BRUNELLO MAKES A TOASTS HUMAN RIGHTS: CASTELLO BANFI, ONE OF THE MOST NOTED NAMES IN MONTALCINO, IS THE FIRST WINERY IN THE WORLD TO OBTAIN THE ETHICAL CERTIFICATION SA 8000, FROM THE “VINEYARD TO THE BOTTLE”

Making a toast with Brunello in the name of human rights. It’s now possible to do so with a bottle of Castello Banfi, one of the most noted names in Montalcino and the first winery in the world to obtain the ethics certification SA 8000 for their entire production line, from the vineyard to the bottle.

Castello Banfi’s ethical and social commitment was documented by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), one of the most important international agencies for ethical certifications, and one of only nine organisms in the world accredited with SA 8000. Enrico Viglierchio, General Director of Castello Banfi explained, “The initiative for the ethical certification is coherent with our commitment to social sustainability and the safeguarding of the environment, which has, for years, characterized the activities of Banfi, making it a point of reference for the territory. This is the last step on the course taken years ago by Castello Banfi, which received its first recognition in 2001 with the coveted ISO 9001 certification (quality system) and the ISO 14001 (environmental system) that regulate and guarantee the relations with consumers and the environment within which the company operates”.

Currently, there are only 763 companies worldwide that have been certified according to this standard, and Banfi is the only winery among them with the SA 8000 for its entire production line, from the vineyard to the wine cellar, from bottling to distribution. DNV has verified - through analysis of documentation, numerous visits to production sites, and individual interviews and group employee interviews – all of the aspects relevant to the security and the health of workers, and the full respect of their rights. Remo Grassi, Vice president and Director of Human Resources at Banfi emphasized, “The absolute prestige of this mark demonstrates, with this authorization that comes from an independent entity, the centrality of human resources in the development strategies of the Banfi group. Reaching this goal is proof of the company’s commitment to establish a correct and transparent relationship with its employees and with local institutions, favoring both dialog and the optimization of union relations”.
The SA 8000 certification (Social Accountability 8000) is based on a standard developed by Social Accountability International of New York, in cooperation with a vast number of companies, non-government organizations, and unions. This standard is based on the principles of the 12 conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN convention to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, and for the consolidation of norms ISO 9001 and 14001.

The mission of SA 8000 is that of improving global working conditions, supplying an international legislation for all markets and nations, working alongside organizations for the international defense of human rights, and to offer incentives that benefit both markets and consumers. The SA 8000 certification is gradually spreading in Italy and the rest of the world, because companies are starting to realize the advantages of such a system - for management and for employees - and because consumer and worker associations have come to consider it the standard for defining working conditions. It is becoming ever more consolidated the idea that not only individuals, but enterprises as a collective group, must follow ethical values in defining more responsible behavior.