LVMH
2 0 1 9 E n v i r o n m e n t a l R e s p o n s i b i l i t y R e p o r t
24
C H A M P I O N I N G P R O D U C T S T H AT F U L LY R E S P E C T B I O D I V E R S I T Y
MOBILIZING THE ENTIRE WINE INDUSTRY
Moët Hennessy organized a number of talks at the Vinexpo
fair in Paris in February 2020, inviting researchers, vineyard
managers and eminent sommeliers to discuss a variety
of questions, such as Organic, natural and bio-dynamic produce understanding the difference , What role can technology play in sustainable agriculture? and Wine and gastronomy in 2050 . The fair sought to take stock of existing
wine-making models and imagine ways to ramp up the pace
of the environmental transition and protect soils. Because if
living soils are destroyed, plants will be destroyed. And no plants means no grapes, wheat or barley, which in turn means
no champagne, whisky or vodka.
These efforts build on a tried-and-tested plan of action, which
involves leveraging the Group s certified vineyards as hubs to trial and disseminate best practice throughout the industry
to its suppliers (vineyards and cooperatives). For example in
May 2019, Hennessy brought together 1,000 wine-growing
partners at its Technical Forum on Sustainable Viticulture and
unveiled its objectives for its sourcing channels: reach 100% of committed partner suppliers by 2021, obtain Cognac envi-
ronmental certification by 2025 and work exclusively with brandy supplier partners that use zero chemical herbicides
by 2028.
USING ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION AS A SPRINGBOARD
Hennessy, which in 1998 became the first wine and spirits producer in the world to obtain ISO 14001 environmental certification, has also earned High Environmental Value
(HEV) certification and Cognac Environmental Certification. The Group s Champagne Maisons were also among the
first to achieve Viticulture Durable en Champagne (VDC) sustainability certification and HEV certification. In the
regions of Cognac and Champagne, LVMH Maisons reached
the objective set by the 2018 Plan Ecophyto to halve the use of pesticides compared with 2008 levels, five years ahead of schedule. These certifications act as a catalyst for best practice in protecting soils and biodiversity. Wine-growing
Maisons allow fields to lie fallow, grow grass between rows of vines, which improves the quality of soils and helps combat
erosion, and make their land into biodiversity reservoirs, such
as Moët et Chandon s Montaigu property.
On the other side of the world, half the land operated by
Chandon Australia is made up of billabongs of the Yarra River, representing nearly 100 hectares of flood land used as pasture. After consulting with local stakeholders, the estate is planning to restore this wetland in order to reintroduce
endemic species threatened with extinction, such as the
Leadbeater s possum and the helmeted honeyeater.
Furthermore, we are stepping up the drive to limit the use
of chemical substances in our wines and spirits. As such, the Group applies biocontrol solutions, including sexual confusion,
on a wide scale to reduce the need for chemical substances
and protect the vines from vine moths without affecting other
wildlife while also expanding mechanical weed control tech-
niques. Funds invested to purchase tractors, train people to
drive them and develop new farming tools have made it possi-
ble for Veuve Cliquot vineyards to be weeded mechanically,
enabling the Maison to achieve its target to eliminate chemical
weedkiller, with zero use in both 2018 and 2019.
Wines & Spirits limiting the use of chemical substances and protecting soils
The 26 Wines & Spirits Maisons were pioneering in applying very stringent selection criteria to the components used to create their products. They pursue the powerful ambition to grow and harvest grapes, wheat and barley in a way that safeguards living soils.
