The Air Indicator of VIVA Certification for the Sustainability of Italian Wine: Analysis and Perspectives

The agri-food sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for global climate change. Carbon emissions represent a critical issue in the wine sector. The air indicator of Italian VIVA certification expresses the impact of wine production on climate change. This chapter analyses the impacts of air indicators of VIVA-certified wines in the different stages of production (agricultural production, industrial processing, and bottling) and, furthermore, the data variability. The sample is represented by 45 wines produced by Italian companies (functional unit refers to a bottle of wine of 0.75 L). The results reveal average values of 0.25 kg CO2/bottle in the agricultural phase, while in the industrial processing phase, the values are slightly higher (0.28 kg CO2/bottle). The production of packaging (bottling) represents the most impactful phase (0.58 kg CO2/bottle). The values of the coefficient of variation applied to the impact of the entire production cycle ranged between 0.05 and 1.46 kg CO2/bottle, revealing a very heterogeneous scenario. Monitoring the performance of VIVA-certified companies and implementing eco-sustainable business management strategies are essential issues for reducing climate-altering gas emissions. Strategies for carbon emissions reduction (especially in the bottling phase) are needed, in line with the continuous improvement philosophy.