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Bronco Wine Company Earns Zero Waste Gold Facility Certification From the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council

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Bronco Wine CoCeres, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2016) Bronco Wine Company, one of the largest wineries and the largest vineyard owner in the United States, unveiled today that it has received the prestigious Zero Waste Gold Facility certification from the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC). During its national sales meeting, the certification was presented to Bronco Wine Company’s Ceres, Calif. facility today.

The Ceres facility has successfully diverted 99.7 percent of its waste from landfill, incineration and the environment. This facility has ultimately reduced its landfill use by 50 percent over the last decade. Setting it apart from other USZWBC certified companies, Bronco Wine Company converts monies earned from its CRV recycling efforts to Christmas gifts for the annual US Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program helping needy children.

“We have created standards and baselines for the implementation of Zero Waste practices and policies for businesses. It is refreshing to work with a company that is so enthusiastic about the effort,” said Stephanie Barger, founder and executive director of USZWBC. “Bronco Wine Company passionately trains its team in best practices so they can help become more efficient and continue diversion. It’s impressive when a company goes beyond recycling like this and doesn’t just settle for the baseline benchmark.”

“We’ve had a dedicated recycling program for years, but the USZWBC gave us the tools and direction to take it to the next level. This is perfectly aligned with the company’s goals,” said Robert Hall, Production Manager at Bronco Wine Company. “We have our sights set on the highest certification level, and look forward to a continued relationship with the USZWBC in the future.”

Fred T. Franzia has set a new goal of bringing all of the companies off site facilities into compliance with Zero Waste standards.  Work has already begun on this new assignment.

Bronco Wine Company’s waste reduction accomplishments include:

  • Total solid waste diversion of over 56,600 tons from landfill in 2014
  • Landfill average reduction of 50% since the 2004 total of 267 tons marking the beginning of Bronco’s waste reduction focus to its current 133 ton yearly average
  • All unsalable wine is sent to a distillery for repurposing
  • Use of recycled/rebuilt pallets throughout the operation, no wood leaves the facility which is not recycled or repurposed
  • Color coded or marked containers and bins throughout the winery encouraging recyclables separation and recycling participation
  • Ongoing Zero Waste inspections which encourage continual improvement by employees
  • Elimination of Styrofoam (foam polystyrene) coffee cups from the plant, now supplying paper and strongly encouraging the use of reusable beverage containers wherever applicable
  • Focus on overall reuse within company:  Vendors supplying reusable shipping containers, the backhauling of materials on company delivery trucks and the repurposing of fiber and liquid food grade containers whenever possible

About Bronco Wine Company

Founded in 1973 by Fred T., Joseph S. and John Franzia, Bronco Wine Company is a family-owned winery committed to growing, producing and selling the finest quality wines of the highest value to our customers. Bronco Wine Company’s diverse family of brands is sold in over 90 countries worldwide in addition to being distributed throughout the United States. Bronco Wine Company has become a major vintage varietal wine source to the California wine industry and is currently recognized as the fifth largest winery and the largest vineyard owner in the United States. Our quest for quality begins with vineyard development and continues to grow into areas such as premium bulk wine contracts, research and development, brand development, brand marketing and national distribution. Bronco Wine Company is vertically integrated, from the vineyard to the table, focused on crafting wines for the American table.

About the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC)

Launched in January of 2012 and headquartered in Corona Del Mar, California, the mission of the USZWBC mission is to educate, inform and document the performance of Zero Waste businesses using scientific methods to help businesses and communities become healthier and more sustainable. USZWBC offers the only national Zero Waste standards focused on upstream policies and processes and Zero Waste training through webinars and workshops, and it is the leader in creating a solid foundation that advances the integrity and credibility of Zero Waste. (www.uszwbc.org)

About Zero Waste

According to the Zero Waste International Alliance (www.zwia.org), Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, guiding people to change their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use. Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources and not burn or bury them. Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.

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