CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is now an essential component of business management, including in the wine sector, a field historically rooted in tradition. Addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges is a modern and necessary approach that is gradually being adopted by organizations eager to think about the future. For many years, Château d’Eyran, like many other vineyards, has been actively committed to this approach to sustainably tackle contemporary challenges.
What is CSR?
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is defined by the European Commission as the voluntary integration of social and environmental concerns into businesses’ operations and their interactions with stakeholders. It considers the effects businesses have on society.
In practical terms, this means that a company does not focus solely on maximizing profits but also seeks to positively contribute to society, respect the environment, and take social responsibility towards its employees, customers, suppliers, and the local community.
At a vineyard like Château d’Eyran, this commitment translates into various actions, ranging from sustainable land management to improving working conditions, reducing carbon footprint, and preserving biodiversity.
Why is it necessary for companies to engage in CSR?
We believe that businesses can no longer ignore the importance of CSR. Climate change, depletion of natural resources, and societal pressure for more ethical production are prompting more winemakers to rethink their economic model.
For a family estate like ours, it is crucial to realize that the future of our operation relies on sustainability. Committing to this path allows us to create long-term value, improve our working conditions, and enhance our resilience to global challenges, contributing to a future where viticulture thrives in harmony with nature and society, beyond mere moral imperatives.
What are the CSR commitments of Château d’Eyran?
Since the replanting in 1984 by Brigitte and Stéphane Savigneux, the vineyard has been designed and cultivated according to environmentally friendly practices. In 2015, the arrival of their son Charles strengthened this commitment to sustainable work. Together, they decided to seek external recognition for their efforts and to receive support for their future initiatives.
In 2017, they joined an Environmental Management System (EMS), a group of regional winemakers that allows them to reflect on and structure their actions within the vineyard. This collective approach provides the opportunity for rich sharing of experiences and knowledge. Thanks to this commitment, they obtained HVE3 certification (High Environmental Value) in 2018, attesting to their rational agricultural practices within their group.
Subsequently, the Château d’Eyran team committed to implementing even more ambitious actions. In 2022, we were among the first to join the collective initiative « Bordeaux Cultivons Demain, » which enables us to fully engage in CSR.
As with any new project, our approach began with an audit to establish a baseline, identify areas for improvement, and define our priorities for the next five years. This analysis allowed us to develop a comprehensive and precise strategy tailored to our needs and customer expectations, with clear objectives, concrete actions to undertake, and monitoring indicators to evaluate our performance.
An eco-responsible vineyard
Living and working daily on our estate, we are fully aware that our viticultural practices have a direct impact on the environment, our neighbors, and biodiversity. Our challenge is to produce high-quality wines sustainably.
Our goal with this CSR approach was to implement strategies to minimize negative effects and ensure that we pass on healthy and vibrant lands to future generations, thus preserving our heritage.
Energy consumption
De nombreux efforts ont été fait afin de minimiser notre consommation d’énergie et améliorer notre bilan carbone. Pour cela, nous utilisons des tracteurs de dernière génération à faible consommation de gazole et limitons au maximum notre utilisation d’eau dans le vignoble et le chai. Lors de la conception de nos derniers bâtiments, nous avons soigneusement réfléchi à notre impact . Grâce à une excellente isolation et à un choix rigoureux de matériaux, nous avons réussi à réduire notre consommation et à limiter les variations thermiques. Notre chaudière au gaz naturel a été remplacée par une pompe à chaleur, et nous avons installé des panneaux solaires (36 kW) qui nous permettent de consommer notre propre énergie tout en revendant le surplus à EDF, réduisant ainsi notre facture de 90 % l’année dernière. En optimisant notre consommation, nous minimisons notre impact sur l’environnement et le réchauffement climatique, et optimisons nos coûts de production, tout en gardant une qualité de travail maximale.
Biodiversity
Preserving biodiversity has always been one of our major areas of focus. We undertake concrete actions to protect fauna and flora, such as cover cropping with green fertilizers, protecting species like bats and natterjack toads, and installing beehives, which produce a small amount of honey that we invite you to discover in the winery.
We have also invested in planting and maintaining wooded borders and hedgerows around our plots and near our neighbors. Moreover, we have eliminated the use of herbicides for many years, reinforcing our commitment.
Treatments
Regarding plant treatments, which raise many questions, our goal is to minimize the use of inputs. This involves many manual steps and careful vineyard structuring. However, if treatments are deemed necessary, we opt for responsible solutions: using low-toxicity products, reducing doses, and cleaning sprayers on-site to limit environmental impact. The outer rows of plots are treated unilaterally and at a good distance to minimize neighbors’ exposure. We have also eliminated anti-botrytis treatments and significantly reduced anti-mildew and anti-downy mildew treatments to minimize residues in the wine. To ensure this rigor for our clients, we conduct regular analyses to confirm the absence of residues in the soil and finished products.
Management of supplies and waste
Our CSR approach also commits us to optimize resource use and reduce waste. We practice internal waste sorting, while those that cannot be sorted are handled by specialized channels. Winery effluents are diluted and spread in areas away from homes.
In our oenotourism and event activities, our team is trained to avoid waste, practice selective sorting, use available compost in the winery, and prefer eco-friendly and recyclable packaging. We have replaced wooden crates, which are aesthetically pleasing but difficult to recycle, with cardboard; plastic bags are now made of kraft paper, and we prioritize email communications over paper
A healthy company
Finances
A healthy operation can mean many things. Firstly, it implies a solid financial health, essential for ensuring the sustainability of the business and its teams. This notion is closely linked to managing production costs and controlling expenses while aiming for continuous improvement in product quality and working conditions.
Well-being
Indeed, CSR plays a central role in this approach. It considers not only economic aspects but also employee well-being, including seasonal workers. A vineyard, though demanding, can offer a rewarding work atmosphere with numerous opportunities for personal and professional development.
To achieve this, we commit to ensuring workplace safety by ensuring that facilities and equipment are suitable and compliant with current standards. Additionally, we emphasize improving working conditions to reduce fatigue and physical discomfort. For instance, we have invested in equipment such as rain gear, electric pruners, anti-fatigue mats, and ergonomic carts that allow work while seated and protected from the elements, as well as comfortable office setups with ergonomic chairs and mice.
We have also created dedicated spaces for our teams, such as our new building which includes a break area, a communal dining room, and adapted restrooms. This work environment contributes to a more pleasant atmosphere and fosters team cohesion
Training
Finally, we firmly believe in the importance of continuous training. By offering professional development opportunities, we ensure that our teams are not only skilled but also motivated and fulfilled in their work.
Thus, a healthy operation is built on solid foundations, combining economic viability with respect for individuals, creating a virtuous circle for the benefit of all.
A locally rooted company
We are committed to respecting our neighbors, clients, and workers. Mutual respect and collaboration are essential for building a strong and united community. Thus, our operation is part of a sustainability approach that aims not only to produce quality wines but also to enrich local life and promote harmonious and shared development.
Local economy
Deeply rooted in the village of Saint Médard d’Eyrans, thanks to our geographical location and our family history spanning many generations, we are actively engaged in the development and vitality of our territory. To strengthen our presence, we prioritize partnerships with local stakeholders who share our values, such as printers, transporters, artisans, and local businesses (bakery, catering, butcher, greengrocer, etc.), as well as various service providers, to support the economy of our region.
Transparency
We are committed to maintaining transparent communication to meet the expectations of our neighbors and clients. To this end, we regularly organize informational meetings to share our vision, projects, and the actions we undertake. We strive to anticipate issues related to noise, pollution, and emergency situations tied to our activities.
Additionally, we have set up an SMS distribution list to keep our neighbors informed during treatments and the activation of anti-freeze systems. We pay particular attention to feedback, whether positive or negative, and we are committed to continuous improvement. To facilitate this, we have established a record of complaints and comments, allowing us to better meet the expectations of our neighbors and clients.
Customer protection
Despite the financial pressures we all face, it is essential for us to maintain and grow our clientele, both private and professional. We commit to offering a pricing policy that is not only fair but also tailored to our clients’ needs. This involves actively listening to their expectations and concerns, as well as a willingness to adjust our services to ensure optimal value for money.
An attentive company
Communication
Since 2018, we have taken significant steps to strengthen our team in order to develop our communication and event and tourism activities. Transparency and commitment are essential for establishing authentic connections with our clients, neighbors, and partners. That’s why we make it a point to regularly share varied content—photos, videos, and articles—on our different social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, as well as on our blog and website.
This approach allows us to convey our values and actions more easily and vibrantly. We strive to meet the growing curiosity of our clientele, who wish to understand what lies behind our products and our approach. By cultivating an open dialogue and sharing our passion for our craft, we hope not only to inform but also to inspire our clients to engage more deeply with our brand and story.
Welcoming environment
To strengthen our bond with the community, we actively participate in local events, such as open days and school harvests, which allow children and families to discover the wine world and engage in intergenerational activities. We are also open for visits and tastings throughout the year, providing everyone the opportunity to explore our estate, our values, and our commitments in a friendly and accessible atmosphere.
Finally, in the vineyard, we have taken the initiative to maintain paths, creating pleasant walking spaces for our neighbors and passersby. An information board, accessible to walkers, has been installed in front of the winery, where we explain our ongoing development efforts and the initiatives we are implementing in our plots in the heart of the village.
In conclusion
The CSR approach at Château d’Eyran is not an obligation, but a true opportunity to ensure the sustainability of our activity while addressing environmental and societal challenges. Although this approach requires rigor and formality, it feels entirely natural to us and helps structure our efforts to move in the right direction.
We are convinced that by integrating CSR principles, wineries can not only preserve the quality of their products but also contribute to the protection of ecosystems and improve the social and economic conditions of stakeholders, thus ensuring a sustainable future for the entire industry.
We are aware that our work is not yet perfect. That’s why we commit to remaining curious, to training ourselves, to questioning ourselves, and to surrounding ourselves with the right people and structures to positively evolve our operation. What is our next step? To validate an additional level of CSR!
The subject is vast and exciting: the more time and effort we invest in this approach, the more engaged and concerned we feel. That’s why, if you have any questions or would like to discuss it in person, our team is at your complete disposal!!
