In the following section we answered a few questions that may occur during your visit of our website and collected them here. Please do not hesitate to contacting us if you have any further questions.

  • What is FAIR’N GREEN? FAIR’N GREEN is a holistic certificate of sustainability that is awarded after extensive consulting according to certain criteria and a subsequent external certification. If you would like to know more about the process, the membership as a winery or an affiliate membership, respectively, you are welcome to contact us directly.
  • Why FAIR’N GREEN and not other sustainability labels? FAIR’N GREEN was developed in close exchange of practice and science, there is a catalogue of criteria and external certification. By this, we strive for a high level of transparency that also allows us to understand the progress of the members and induce measures. Besides the criteria for the assessment, there are guidelines that all FAIR’N GREEN certified members commit to. During the membership in the FAIR and GREEN e.V. All companies are assisted by a consultancy and have an annual target for improvement. Every vineyard is required to improve its performance by three percent (based on the criteria).
  • What is sustainable wine?  Sustainability in viticulture means to do business in harmony with nature, save resources and preserve the cultural landscape of the ancient, traditional wine regions. The maintenance and the continuous exchange in the social environment as well as with stakeholders and the future-proof operation of the vineyard are also important aspects of sustainable viticulture. The wine industry has always had a special relationship with humans and nature. Over centuries men altered the landscape and formed from the cultural landscape that today represents the symbiosis between wine grower and nature. The social and natural environment depends on the wine growers just as the wine growers rely on the social and natural environment. The integrative consideration of ecological, social and economic criteria plays a central role in this. With its deep rooting, the wine industry is a good example for opportunities that arise from modern sustainable business concepts and moderation. As producers of quality products, the industry contributes significantly to the change of our consumptive habits.
  • Sustainable business is different. It is a new narrative, a new paradigm. A fresh idea of economics, as sustainability strives to fulfill all three goals of business, ecology and society simultaneously. One does not act either socially just or financially successful. On the contrary, organizations witness economic success for they act socially just. Environmental goals are met on behalf and not instead of economic and societal goals.

Sustainability is not a luxury but a compulsory requirement for future businesses. From the beginning, sustainability effects your processes, your product and your entire business model.

At the same time sustainability has become a widely used term. Both usage and meaning are seldom clear to reader or author. As a consequence we offer a holistic concept for sustainability analysis: fair and green.

Sustainability, Sustainable Development and Sustainable Management are guiding principles which hold answers to futures questions such as:

    • Why do we do business the way we do it?
    • Which causes serve our actions?
    • Which effects do our actions have in other places?
    • How will we do business tomorrow and the day after tomorrow?
    • What a world do we want our children to grow up and grow old in?
    • What can we do to contribute to our market?

Economic:

Stable finances are an important part of the way towards a sustainable future. A company can only be sustainable if it has a basis that is secured over a long term. For that, it is also necessary to account for changes in the needs of customers and consequentially assert one’s position on the national and international market. Additionally, employees should be included in economic success and paid fair wages.

Social:

Being socially sustainable in the FAIR’N GREEN spirit involves the care for the entire social network. This includes family, friends, neighbors, staff, partners and all other stakeholders. Only two examples out of a whole variety for possible activities in the field of commitment in social projects are monuments care or the maintenance of the cultural landscape.

Ecological:

Ecological sustainability is associated with running a business in an environmentally and resource friendly, CO2 neutral manner. Economic sustainable management, social commitment and ecological sustainability shall be combined so that an environment worth living in is maintained for future generations.

  • Are FAIR’N GREEN products 100 percent sustainable? Sustainability is a process that is not executed overnight. However, all FAIR’N GREEN companies are on the right track. Business processes, modes of production and working conditions are important elements of a sustainable company and are further developed in the course of the membership in FAIR and GREEN e.V., by external consultation and certification with clear and reproducible goals. Since we believe in sustainability as the fundamental concept of the future, we allow companies (under consideration of minimum requirements) to go into this future together with us. This means that FAIR’N GREEN companies and their products are gradually becoming more sustainable.
  • How are FAIR’N GREEN and organic agriculture related? FAIR’N GREEN does not compete with standards for organic agriculture and processing. The program rather intends to expand the important field of nature and resource conservation with equal aspects of sustainability. FAIR’N GREEN thus works with and for certain criteria of organic agriculture and processing but integrates these into the context of sustainability. An unconditional requirement of the FAIR’N GREEN guidelines is the reduction of artificial substances in the environment. At the same time, we consider that an immediate change of the mode of production may be difficult. Often it is those last 10 percent that impede the change to organic agriculture and processing. Additionally, the full abandonment of e.g. plant protection substance may not always be the best solution if the alternative, for instance, causes more soil compaction and additional use of fossil fuels. The result of the life cycle assessment and the use of energy and resources also plays an important role. In order to work on common goals despite different views, FAIR’N GREEN claims high demands in terms of transparency: Not only the absolute amounts but also the full list of used substances has to be submitted. Nevertheless, it is undisputable that for sustainable management both the input of artificial substances as well as the use of fossil fuels need to be reduced and eventually replaced in the long run.
  • What happens in case of breaches or problems? In case that a members is suspected of not complying with the FAIR and GREEN guidelines or of not having provided correct data, it is possible to consult the Advisory Board. After assessing the situation, it gives a recommendation to the Board of Directors that then, according to a list of measures and depending on the issue, decides the further proceedings.
  • Information for Wine growers
    Being FAIR’N GREEN certified has a number of advantages. The FAIR’N GREEN certification is intended for all those wine growers that actively and intensively want to be or are already involved with the topic sustainability. For implementing new ideas, bravery and vision are required but at the same time concrete steps. That is FAIR’N GREEN. The size of your vineyard is not an issue, for our concept is designed in a way that it can be used by everyone. Intensive support by the FAIR’N GREEN consultants as well as the continuous exchange with other wine growers and friends within the FAIR’N GREEN community ensure that you receive all the support you need for the implementation of measures. FAIR’N GREEN also proves to be beneficial if you are involved in international markets of aim for opening new markets. Due to growing international demand for sustainable wines, you competitive as a FAIR’N GREEN certified winery.

 FAIR and GREEN supports wine growers:

    • to secure or increase the quality of their products in the long term
    • to protect and maintain wine growing areas and soil in the long run
    • to actively preserve cultural landscapes
    • to open new markets, especially abroad
    • to decrease costs
    • to strengthen competitiveness

How to become a member and to be certified can be found here.

  • Information for Wine connoisseurs
    What are the advantages for you, if you buy FAIR’N GREEN certified wine?
    To enjoy FAIR’N GREEN certified wine means to enjoy sustainably; with your consumption you account for making our lives more future-proof, to preserve our world for future generations. You can purchase the wines directly from the FAIR’N GREEN certified wine growers or from the regular points of sale. More information on the purchase can also be obtained from the private websites of the certified companies. If you would like to become an affiliate member of FAIR’N GREEN, you can find more information here.
  • Who inverted FAIR’N GREEN? The FAIR’N GREEN certificate was developed by employees of the Athenga GmbH, a spin- off of the Berlin Denkbank. The development was strongly influenced by many years of experience in different industries and practical knowledge from current projects in other industries (consumption goods, events, logistics).The first wineries joined the association FAIR and GREEN e.V. in early November 2013. The association systematically cooperates with different groups from science and civil society.