Yalumba wins International Green Award for creativity in sustainability

Last night at a star studded ceremony at London’s Natural History Museum Yalumba achieved an unprecedented award by winning the International Green Award (IGA) for Creativity in Sustainability for Best Green International Business Award (Medium).

Yalumba, Australia’s oldest family owned winery won out against a number of impressive organisations including The Barbican Centre, Lal Pir Thermal Power Station in Pakistan and Kebony ASA (a full list and further information on each business can be found in the Editor’s Notes).

The IGA is an initiative that showcases the best examples of creativity in business, citizen and government initiatives leading to sustainable outcomes. The Awards launched in 2006 to critical acclaim with the objective of recognising the best-in-class examples of sustainability communications. In 2009, the Awards introduced an ‘International’ category, encouraging applications from the world over.

Winners must have implemented real systemic change, through an initiative that is admired by peers and which other organisations seek to follow. Yalumba has truly embedded sustainability thinking into its life blood to ensure a fairer legacy for future generations. While this recognition is a fantastic endorsement of our business philosophy and commitment, it’s business as usual at Yalumba.

Fifth Generation vigneron Robert Hill Smith said, “Sustainability is an essential element of any thriving family business, particularly one that has been going for 162 years. If we are creative it is in the way we seek to merge sustainable thinking into our daily activities, to provide leadership and to empower our work community to innovate, turning problems into opportunities.”

Making real change requires real leadership, foresight and collaboration. This award class seeks to recognise truly outstanding organisations or individuals who demonstrate true innovation, thought leadership and commitment to sustainability - values that are integrated throughout the value chain. Through this award, IGA are aiming to recognise an organisation or individual who has gone beyond traditional thinking or ‘preaching to the converted’.

Rubbing shoulders with Sir Davif Attenborough and Gisele Bunchden (via video link-up!), Simon Thorpe MW Managing Director at Negociants UK proudly collected the award on behalf of Yalumba. While back at the winery, Yalumba were busily making room in the trophy cabinet.

From the heart of Australia’s wine growing country it’s heads down as usual, crafting wines of provenance, pedigree and personality.

A copy of the Yalumba entry can supplied upon request.