The number of sustainability certifications in the wine industry has grown over the past decades. They are distinctly different from organic, biodynamic or other certifications. This paper combines a detailed literature review of related sustainability certifications to understand the trend in wine certification. The methods include a questionnaire of 12 identified wine certifications (including wineries, vineyards or both) around the world that have sustainability in the certification or organization title. These data help elucidate how these sustainability measures were developed, their levels of membership over time, the mechanics to become certified as sustainable and their plans for future certification. Results show strong support from the wine-making industry and compounded growth in certification. Even with the many differences, all certifications encourage an education component and technological advances. The paper compiles hectares and number of vineyards certified globally. The authors find that the certifications differ in mechanics, leading to issues surrounding transferability and possible confusion for the consumer. Other issues include varying cost to certify, lack of transparency of certified information and no cooperation between certification bodies. Given that all of the certifications plan to grow, more research is needed into sustainability certification, especially from the consumer perspective.

Sustainability in production and consumption is increasing in importance in many diverse industries worldwide. The wine industry is no exception. There are many wine-related eco-certifications that incorporate sustainability concepts; however, it is unknown to what extent wine consumers value such certifications in wine-producing countries such as Chile. An online survey was conducted in which 526 Chilean wine consumers were asked about their attitudes towards and willingness to pay for sustainably produced wines. Statistical analysis was undertaken using multiple linear regression. It is notable that 76% of respondents had previously purchased eco-certified wines (fairtrade, biodynamic, organic, natural, and sustainable), and there was an evident willingness to buy eco-certified wines in the future—78% expressed a willingness to buy organic wines, and 77% sustainable wines. Furthermore, we asked how much more willing the respondents would be to pay for wines with eco-certification; 22% indicated that they would be willing to pay a premium price, ranging from USD 5 to USD 16 more, for organic wines, while 19% expressed a willingness to pay the same price premium for sustainable wines.

More than half of the ski resorts in North America have closed since the early building booms—many facing a warming climate and pressures to find water to make artificial snow. Researching and documenting all resorts between 1969–2019, we find that 59% of all resorts in North America have closed since the resort boom of the 1960s and 70s (65% in the United States, 31% in Canada). This shift has left some states or provinces with only one or no resorts remaining. To proactively persevere with a variable climate, less water, and a need for more energy to make snow, we suggest mountains holistically plan for sustainability. Recommendations include third party environmental certification, commitment to sustainability at the management level, communication to customers about sustainability practices and implementing unique models for remaining open and competitive. These practices include resort consolidation, multi-mountain passes, and/or unique ownership models. We believe that ski resorts must focus on positive environmental practices, sustainability planning, and climate change adaptation if they want to remain viable and competitive in the coming decades.

The DACH geographic region comprises three countries in central Europe: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This study seeks to both understand the motivations for purchasing organic and sustainably certified wines in this region and identifies which type of consumer should be targeted for the continued growth of this wine sector. Our methodology includes an online questionnaire resulting in a sample size of 4553 respondents, evenly broken down by country. Our analysis includes simple statistics and more advanced statistical analysis of the dataset. Our results indicate that there is a correlation between wine knowledge, environmental awareness, and the likelihood of buying eco-certified wines. We find that those who are self-proclaimed wine experts have a higher willingness to pay for organic or sustainable certified wines. These customers are generally middle aged, most often male, live in multi-person households, have pursued some level of higher education, and many are self-employed. We believe this study captures the growing trend of organic and sustainable wine certifications. It also identifies who is already convinced and who will need more marketing/education before they are ready to buy organic or sustainable wine.