The KWV wine cooperative was founded in 1918 and is headquartered in the town of Paarl in the Western Cape wine region. The company is now one of the country’s largest wine and spirits producers, buying grapes from contracted growers throughout the Cape wine growing region. Sustainability has long been a core element of the company’s work. KWV's sustainability work is divided into three focus areas.
KWV
wine and spirits producer with extensive sustainability work
Social responsibility
KWV runs initiatives and provides support where the state cannot and is investing in various social projects to strengthen the local community to improve living conditions for vulnerable people with a focus on children and mothers in different phases of life. KWV makes contributions to organisations such as Khula Development Group, the Pebbles Project, Athlone House of Strength, Paarl Youth Initiative and the Elevation Programme.
KWV also contributes to the activities of the organization Rise Up, where they support individuals to realize a business idea that can lead to their own livelihood.
Fair working conditions
KWV ensures that the contracted growers comply with Amfori BSCI’s Code of Conduct by requiring them to be WIETA certified (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association). WIETA is a recognised organisation operating in the South African wine industry and related sectors to promote fair working conditions and provide a platform for dialogue on ethical trade.
KWV works closely with WIETA and Fairtrade to ensure sustainable working practices and to deal with any violations.
Sustainable farming practices
All the grape and bulk wine suppliers contracted to KWV are certified in accordance with the internationally recognised Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) standard, which ensures environmental sustainability.
KWV is an active member of the Confronting Climate Change (CCC) initiative, a climate footprint project developed to support the South African fruit and wine sectors by identifying and responding to risks and opportunities associated with carbon emissions, conducting workshops and providing assistance.