Sustainability

In 2019 we implemented a compost system to convert organic waste into fertilizer to fertilize the vines. This is made up of the materials that result from the wine process - stalk and marc -, as well as horse guano. In this way, instead of discarding organic materials, we reuse them to create a fertilizing fertilizer that allows us to reduce the use of agrochemicals.

With the organic materials that result from the process of our Premium wines, we generate a compost system called Paca Digestora, which ferments the waste instead of rotting it.

Cousino Park also has a compost system with which we produce leaf soil. The leaves that fall from the trees are collected in ditches where they decompose naturally, replicating the ecosystem's own process: the leaves fall, decompose and create a layer of fertile soil for new growth.

At Cousiño Macul we understand that sustainability must involve all areas of the company, not just agricultural practices. That is why we also implemented a compost system for the offices, which seeks to reduce waste, but also align all collaborators in our environmental commitment.

The incorporation of green trash cans allows us to reduce personal waste and educate about the importance of reducing one's carbon footprint.

In 2013 we installed a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) type plant - the first of its kind to arrive in Chile, which, through a bacteria treatment, allows us to transform our RILES into irrigation water that is used for the vineyards.

In our Buin vineyard we have begun to plant covered crops between rows, currently oats and mustard. This regenerative agronomy practice helps maintain soil structure, retain water, contributes to nutrient cycling, and attracts beneficial insects that combat potential pests.

In 2020 we installed a photovoltaic plant that generates approximately 370 MWh of electrical energy per year. Of the energy produced by the panels, we consume approximately half and the rest is injected into the system to be used by other users on the network. If we consider that 1 MWh (1,000 KWh) of renewable energy mitigates 550 kg of CO2 emissions into the environment, in Cousiño Macul we would annually mitigate 203 tons of CO2, equivalent to the planting of approximately 5,200 trees per year.

Through this pillar, we seek to optimize the life of our waste as much as possible through donations, and to generate the least possible impact on the ecosystem through recycling.

• We work with recyclers from the municipality of Peñalolén to recycle plastics, cardboard, aluminum and shredded paper.
• The white paper is donated to the San José Foundation.
• The glass is donated to Coaniquem.

In conjunction with the Chile Dual Foundation, we receive interns from community schools throughout the year. At Buin, we receive 3rd grade students who work in the areas of administration and in the field. Additionally, during the harvest the production team receives groups of students for a week so they can work and learn from this stage. We also organize talks on topics related to the vineyard, such as sustainability, management and agriculture. Through these presentations we seek to motivate and educate students to generate interest and awareness around the industry.

At Macul we also receive internship students in our Human Resources Department and in the Warehouse Area for three weeks. The objective is for them to learn in the field of the work in which they are interested.

We promote the professional and personal development of our teams, as well as that of the community in which we operate. That is why during the year we hold workshops for our collaborators, with the aim of raising awareness of caring for the environment, in addition to providing them with knowledge about other areas of the wine world.