WineGB has announced the relaunch of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB), its national independently audited sustainability certification scheme, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to embedding sustainability at the core of UK wine production. This expansion includes an entirely new module for people.
First introduced in 2019, the scheme now has 79 members and 41 WineGB certified producers, 43% of UK planted hectarage is certified by the scheme. The refreshed programme builds on this momentum with an expanded framework that reflects the evolving expectations of global sustainability standards.
The most significant development is the introduction of a dedicated people module, designed to recognise the central role of social sustainability in the long-term resilience of the UK wine sector. This new element places greater emphasis on workforce wellbeing, skills development, community engagement, and responsible employment practices, ensuring that sustainability is understood not only as an environmental responsibility but as a human one. It builds on the extensive work by WineGB as it has provided practical materials that supports all accessible workplaces including the safeguarding toolkit, the people EDI hub and the member only hiring toolkit. This is vital work as we seek to recruit and retain more people into the sector.
“Sustainability is fundamental to the future of our industry,” WineGB CEO Nicola Bates, said. “The enhanced SWGB scheme underscores our ambition to provide to demonstrate the responsible production inherent in the UK. Environmental care, social responsibility, and shared learning sit at the heart of UK wine production and this relaunch marks an important step in supporting producers to meet the challenges of a changing climate and changing consumer demand.”
Key features of the enhanced scheme include:
- A brand new, simpler, more intuitive hub for members.
- New people module, aligning the scheme with international ESG expectations and ensuring social sustainability is measured and recognised.
- A comprehensive certification framework covering vineyard and winery operations, with clear benchmarks for environmental stewardship.
- A strong focus on knowledge sharing, enabling producers to access research, case studies, and peer-to-peer learning to accelerate progress across the sector.
- A commitment to transparency, giving trade partners and consumers’ confidence in the integrity and rigour of the certification.
Simon Roberts, from Ridgeview Wine Estate, said: “Being a certified member of the SWGB scheme is hugely important to us, firstly, it mirrors our values and philosophy. Before the word sustainable was the buzz word it is now, when we planted over 30 years ago, it was a core pillar at Ridgeview to be responsible grower and producer. In every decision we make, the environmental impact is a consideration, whether it was at the beginning when we imported the first recycling tunnel sprayer, or deciding to build a dedicated underground cellar meaning no need for temperature-controlled storage. SWGB validated how we run the business, and the certification means any customer can instantly see we run the business sustainably, many of our national and overseas customers see the certification as a requirement to supply them. WineGB and SWGB have been a huge support over the years guiding us when needed to pass the audits. Being certified Gold for both the vineyard and the winery is an achievement we are immensely proud of.”
WineGB’s relaunch comes at a time of rapid growth for the UK wine industry, with producers increasingly aware that long-term success depends on responsible land management, climate resilience, and strong community relationships. By strengthening the SWGB scheme, WineGB aims to ensure that sustainability is not an optional extra but a defining characteristic of Great British wine.