from existing single-phase power. These initiatives reduce our carbon emissions and save on energy costs, contributing to our sustainability goals.
Moreover, we have installed three water moisture meters to monitor soil moisture content, reducing the use of irrigation pumps. In the coming years, we're not resting on our laurels. In 2024/5, we're extending our water management project by installing pressure-compensating driplines and an additional solar-powered pump. We anticipate that these initiatives will significantly reduce water and energy usage by a further 14%.
Our soil carbon enhancement initiatives involve adding compost and mulching vineyard rows on an ongoing basis. We have also planted multispecies cover crops, reducing bare earth exposure and improving water retention, continuing to enhance microbial activity and soil health.
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our operations. We've partnered with Bellarine Landcare and completed two projects. Our 'Long Necked Turtle' Dam Restoration Project has significantly enhanced our farm's biodiversity habitat. We've also participated in its Grasslands Project, planting a trial indigenous cover crop in one vineyard block.
We have already fenced off and planted over 2,500 trees and shrubs over the property, with 19% reserved for this purpose and 4% (1.3 ha) planned, sequestering another 11.7t of CO2e annually.
We continue to collaborate with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners NRM team, which has removed invasive weeds and pests and planted shelterbelts and riparian areas on site. In July 2024, the team planted 850 indigenous plants in our Trust for Nature Spring Dam project along the riparian areas of our waterways.
