Drivers of Environmental Sustainability in the Wine Industry: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

 

This research, titled "Drivers of Environmental Sustainability in the Wine Industry: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach," addresses a critical knowledge gap by investigating the environmental impact of wine production. Understanding the life cycle contribution of greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and soil health is essential for promoting sustainable practices in the wine industry.

The findings from this life cycle assessment (LCA) will empower various stakeholders. Winemakers can leverage this knowledge to optimize production processes and minimize their environmental footprint. Policymakers can utilize the results to formulate regulations that incentivize sustainable practices throughout the winemaking value chain.

Additionally, consumers can make informed choices based on the environmental impact of different wine production methods. Furthermore, this research can stimulate innovation in sustainable winemaking technologies. By identifying key environmental hotspots within the life cycle, this study paves the way for developing greener solutions, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable wine industry and ensuring a healthier environment for future generations.

But, these conclusions should be drawn only on the basis of scientific research published in the last 3-4 years, considering the speed with which certain aspects can change regarding the growth and fruiting of vines. The specialized literature analyzed by the authors is a little old considering the problems they are trying to answer through this review. I strongly recommend that most of the cited specialized works be recently published, but also a check of the technical editing of the article...eg. in the bibliography section it is not presented according to the journal.

Congratulations to the authors for their commendable work on this subject.

 

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required. 

Author Response

This research, titled "Drivers of Environmental Sustainability in the Wine Industry: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach," addresses a critical knowledge gap by investigating the environmental impact of wine production. Understanding the life cycle contribution of greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and soil health is essential for promoting sustainable practices in the wine industry.

The findings from this life cycle assessment (LCA) will empower various stakeholders. Winemakers can leverage this knowledge to optimize production processes and minimize their environmental footprint. Policymakers can utilize the results to formulate regulations that incentivize sustainable practices throughout the winemaking value chain.

Additionally, consumers can make informed choices based on the environmental impact of different wine production methods. Furthermore, this research can stimulate innovation in sustainable winemaking technologies. By identifying key environmental hotspots within the life cycle, this study paves the way for developing greener solutions, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable wine industry and ensuring a healthier environment for future generations.

But, these conclusions should be drawn only on the basis of scientific research published in the last 3-4 years, considering the speed with which certain aspects can change regarding the growth and fruiting of vines. The specialized literature analyzed by the authors is a little old considering the problems they are trying to answer through this review. I strongly recommend that most of the cited specialized works be recently published, but also a check of the technical editing of the article...eg. in the bibliography section it is not presented according to the journal.

Congratulations to the authors for their commendable work on this subject.

A: we are grateful for your comments, which are greatly appreciated. They were important in the revisions to the article and we believe that the current version has improved. The bibliographic references are already presented according to the journal's format. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript “Drivers of Environmental Sustainability in the Wine Industry: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach” carries out an elaborate review involving the various factors that influence the wine production industry, highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability from different aspects.

Below are my considerations:

In the data presented in graph 1, discuss what this increase in the number of publications is attributed to.

 In table 2 “System boundary” discuss further what each of these limits would be.

Line 341: Clarify what the approach to the term “holistic analysis” would be.

In table 3 Methodology define each of the acronyms used in the table footer.

Lines 413-417: Discuss whether different grape varieties and different irrigation conditions are relevant variables in the study. Were these factors considered in the articles evaluated? To clarify.

Lines 445-448: Shouldn't the difference between the wine regions of Portugal mentioned in the conclusion have been addressed in the tables with the articles used in the review? It is an important characteristic that can influence the results obtained.

Line 450: “Greenwashing” describe the approach to this term in articles.

Lines 455-456: Describe the importance of the impact of using artificial intelligence as a resource on different aspects of the wine industry.

Author Response

The manuscript “Drivers of Environmental Sustainability in the Wine Industry: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach” carries out an elaborate review involving the various factors that influence the wine production industry, highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability from different aspects.

Below are my considerations:

1. In the data presented in graph 1, discuss what this increase in the number of publications is attributed to.

Authors:

“The increase in publications on sustainable viticulture can be attributed to several reasons. Since 2004, when the OIV began promoting viticultural sustainability as a priority, consumers and producers have become more concerned with environmental, economic, and social issues. Additionally, governments have implemented measures to promote more sustainable products, such as carbon environmental taxes and market restrictions on non-sustainable products. Wine cooperatives also face pressures to adopt sustainable practices due to market and consumer demand. This pressure has resulted in the creation of various sustainable certification programs, encouraging winegrowers to improve resource efficiency and implement more ecological and socially responsible practices. The increase in the number of publications is related to the growing environmental awareness in the wine industry and the consumers' interest in learning more about the environmental impact of wine production”. (lines 282-290)

 

2. In table 2 “System boundary” discuss further what each of these limits would be.

Authors: The system boundary defines the processes that should be included in the LCA, that is, it corresponds to a delineation of the phases of the production system that will be part of the study. Different types of systems were found.

“The cradle to gate concept in the life cycle assessment of a wine bottle encompasses the extraction of natural resources (or “cradle”) to the winery's exit point (or “gate”). It considers stages such as viticulture, vinification, bottling, and distribution. In other words, it covers all stages from obtaining raw materials to manufacturing the product. In contrast, the cradle to grave concept also includes consumption and its disposal or recycling until the end of its complete life cycle (or “grave”), providing a more comprehensive view of the life cycle. The “gate to gate” approach focuses solely on activities within the facilities of the wine-producing company, from the entry of raw materials (grapes) to the exit of the final product (wine bottle ready for distribution). Therefore, other phases such as viticulture (grape cultivation) and its disposal are not covered in the “gate to gate” analysis as they occur outside the winery's facilities”. (lines 353-364)

 

 

 

3. Line 341: Clarify what the approach to the term “holistic analysis” would be.

Authors: I refer to the integrated and complete view of environmental, economic and social dimensions in the analysis of sustainability studies.

“… allowing for a deeper and broader analysis of the topic”. (line 337)

 

4. In table 3 Methodology define each of the acronyms used in the table footer.

Authors:

“Chinese Life Cycle Database (CLCD); Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA); Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); European reference Life Cycle Database (ELCD); International Wine Carbon Calculator Protocol (IWCCP); Life Cycle Cost (LCC); Technical Efficiency Analysis (TEA); United States Life Cycle Inventory (USLCI)…”. (lines 366-369)

 

5. Lines 413-417: Discuss whether different grape varieties and different irrigation conditions are relevant variables in the study. Were these factors considered in the articles evaluated? To clarify.

Authors:

“However, it is important to discuss whether these factors were actually considered in the reviewed articles and if they are relevant to the study.

Grape Variety Can grape variety play a decisive role in carbon footprint calculation? Among the studies analyzed, not all authors commented on the grape variety used. Among those that did (Table 5), there was a tendency to focus on varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cannonau, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Syrah (red grape varieties), and Vermentino (white grape variety). However, it was not clear if the choice of variety had a significant impact on carbon footprint results, as few studies directly compared different grape varieties. Therefore, more studies would be necessary to determine if grape variety is a relevant variable and how it influences the outcomes.

Irrigation conditions Could vineyard irrigation be an indispensable variable? Only Bellon-Maurel et al. (2015) [72] and Steenwerth et al. (2015) [104] emphasized that the vineyards in their studies were not irrigated. In contrast, Casson et al. (2022) [75] investigated six different irrigation scenarios, indicating that irrigation practices can vary significantly among vineyards. No other study provided detailed information on whether vineyards were irrigated and how frequently. This inconsistency complicates the assessment of the impact of irrigation on carbon footprint. For a more robust analysis, it would be necessary for more studies to include this information and systematically evaluate different irrigation regimes”. (lines 423-447)

“…Future research should aim to standardize the collection and presentation of these data to enable a better understanding of how each of these factors influences the carbon footprint in grape cultivation and wine production”. (lines 452-455)

 

6. Lines 445-448: Shouldn't the difference between the wine regions of Portugal mentioned in the conclusion have been addressed in the tables with the articles used in the review? It is an important characteristic that can influence the results obtained.

Authors: Although it does not help the article, I mentioned Portugal as an example because I am Portuguese and interested in studying my country. This article is not focused on Portugal, and there is a lack of context to justify this inclusion. I recognize that the paragraph may not connect well with the rest of the text, and it was the emotion of trying to align my current research that led to this misplaced inclusion. I appreciate the criticism and am willing to correct this paragraph, highlighting the positive opportunities that artificial intelligence can offer.

“It has been observed that the development of sustainable inventories and the consideration of regional variations are often neglected in most studies. The differences between wine regions is substantial and requires a more detailed approach to understand and address the specific needs of each locality. Artificial intelligence provides an opportunity to organize information by different geographic zones and, consequently, to compare the environmental impact across different wine regions”. (lines 496-501)

 

7. Line 450: “Greenwashing” describe the approach to this term in articles.

Authors:

“The concept of “Greenwashing” involves practices that camouflage, lie, or omit information about the true environmental impacts of a company's activities on the environment. Companies that engage in greenwashing make statements without concrete evidence regarding the veracity of a service or product. In the wine industry, it is important to distinguish between genuine sustainable actions and purely superficial marketing strategies. Integrity and transparency play crucial roles in this context, emphasizing the urgent need for a rigorous and impartial assessment of sustainability initiatives adopted by wineries. Life cycle assessment emerges as a means of combating greenwashing and preventing misleading environmental marketing practices. Interestingly, none of the reviewed articles address this issue”. (lines 475-484)

 

8. Lines 455-456: Describe the importance of the impact of using artificial intelligence as a resource on different aspects of the wine industry.

Authors:

“… One of the major challenges of the future is using artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the amount of data required for different inventories. The potential of AI lies in reducing the number of variables that need to be collected from wine producers. Currently, data collection is time-consuming, and the responses from vintners or other professionals in the field are limited due to the large volume of data requested. With a robust database in place, the number of variables could be halved, simplifying inventory complexity. Furthermore, AI promises far-reaching benefits across the wine industry: in production and agriculture, optimizing vineyard management and predicting weather conditions; in quality and vinification, enhancing consistency and reducing waste; in marketing and distribution, analyzing market data for more effective strategies; and in sustainability, integrating practices to reduce carbon footprint and manage waste”. (lines 485-495)

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf