The ‘Torres Green’ program has been in place for some years now, during which it has been implemented in various systems in different facilities belonging to Bodegas Torres to fight against global warming, and to reduce, as much as possible, the impact of winemaking activities on the environment.

Solar-voltaic and solar panel installation; the gradual implementation of electric and hybrid vehicles; adapting new vineyard plantations to the current climatic reality; waste-water management and recycling, and even the use of agricultural waste to produce cogeneration energy, are just some of the new aspects which already form part of the ‘Torres Green’ program. It was not in vain that Bodegas Torres was named ‘Number 1 Winery’ by the prestigious publication, ‘The Drink Business Magazine’ on its ‘Green List’ due to the extensive reduction of its impact on the environment.

One of the program’s principle lines of action is focused on reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. In this respect, Bodegas Torres has implemented various measures and is developing innovative systems to capture emissions generated by this ‘greenhouse effect’ gas. However, one of the most original ideas, implemented at the beginning of May, which is both easy and efficient, is simply to make lighter bottles.

A slight reduction in the weight of the glass, and to the bottle’s surface features, reducing them to the bare essentials, does not significantly affect the overall structural stability of the bottle, which retains its practical resilience and its qualities as a wine container par excellence. However, the reduction of a few grams of glass in every bottle has countless consequences for the environment, and is an excellent example of how many small actions can make a huge impact.

For every gram of glass eliminated from a bottle, a gram of CO2 is also reduced during the manufacturing process. This in turn has an impact on the vehicles which transport the bottles as they move less weight, therefore reducing CO2 emissions by saving fuel.

This measure was implemented at the end of May for ‘Burgundy’ type bottles, of which Bodegas Torres uses close to 19 million units per year. In a few months time the ‘Bordeaux’ type of bottle will also be included in the program of which the bodega uses over 5 million units per year. Taking into account that the weight reduction of each bottle is approximately 17 percent of its previous total weight, it is estimated that this action will generate a total reduction amounting to several tons of CO2 emissions.