Ahead of South Australia’s Industry Climate Change Conference, which the South Australian Business Chamber is supporting on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 April 2023, I sat down with Andrew Kay, CEO of the South Australian Business Chamber to discuss his views and experiences in the sustainability space.
For context, prior to Andrew’s commencement at the South Australian Business Chamber, those of us who knew a bit about our future CEO, knew him as ‘the green guy from Wirra Wirra’, the iconic winery and cellar door in McLaren Vale.
There is always a reason for these titles, and Andrew’s was earned with merit following a 22-year tenure in wine, heading a winery with sustainability focus before it was ‘popular’ to do so.
So… what earned Andrew the title?
Wirra Wirra was early to the sustainability party. For them, it wasn’t about ticking a box, it was about supporting a philosophy.
Wirra Wirra implemented sustainability strategies dating back to 2005 when they employed a dedicated environmental coordinator and started to find ways to reduce their footprint on the planet.
Chasing grant funding to build a treated wastewater plant may not cross the mind of the cellar door drinker, but wineries are big users of water, constantly washing down and cleaning. This particular installation was a drawcard for students and wineries across the globe for years. Couple this with the winery’s early adoption of solar panels and this wasn’t just environmentally sound, it had economic benefits as well with the treated water irrigating woodlots and the panels reducing the huge electricity bill a busy winery carries.
Photo — Creekline at Wirra Wirra (Facebook)
As industry leaders in sustainability and conservation, Wirra Wirra worked with organisations like Trees for Life to plant and regenerate the creek line on the property, a project that returned wildlife and a long-lost ecosystem to the grounds. They trialled micro-bat boxes in trees on their grounds; partnered with beekeepers to house them onsite and used the services of skinny lambs (soon fattened up) to graze the grass between the vines. A chicken coop took care of food scraps and kept the staff in eggs as well.
Significantly, they also implemented biodynamic viticulture practices, methods Andrew explains as expensive and labour intensive, but important for both grape quality and the long-term health of vineyards no longer reliant on chemicals and pesticides for management.
During my conversation with Andrew, one thing was clear: net zero isn’t something every business or every individual needs to do perfectly, but it is something that we need to do.
“There are so many good reasons for businesses to go down this path besides just the cost efficiencies.”
Businesses can make a positive impact quite easily, but many don’t know where to get started.
The South Australian Business Chamber recently made a submission to the State Government ahead of the 2022/23 financial year budget, asking for the establishment of a fund providing micro-grants for businesses to conduct energy audits and invest in generating and storing renewable energy.
Similarly, we are engaging with consulting firms to help provide information on what businesses can do now to make a big impact for a little cost.
“All businesses need to be contributing toward net zero somehow. What often stops businesses is the fear of the unknown”.
We understand many businesses fear going down an expensive sustainability rabbit hole, but we know it can be much simpler than that. A commitment to net zero would be significantly larger and more costly for say a manufacturer, in comparison to a small retail outlet or café. By simply getting started, changing habits, considering water and electricity use, and managing waste efficiently, you are on the right track.
“For many, net zero was a marketing asset. That ship has since sailed, I now see it as a licence to play”.
For businesses in supply chains, those lodging tenders or those interested in government procurement, sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have badge on a website, it’s essential. Large organisations and government commitments to net zero go beyond their own participation, they are now stripping organisations from their supply chains who are not making their own net-zero mark.
“It’s not only at work… but it’s how we do things at home and in our personal life as well”.
Asking Andrew how he practices sustainability in his personal life, he quickly reminded me he was an early adopter of electric vehicles, powered through solar panels on the roof of his home.
Andrew will join a panel discussion at South Australia’s Industry Climate Change conference, discussing sustainable businesses on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 April 2023, at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the event, visit climate23.com.au
