The global wine community has agreed a standardised system for calculating the industry’s carbon disoxide and greehouse gas emissions.

In a deal brokered by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, producers, suppliers, logistics firms ad retailers will be able to rate their environmental preformance using a standardised method.

The Greenhouse Gas Accounting Protocol has two main elements:

• Enterprise Protocol - this allows companies to assess emissions
• Product Protocol - guidance which allows firms to  benchmark their carbon footprint.

The WSTA has been working with the Department for Food and Rural Affairs and international firms to persuade other countries to adopt a single, standardised system.

Alongside logistics companies, the WSTA has helped develop a carbon calculator that estimates transport-related carbon emissions.

WSTA wine policy director John Corbet-Milward said: “The increasing focus of policy makers on the impact of greenhouse gasses means it is vital we are able to accurately calculate the contribution the wine sector makes. The harmonised system will ensure that businesses and governments have a common approach to enable performance measurement. The wine sector is one of the first trade sectors worldwide to develop such a system.”