Building partnerships for a more sustainable wine industry

Transport is a central link between production and consumption, and it has a direct impact on the sustainability of any supply chain. Hillebrand Gori’s role is to make beverage logistics easier while supporting the industry’s environmental goals. Which is why we promote efficient consolidation services, making a fuel switch, developing recyclable flexitank and partnering with other organization who want to make a positive change.

We’re members of two important organizations – The Porto Protocol and Sustainable Wine Roundtable. Together we hope to create more awareness around the need to reduce emissions and be kinder to our environment while continuing to serve the wine industry.

What is the Porto Protocol?

The Porto Protocol is a global initiative created to inspire and accelerate positive change in the wine sector. Its mission is to encourage members of the value chain to share knowledge, collaborate on solutions and implement projects that reduce environmental impact.

Members commit to practical action - from reducing carbon emissions to adopting new approaches in production, packaging and distribution. For us, joining this platform strengthens our contribution to a more sustainable wine industry. We bring expertise from the transport side while connecting with wineries, producers and peers who are innovating across the supply chain.

The initiative has already attracted a wide membership base. As highlighted in FAWCO’s coverage, the Porto Protocol now counts more than 250 members across 20 countries. Members collaborate on practical solutions such as reducing herbicide use, protecting ecosystems and innovating irrigation practices.

What is the Sustainable Wine Roundtable?

The Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) brings together stakeholders from across the global wine industry - from growers to retailers, to define sustainability benchmarks and promote shared responsibility. The SWR develops guidelines, encourages transparency and sets up working groups that tackle key industry challenges.

We’re proud to be the first logistics company to join the SWR. This step reflects our dedication to contributing to a more sustainable wine industry and helping transport play a constructive role in the industry’s transition.

One of the SWR’s most important contributions has been the launch of its Global Reference Framework - the first comprehensive guide to define sustainability across all stages of the wine value chain. As Decanter reported in late 2023, the framework sets consistent benchmarks and helps the industry align on measurable goals.

“We are proud and absolutely delighted to have Hillebrand Gori as a member of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable. When it comes to sustainability in wine, quite a lot is known about what that looks like in the vineyard and winery. But we know much less about what best practice in sustainability looks like in the rest of the supply chain. A key task for SWR is to define what sustainable wine logistics look like and we can only do that by working with real experts in this area. Our collaboration with Hillebrand Gori, therefore, is central to a key area of our work.” 

Dr Peter Stanbury, Director, Research and Standards, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Why our membership matters

No single part of the wine value chain can drive sustainability alone. Collaboration is key. 

This focus on collaboration also extends to logistics. As noted by Marta Mendonca, Manager of the Porto Protocol Foundation, “packaging and transportation represents at least 40% of a wine bottle’s carbon footprint” ( InsideHook). This reinforces the critical role of transport in building a more sustainable wine industry, and the importance of initiatives that address it.

By joining both Th Porto Protocol and the SWR, Hillebrand Gori is part of two influential platforms where ideas are exchanged, challenges are addressed, and meaningful action is supported.

These memberships provide opportunities to:

• Share transport knowledge and best practices with the industry
• Collaborate in cross-industry workgroups focused on sustainability
• Inspire innovation by learning from wineries, producers and retailers
• Support initiatives that help build a more sustainable wine industry

Our role in shaping the future

As active members of both Th Porto Protocol and the SWR, we bring these insights to industry conversations, so that logistics is seen as part of the solution in building a more sustainable wine industry future.

“At Hillebrand Gori, we believe collaboration is key to building a more sustainable future for wine, beer and spirit’s transport. That is why we are proud to be the first logistics provider to join both the Porto Protocol and the Sustainable Wine Roundtable. These memberships reflect our dedication to sustainability and connect us with like-minded partners across the wine value chain. By working together, we can share knowledge, inspire innovation, and participate in initiatives that tackle key challenges for our customers. Together, we are raising the bar for a more sustainable wine industry.”

Carolin Haas, Head of Sustainability/GoGreen

Looking ahead

These memberships are more than affiliations; they are opportunities to collaborate and support industry-wide progress. We believe that by contributing knowledge and working alongside wineries, producers and retailers, the path to a more sustainable wine industry becomes clearer.

Together, through shared expertise and innovation, we can help ensure the future of wine, beer and spirits transport is efficient, resilient and environmentally responsible.

Looking for a logistics partner?

As a go-to logistics partner for wine, beer and spirits transport, Hillebrand Gori is committed to making logistics easy while supporting sustainability goals. From carbon emission dashboards to reducing emissions through transport solutions, our expertise helps customers align their operations with the industry’s evolving standards.

By working alongside organizations like the Porto Protocol and the Sustainable Wine Roundtable, we are actively contributing to building a more sustainable wine industry.