Our Commitment to Sustainability
As concerns about climate change, energy use, and carbon emissions grow worldwide, Sirromet Winery is proud to highlight our continuous efforts to make a positive environmental impact. From the very beginning, we have been committed to pioneering sustainable wine production. Our focus is on minimizing our carbon footprint, reducing and recycling waste, and conserving vital resources like water and energy. We are always refining our processes to ensure we stay at the forefront of environmental sustainability.
Advanced Waste Recycling
Hello, I’m Risko Isic. In 2017, Sirromet introduced a cutting-edge, fully computerized waste treatment facility on-site. This facility processes 50,000 liters of waste daily, with a holding capacity of 350,000 liters. Each year, it manages 58,000 liters of old sludge, which is directed to drying beds that evaporate 85% of the waste into the atmosphere, with the remainder sent to our worm farm. Our wastewater plant treats and reuses about 7.6 million liters of water annually, which is then used to irrigate the plants and vines across our property.
Sustainable Farming Practices
Our on-site worm farm plays a crucial role in treating carbon-based waste from the dry sludge, processing 150 tonnes of grape skins and stems, as well as all organic waste from our restaurants each year. We’re committed to the “reduce, reuse, recycle” philosophy, which extends to the packaging and consumables used on-site. All cardboard and paper are separated from general waste and processed in our worm farm, producing high-quality compost that nourishes our property.
Water Conservation Efforts
One of our significant achievements is reducing our dependence on mains water. We collect and treat rainwater for both potable and grey water uses. By closely monitoring and reducing water consumption and recycling wastewater, we minimize our environmental footprint. Rainwater collected from the roofs of our main buildings is stored in tanks, filtered, disinfected, and then mixed with mains water to ensure drinking quality. We only switch to 100% mains water when rainwater supplies are insufficient.
Innovative Packaging Solutions
While our wine bottles and packaging are recyclable, we are among the first wineries in Australia to offer a selection of wines in PET plastic bottles. These bottles resemble glass but produce far less CO2 during manufacturing and require less energy to recycle. They are also lighter than glass, reducing transport weight and energy use.
Energy Efficiency Initiatives
Our winery is powered by 800 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels installed across two buildings, generating 200 kW of solar power—enough to power 50 households and reduce our annual carbon footprint by over 400 tonnes. The system includes 11 inverters that adjust to control power supply. Additionally, our co-generation system in the winery’s fridge plant circulates 30,000 liters of 55°C hot water back into the feed of the gas water boilers. We’ve also implemented temperature-saving designs, such as double concrete thickness flooring and air tunnels in the storage building, to maintain optimal temperatures.
Wildlife Conservation and Management
Much of our picturesque property is preserved as natural bushland, home to various local wildlife including native birds, wallabies, possums, and reptiles. We incorporate native plants in the formal landscaping around developed areas and are committed to maintaining tree cover on-site. Recently, we planted approximately 900 new native plants around our on-site accommodation, Sanctuary by Sirromet, providing water-saving benefits and essential habitat for local wildlife.
A Vision for the Future
As we look toward the future of wine production, we are beginning to adopt Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), an approach gaining popularity in Australia. By developing carbon labeling, we aim to inform consumers about Sirromet’s efforts to protect the environment. This labeling will detail the full life cycle of a bottle of wine's production and express the carbon dioxide equivalents in grams per liter.
I’m Risko Isic, CEO of Sirromet Winery. Our commitment to sustainability and innovation ensures that our winery remains a leader in environmentally responsible wine production. Thank you for supporting us on this journey.
