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🍷 Certified Alternative:
New Sustainability Labelling at Alko (From March 25, 2025)

🔎 Three Clear Certification Categories

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As of March 25, 2025, Alko has launched a renewed sustainability labelling system under the name Certified Alternative. This concept replaces the previous Green & Ethical communication and Alko’s own in-house sustainability symbols.
The updated approach is designed to help customers make better-informed choices while aligning with modern standards for environmental claims and corporate responsibility.

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✔ Cultivation
✔ Production
✔ Working Conditions

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🌱 Cultivation -
Focuses on environmental responsibility in agriculture, including:
✅  Soil health and biodiversity
✅  Responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers
✅  Climate impact, water usage, and waste management
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🏭 Production - 
Evaluates environmental impact in manufacturing, such as:
✅  Energy and water consumption
✅  Emissions and waste
✅  Sustainable packaging

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👷 Working Conditions - 
Emphasizes ethical and social responsibility in labor practices:
✅  Fair wages and safe working environments
✅  Reasonable working hours and freedom of association
✅  Non-discrimination and the ban on child labor

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A product may carry certifications in one, two, or all three categories.
Some certifications apply to multiple areas simultaneously.

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🔍 Key Updates to Alko’s Sustainability Labelling System
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🌱 Organic Wines
  • As of March 25, 2025, organic wines are no longer marked with the cultivation certification icon (brown circle) on price tags.
  • Instead, they now carry only the organic label.
  • ⛔ Due to a data transfer issue, some organic wines may temporarily lack the brown circle even if they meet cultivation standards.
  • ✅ Correction expected by May 2025 – updated price tags will be reissued.
  • Organic wines will now feature:
    • 🟢 An Organic shelf speaker
    • 🟤 A Certified Alternative shelf speaker (if applicable)
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📝 Label Adjustments & Discontinuations
  • ❌ The Green & Ethical concept has been officially discontinued.
  • 🛑 Alko has also phased out its own sustainability symbols.
  • 🍇 Biodynamic wines are no longer considered certified alternatives.
    • They are now treated as informative labels, like "natural" or "vegan".
    • A valid organic certification is required to use the biodynamic label.
  • ⛔ Certifications no longer recognized by Alko:
    • B Corporation
    • Haute Valeur Environnementale
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🌍 Certified Sustainability – Global Recognition
Alko accepts certified sustainability practices from numerous global regions.
Below is an overview of accepted schemes:
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🇪🇺 Europe
  • VIVA (Italy)
  • Terra Vitis (France)
  • Sustainable Austria
  • FairChoice (Germany)
  • ...and others
     
🌎 Americas
  • Certified Sustainable Wines of Chile
  • California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW)
  • Bodegas de Argentina
  • ...and others
     
🌏 South Africa, Australia & New Zealand
  • WIETA (South Africa)
  • Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
  • Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand
🌐 Global Certifications
  • Equalitas
  • Fair for Life
  • Regenerative Organic Certified
  • EU Organic
  • ...and more
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🟩 Legend
  • 🟩 Certified in the category
  • ⬜ Not certified in the category
👉 Click here to view the full visual overview
📥 Download the full certification list (Excel)
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Certification Name
Cultivation
Production
Working Conditions
Bodegas de Argentina
✅
✅
✅
Bonsucro Production Standard
✅
✅
✅
Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery (CCSVW)
✅
✅
✅
Certified Sustainable Wines of Chile
✅
✅
✅
EcoStep-Wein
✅
✅
Equalitas Sustainable Wine
✅
✅
✅
EU Organic
✅
Fair'n Green
✅
✅
Fair for Life
✅
✅
✅
FairChoice Germany
✅
✅
✅
Fairtrade - Standard for Hired Labour
✅
Fair Trade Certified- Agricultural Production Standard (APS)
✅
✅
For Life
✅
✅
✅
Integrated Production of Wine South Africa
✅
✅
ISCC Plus
✅
✅
Krav
✅
LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology, Inc)
✅
✅
LODI Rules
✅
Napa Green Winery Certified / Napa Green Vineyard Certified
✅
Regenerative Organic Certified
✅
✅
Regenerative Viticulture Alliance Certification
✅
Sistema Qualitá Nazionale di Produzione Integrata (SQNPI)
✅
✅
SOSTAIN- Sustainability in Sicilian Viticulture
✅
✅
✅
Sustainability in Practise Certified (SIP)
✅
✅
Sustainable Austria
✅
✅
Sustainable Washington Winegrape Standard
✅
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (Freshcare)
✅
✅
Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand
✅
✅
Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection
✅
✅
Sustainable Wines of Great Britain
✅
Terra Vitis
✅
✅
The National Reference of Sustainability Certification in the Wine Sector (Sustainable Winegrowing Portugal)
✅
✅
Vignerons en Développement Durable VDD (Vignerons Engagés)
✅
✅
Viticulture Durable en Champagne
✅
VIVA "Sustainability and Culture"
✅
✅
✅
Wine & Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA)
✅
Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Programme
✅
✅
Fairtrade - Standard for Hired Labour
✅
Bonsucro Production Standard
✅
✅
✅
Fair for Life
✅
✅
✅

© 2021 by the beverage group.

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