Sustainability, Environmental and Wellness Policy

Tanners Wines is committed to providing quality, value and service; safeguarding the wellbeing of employees; being an integral part of the community; and reducing its impact on the environment at all stages from vine to customer.

2022 Environmental Management Report & Social Responsibility Plan

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Principles
  • Abide by and exceed where practicable all relevant legislation, rules and codes of practice.
  • Engage fully with the local community.
  • Work with suppliers to ensure that they are using best practices.
  • Ensure that the welfare of our staff is considered and that opportunities exist for them.
  • Minimise the impact on the environment at all stages of our activities.
  • Tanners Action Group for Sustainability will review this policy annually and report on its performance and set goals.
Warehousing and distribution
  • Warehousing has insulation to reduce the need for external heat and cooling sources.
  • Two new roofs have been fitted.
  • LED lighting and timed lights are fitted throughout.
  • Cardboard, paper, poly wrap, glass and pallets are recycled.
  • Water butts are used to catch rainwater, tablets are then put into the water which creates screen wash for own transport.
  • Wine boxes are reused to repack orders.
  • Drivers are trained to drive in a fuel-efficient manner using vehicle tracking.
  • Software is used to ensure goods are delivered in an efficient way by route planning and load scheduling.
  • Vehicles carry only as much fuel as required to reduce weight and prevent unnecessary fuel burn.
  • Customers are educated in sustainable practices such as carrier bag use and recycling of card and bottles. Plastic bag usage has reduced by 70% over the past 24 months.
Offices, Equipment and Resources
  • Paper, plastic, glass, cardboard and cans are all recycled or reused.
  • In turn, we use recycled goods where possible.
  • Paper usage is discouraged as much as possible with invoices and statements being emailed.
  • Where paper mailings are sent, these are 100% recyclable and printed on recycled paper.
  • Old office equipment is disposed of in a responsible way.
  • Solar panels provide energy to run the offices.
  • Computers and electrical equipment are turned off overnight to reduce energy usage
Team
  • Staff are fully aware of our sustainability goals and actively engaged in achieving them.
  • Tanners Action Group for Sustainability is a working group consisting of team members from all levels across the company.
  • Ensure that the health and well-being needs of our staff are always considered.
  • An Employee Assistance Programme is available for all employees.
  • Tanners has four qualified Mental Health First Aiders.
  • Employees can take part in a lunchtime yoga session to encourage wellbeing.
  • Flexible working is available where the role allows it.
  • Training opportunities are available to improve abilities and performance.
  • Tanners is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, as stated in our handbook.
  • Sustainable travel is encouraged such as car sharing and cycling.
  • Reduce travel wherever possible by using Zoom, Teams, email, telephone calls.
  • Modern Slavery Statement available on request.
Community and customers
  • Tanners supports and integrates with the local community through time given, sponsorship and donations.
  • Customers are educated in sustainable practices such as carrier bag use and recycling of card and bottles. Plastic bag usage has reduced by 70% over the past 24 months.
  • We are committed to supporting local and national causes and over the past 12 months have supported over 190 different charities and events.
  • We have been sponsoring one particular event consistently since 1961.
Suppliers
  • Many of our suppliers are at the forefront of the organic and biodynamic movement, we actively encourage wine growers to use sustainable practices where possible and support those that do.
  • For example, long standing grower Churton Wines have led the way in promoting organic and biodynamic practices in New Zealand. They are even the first NZ winery to use horsepower to work the vineyards. Tanners have worked with Churton since their first vintage in 1994.
  • Support smaller family-owned concerns that actively engage and give back to their local communities. 
  • For example, Journey’s End winery in South Africa is fully solar powered and Fairtrade certified, and recently received recognition for its commitment to this with an Ethical Company of the Year Award. In 2020, the Journey’s End Foundation was set up to provide meals to, and support, the local community and now provides over 13,000 meals per week.
  • Ensure that suppliers are using accepted labour practices, adhering to our Modern Slavery and Trafficking Statement. 
Shipping
  • Stock is ordered in amounts which make transport viable and efficient and so reduce unnecessary journeys thereby cutting emissions.
  • Work with forwarders and transporters to operate in an environmentally responsible way for example by using rail freight where possible.
  • Combine orders from specific areas to reduce unnecessary journeys.
Targets
  • Eliminate plastic bag usage within our branches by 2024.
  • Build a carbon neutral warehouse by 2028.
  • Be carbon neutral by the end of 2023.
  • Keenly investigate new ways of packaging wine that are more sustainable than glass.
  • Cork composting.
  • Manage the ‘garden’ area to encourage a bee and insect friendly haven.
  • Introduce a ‘plant a tree’ initiative at check out which will see Tanners match the contribution of the customer.
Reporting
  • Sustainability and Environmental Policy to be reviewed by the Board on an annual basis.
  • Progress report to be issued by the Director in charge annually.
  • New targets to be set annually.