UPM Raflatac supports sustainability in South African winelands
Producer of self-adhesive label materials, UPM Raflatac, has joined forces with WWF South Africa to support conservation work within the South African wine industry.
The main aim of the project partnership is to promote sustainability in the wine industry supply chain – from farm production to packaging – with the overall outcome of supporting responsible environmental production and long-term conservation of the unique Cape Floral Kingdom.
WWF-SA supports UPM Raflatac’s leadership role in demonstrating best practice in the wine industry supply chain, through its environmentally-friendly packaging offering, and will join the company in promoting FSC certified products as responsible choices for use in the packaging, labelling and printing of wine industry products.
“UPM Raflatac has been developing initiatives to reduce its impact on the environment for many years and we’re very excited to be involved where we can to promote environmental good practice within the wine industry,” commented Lee Unsworth, general manager of UPM Raflatac South Africa. “Through this initiative we can support the wine sector to work in harmony with the environment, whilst enhancing their long-term business viability.
“In addition, the long-term conservation and preservation of this globally unique region of the world will be assured, this ensuring the wine industry’s contribution to our natural heritage continues for generations to come.”
Nearly 95 per cent of South Africa’s wine production occurs in the Cape Floral Kingdom, and as a result this small but richly biodiverse area has been put under serious strain. Over the past 10 years, many key conservation areas (home to endangered natural habitats and vegetation) have been saved, and better production practices and industry-wide regulation of responsible production and environmental certification have come into effect.
UPM and WWF have a long history of co-operation. The two organisations work together in a number of national and international projects to promote the responsible and sustainable use of natural resources.