Sustainable Impact Certification Process

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2025 version

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In 2019, the Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB), accompanied by Greenflex, started building its sustainable development strategy for the Bordeaux wine industry, called Sustainable Impact. In 2020, the Executive Committee of the CIVB voted to set up a collective certification initiative for companies based on this strategy. The aim was to support, structure and strengthen the individual performance of winegrowers, negociants and cooperatives in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

All the ISO 26000 guidelines were translated into a framework of “Industry” standards. Three different operator profiles were also defined: winegrower (W), negociant (N) and cooperative cellar (CC). A version of the standards was created for each of these profiles.

These standards were then shared with numerous stakeholders to collect their constructive feedback, including a group of twenty or so pilot companies in the industry, the Lycée Agricole Bordeaux Gironde, the Chamber of Agriculture, MSA, Bordeaux Tourism, Vins et Société and Agriculture du Vivant.

The certification process detailed in this document defines the requirements for obtaining the Sustainable Impact label and has been validated by the third-party certification agency Bureau Veritas.

These standards are the property of the Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB). Any reproduction, in whole or in part, not authorized by the CIVB or its beneficiaries, is strictly forbidden.

The Sustainable Impact standards aim to assess the sustainable development strategy of a wine operator based on 4 pillars, each divided into 14 commitments and 48 control points made up of different means of control to be implemented by the company.

These pragmatic standards propose tangible actions in line with company activities.

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Bonus points

Each operator is assessed on all the control points in the standards. A level of maturity is attributed for each control point (level 1, 2 or 3).

The higher levels include more demanding criteria and/or a greater number of criteria to be met. An operator must reach each previous level before moving up to the next level. For each control point assessed, the operator obtains a certain number of points based on the level of maturity attained: Level 1: 1 point

Level 2: 3 points

Level 2: > 200 points

To illustrate, an operator has 16 control points for pillar 1, of which 2 are bonus points. The score for pillar 1 is calculated as follows: 𝑷𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝟏 =

𝛴 (𝑝𝑡𝑠 𝒐𝒃𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 16 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠) 14

Level 3: 6 points

Each pillar is considered equal: the score obtained for each pillar is calculated out of 100.

The overall score after audit is therefore obtained out of a total of 400 points, by adding up the subtotals of the 4 pillars. The final level of maturity obtained depends on this overall score.

Level 1: > 80 points

“Bonus” control points enable the operator to attain better performance. When calculating the score by pillar, the number of points attained for bonus control points are added to the numerator but not to the denominator.

Level 3: > 350 points

Major points “Major” control points determine the total level of maturity attained. In other words, an operator attains level 2 if their total number of points is over 200 and if they reach maturity level 2 in all their major control points.

Non-applicable assessment criteria Operators are not necessarily subject to assessment on all criteria because they either do not take direct action on the criteria proposed, or the assessment criteria does not correspond to the specific nature of their organization. In these cases, the operator can state “non-applicable” for certain points and/or means of control, justifying the reason during the internal audit.

In order to guarantee the principle of equality between organizations, a “non-applicable” control point shall be awarded the maximum number of points, i.e. level 3. A “nonapplicable” control point shall be considered as attained.

Companies are expected to pursue a continuous improvement policy, with the aim of qualifying for the next level of certification. After achieving maturity level 3, the company undertakes to maintain its CSR policy and, if possible, to make further progress towards excellence.

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Associated document: Scoring grid

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A NA L

AC LA

AN A

Commitments

Control points

1.1 Ensure the future of activities led by industry players

1.1.1 1.1.2

1.2 Attract and develop talent, particularly through inclusive approaches

1.3 Ensure well-being in the workplace and high-quality hospitality

1.4 Fight against counterfeits

Manage your business indicators N

iversify your activities, clients and markets

1.1.3

Ensure the succession of companies

1.1.4

Maintain / create jobs

1.1.5

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L

A

1.2.1

efine a medium- and long-term strategy based on CSR romote the transmission of knowledge to students and young professionals

1.2.2

N

Contribute to preparing upskilling programs at industry level

1.2.3

A

Train your employees and accompany them in their internal career development plan

1.2.4

Incorporate the company s CSR commitments into your employees daily work

1.2.5

Work towards diversity, fairness and equal opportunities within your organization and beyond

1.2.6

ave an attractive remuneration policy

1.2.

Be part of the local employment dynamic

1.3.1

Ensure high-quality hospitality

1.3.2

A

Ensure a good quality of life at work and promote social dialogue

1.3.3

A

Ensure employee health and safety

1.4.1

Combat counterfeiting

A NA L

AC LA

AN A

Commitments

Control points

2.1 Encourage wine professionals to set up sustainable supply processes

2.1.1

Implement a sustainable pricing and contract policy (both as a buyer and as a supplier)

2.1.2

Anticipate risks related to suppliers / subcontractors / cooperative members and participate in their economic, social, societal and environmental development

2.1.3

Favor local purchasing

2.1.4 2.2 Foster smooth and constructive relationships with local residents and elected officials

2.3 Raise awareness of the industry s positive impact in the regions where it operates

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L

N

2.2.1

Favor collective purchasing initiatives and/or the sharing of human and material resources Work with local key players on promoting regional attractiveness and development

2.2.2

N

Get involved in the local community where the company operates

2.2.3

A

Ensure good relations with local residents (private individuals and/or professionals)

2.3.1

rotect shared heritage

2.3.2

ighlight the impact of the organization s activities on society and the local area

A NA L

AC LA

L

AN A

Commitments

Control points

3.1 Listen closely to consumers

3.1.1

Improve customer satisfaction and adapt your offer to emerging needs

3.1.2

Guarantee product safety

3.1.3

romote the Bordeaux brand

3.1.4

Work towards responsible consumption

3.2.1

romote your organization s commitment to CSR

3.2 Be transparent and open with your stakeholders

3.2.2

Liaise with your stakeholders

3.2.3

Be transparent and ethical regarding personal and professional commitments outside of your organization

3.2.4

Meet stakeholders expectations regarding transparency between key industry players

3.2.5

Ensure personal data management

3.2.6 3.3 Ensure a fair and ethical wine industry

A

N

articipate in innovation and R stakeholders

via your

3.3.1

Fight against corruption

3.3.2

Implement the means to fight against product fraud

3.3.3

Ensure your duty of care towards your stakeholders

A NA L

L

AN A

Commitments

Control points

4.1 Contribute to carbon neutrality and be resilient to climate change

4.1.1

Reduce and compensate for greenhouse gas emissions

4.1.2

Work on the impact of glass and packaging

4.1.3

Adapt to climate change

4.2 se water, energy and resources judiciously

4.3 rotect ecosystems and biodiversity

4.4 Engage industry professionals in approaches aimed at limiting the environmental impact of their activities.

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AC LA

4.2.1

A

Reduce your waste and improve recycling of waste

4.2.2

Ensure the sustainable use of your water resources

4.2.3

Ensure the sustainable use of your energy resources

4.3.1

A

revent risks of temporary pollution

4.3.2

reserve biodiversity and the soil

4.3.3

Optimize the use of agricultural chemical input products

4.4.1

Implement an initiative to improve environmental impact

The company must be active in the wine industry as a winegrower (winemaker or cooperative member), negociant or cooperative cellar. The company must be located in the Gironde, and certification can only be awarded to wines produced in a protected designation of origin in the Gironde region. Furthermore, at least 30% of the sales volumes of negociants must be sales of wines from protected designations of origin in the Gironde region.

The company creates an account on the website rse.conseilxpert.fr/login from where it can access the online self-assessment tool. This tool allows any company in the wine industry to assess its sustainable development policies, taking into account all the topics covered by the Sustainable Impact label.

We recommend completing the first self-assessment with a CIVB-accredited Sustainable Impact advisor to facilitate assistance towards obtaining certification. The self-assessment is designed to be updated as the company progresses over time. This tool provides an indicative score and serves as a basis for discussions during the internal audit.

To apply for the Sustainable Impact label, a company must take the following steps:

• Initial training The advisor, via collective training or personalized accompaniment prior to certification, assists the company with gradually becoming autonomous in applying the initiative (building a CSR strategy, preparing a road map, monitoring actions implemented, mastering tools provided, etc.). Three training modules have been created with this in mind.

This scheme is supported by funding from our partners VIVEA and OCA IAT.

• Entering the scope of certification When the company feels ready to begin the certification process, it makes a request to enter the scope of certification by filling in this form (only available in French)

The company specifies the level of maturity it wishes to attain during the CSR audit.

• Contractualization The CIVB formalizes the agreement with the company to contribute to the costs incurred as part of the CSR certification process2.

This agreement is renewed for each certification cycle (24 months) and is rendered null and void in the event of withdrawal from the scope of certification.

• Audit planning The CIVB organizes the overall audit schedule and tasks qualified auditors to conduct the audits.

• Sending the audit plan The auditor sends the audit plan3 to the company at least 15 days before the audit. The audit plan contains the date, place and time of the audit, the level requested, the organizations audited, and any stakeholders interviewed.

Associated document: Agreement to contribute to the costs incurred as part of the CSR certification process 3 Associated document: Audit plan 2

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• Two types of certification: collective or individual initiative

For the audit of a collective initiative, the auditor selects one of the sites for the day’s audit.

In the case of a group of several companies (multiple registered companies), the company can formalize the process with a single agreement for all sites (collective initiative) or draw up an agreement for each of its sites (individual initiative).

• Billing of CSR certification participation fees

The companies within a collective initiative must meet the following criteria: -

-

A common governance structure for all sites which has the organizational authority to define, implement and operate a single CSR strategy The same level of CSR maturity across all sites

Annually and from the date of entry into the scope of certification, the company’s contribution to the cost of the label amounts to: - €1,000 excl. VAT for a single registered company within the scope of certification - €1, 50 excl. VAT for several registered companies within the scope of a collective initiative • Companies with several activities If a company has 2 different activities (i.e. winegrower and negociant), it must conduct 1 self-assessment per company profile

• Audit duration The internal audit takes 1 day for each profile audited (there are 3 profiles: winegrower, negociant, cooperative cellar). If the auditor and/or advisor deem it necessary to conduct an audit over more than one day, due to the complexity of the organization being audited, they must formulate their request to the CIVB for validation prior to the audit.

For companies with several activities (i.e. winegrower and negociant), the number of audit days will be studied on a case-by-case basis depending on the complexity of the organization.

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Associated document: Inspection grid

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• Inspection procedures during the audit The purpose of the internal audit is to validate the company’s entry into the scope of certification and to attribute it a level of maturity. The internal audit is conducted on site. The control points are audited by means of an interview and document checks / on-site observations by the auditor.4 • Certification decision At the end of the assessment, at the closing meeting, the auditor formulates a conclusion as to whether or not the audited company should be included within the scope of certification: ➔ Validation of the level of maturity ➔ Modification of the level of maturity

The auditor has an auditor account on the website rse.conseilxpert.fr/login on which the CIVB attributes, several days before the audit, the self-assessments of the companies they will be auditing. sing the online tool, the auditor can write up their audit report and adjust the company’s total score according to the control points they consider to have been attained or not. If both parties agree on the conclusions of the audit, the auditor, followed by the company, sign the audit report online

Audit report The auditor writes up an audit report. This contains the auditor’s findings for each control point, the company’s strengths and areas for improvement, the evidence consulted, the conclusion expressing the audit’s findings, and a check on the proper use of the Sustainable Impact label in compliance with the usage charter. The audit report is sent to the company within days following the audit.

Certificate of recognition After validation of the audit report, the CIVB sends the now certified company a certificate of recognition stating all the registered companies within its scope that have been audited and the validity period of the certification.5 This certificate is valid subject to the results of the external audit conducted each year by the independent third-party agency, Bureau Veritas (see ART 4).

After validation of its internal audit, each certified company receives a communication kit with all versions of the logo. As soon as the company obtains certification, it can communicate according to the rules defined in the usage charter.6 The purpose of the usage charter is to define the terms and conditions of use of the Sustainable Impact label by the various users.

The company acknowledges and signs the Sustainable Impact label usage charter at the same time as the internal audit report.

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Associated document: Certificate of recognition FR / EN Associated document: Sustainable Impact label usage charter

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The internal audit is valid for 24 months from the date it is completed. The CIVB proposes a new internal audit before the expiry date, so that the company can retain its certification.

Every year, the advisor meets with the certified companies to: ensure that they are autonomously updating their self-assessment; take note of the progress made in their CSR strategy and their commitment to continuous improvement; and present any changes to the standards and the new tools made available to them by the CIVB.7

Every year, the CIVB performs a risk analysis 9 and selects a sample of certified companies to be reaudited internally.

An internal audit is mandatory if one of the following criteria is met: -

A company is no longer a member of the scope of certification: -

-

-

By request from the company, which can choose to withdraw from the scope at any time by notifying the CIVB and its advisor. A sworn declaration of withdrawal from the scope is signed by both parties.8 For non-compliance with the rules of communication specified in the usage charter For non-payment of outstanding contributions

Withdrawal from the scope of certification means no longer claiming to be certified by the Sustainable Impact label and no longer using the logo on all the company’s documents and means of communication.

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Entry into the scope of certification (1st internal audit) Expiry of the validity of the last internal audit (duration: 24 months) Request by the company to change the level of maturity New site to be included in a collective initiative

The frequency of internal audits can be increased according to the risk analysis, which takes account of: -

-

Risks reported by the advisor: major changes (governance, purchasing/sales, financial incidents, climatic incidents, significant turnover, etc.) or related to the initiative (advisor contact, CIVB contact, participation in training courses) Risks identified by the CIVB (selfassessment tool not updated, no change to the number of major control points in 3 years, no continuous improvement, negative feedback from a third party)

Associated document: Sustainable Impact Advisor Commitment Charter Associated document: Sworn declaration of withdrawal from the scope of Sustainable Impact certification 9 Associated document: Risk analysis 7 8

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To guarantee the initiative’s integrity and reliability, the independent third-party certification agency Bureau Veritas carries out an annual assessment of our compliance with the Sustainable Impact standards.

The external audit is conducted in 2 parts: -

Audit of the CIVB as the label manager Audit of a selection of certified companies

The selection procedure used by Bureau Veritas is detailed in the control plan. 10 If the results of this assessment are satisfactory, Bureau Veritas issues a certificate of recognition to the CIVB, valid for 1 year. epending on the nature of the lack of compliance assessed by Bureau Veritas, certification may be suspended.

The following rules have been drawn up with the independent third-party agency to define how the inspection grid is to be interpreted by operators: -

Client: a person or legal entity who purchases or requires goods or services in return for payment.

For the purpose of these standards, there is a binding agreement between these two parties.

-

Local: each company will need to define what the notion of local means for it and justify its answer.

-

Control points comprising “My company identifies”, “My company conducts a self-assessment”, “My company conducts a risk analysis” will require the provision of documents for inspection (sometimes supplemented by an interview). Assessment confirming that documents exist and that they are consistent with the broad outlines of the subject does not necessarily mean validation of their completeness or details therein. Special cases may exist and are explained in the grid

-

Control points comprising "My company defines an action plan” will be inspected by checking that an action plan exists, without inspecting its implementation.

-

Control points comprising "My company implements an action plan” will be inspected by checking that an action plan exists and its implementation.

Auditors are required to comply with these interpretations during their audits.

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Associated document: Bureau Veritas control plan

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The CIVB is the owner and guarantor of the certification process. lease address any requests for information about how to apply for the Sustainable Impact label to cultivonsdemain@vins-bordeaux.fr

The Bureau Veritas Recognition Committee is an independent body responsible for quality assurance of the label. Any changes to the certification procedures or to the content of the standards are examined by the Recognition Committee, which approves or rejects them.

Jointly chaired by two CIVB members and representatives of the two professional families, the Technical Commission is asked to give its opinion on changes proposed on the "Protecting the environment” pillar of the standards.

Made up of professionals from wine companies committed to sustainable development (via the Sustainable Impact label or otherwise), the CSR WG aims to cover all areas of the standards (social, societal, environmental).

The composition of the work group may change over time. The CSR WG is asked to give its opinion on proposed changes to the “Contributing to an attractive industry”, “Promoting dialogue” and “Bringing our region to life” pillars of the standards.

The CSR WG may also be called upon annually to rule on at-risk companies, in order to validate whether or not they should be included in the scope of the certification.

The CIVB-accredited advisor is responsible for supporting the company throughout the certification process. The accreditation process for advisors is updated in the skills monitoring table. 11

Recruitment: Advisors are selected by the CIVB based on their knowledge of the wine industry and their experience as facilitators.

Initial training: elivered by the CIVB, the aim is to master the ISO 26000 standard, the content of the Sustainable Impact standards and the certification process.

Accreditation: Once trained, the advisor signs a contract agreement12 with the CIVB and a commitment charter13 which describes the advisor’s role.

Reviews The CIVB organizes several annual reviews with advisors, training sessions identified as necessary to improve their skills and ensure they receive all the information needed by the network of companies committed to the Sustainable Impact initiative. articipation in these reviews is highly recommended. Repeated absences may result in the withdrawal of accreditation.

Assessments The CIVB monitors and evaluates the advisor every year based on factual indicators14.

Associated document: Advisors’ skills monitoring table Associated document: Accredited advisor agreement for the Sustainable Impact initiative 13 Associated document: Sustainable Impact advisor Commitment Charter 14 Associated document: Advisor assessment form 11 12

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When a company applies for certification, the CIVB appoints an auditor, taking into account the specific characteristics of the company, and ensuring that the person in charge of the audit is in no way judge and jury. The auditor is recruited and remunerated by the CIVB.

Recruitment: Auditors are selected by the CIVB mainly on the basis of their knowledge of the ISO 26000 standard and their audit-related people skills and technical skills.

Initial training: The initial training is essential to become a Sustainable Impact auditor. elivered by the CIVB, the aim is to master the tools and requirements of the Sustainable Impact standards.

Accreditation: Once trained, the auditor signs a contract agreement15 with the CIVB.

Reviews The CIVB organizes an annual review with auditors, a training session identified as necessary to improve skills. articipation in these reviews is highly recommended.

Repeated absences may result in the withdrawal of accreditation.

Assessments The CIVB monitors and evaluates the auditor every year based on factual indicators and at least one on-site observation during an audit16.

In order to take into account new challenges in the wine industry and feedback from stakeholders (certified companies, auditors, advisors, third-party certification agency), the content of the standards is regularly reviewed and adapted on the recommendation of the CIVB. After consulting the various decision-making bodies (Technical Commission, CSR WG), any proposed changes are presented to the Bureau Veritas Recognition Committee. This committee examines the proposals and decides on whether to approve or reject them. Once validated, the new version of the standards is published, and the online self-assessment tool is updated to integrate the new version. Certified operators have a transition period, defined by Bureau Veritas, to comply with the new requirements.

Any modification involving a change in operator practices must be undertaken after external consultation with Bureau Veritas. All advisors, auditors and certified companies involved in the Sustainable Impact initiative must be sent information regarding the update.

This document is available on bordeaux.com. Any third party may submit a request to the CIVB to access a detailed and exhaustive version of the standards.

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Associated document: Accredited auditor agreement for the Sustainable Impact initiative Associated document: Auditor assessment form

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At least once a year, the CIVB collects feedback from its stakeholders: - Advisors via their annual review - Auditors via their annual review - All certified operators via their operating review

➔ An operator wishes to contest a certification decision following an internal audit The operator can address a written complaint (by email or post) to the CIVB within 15 days of the date they receive their audit report. The CIVB analyzes the request and provides a second interpretation of the points of dispute between the auditor and the audited company. If applicable, the CIVB informs the company of the new certification decision.

Financial claims are not admissible when contractual conditions have been met.

All issues identified from stakeholder feedback (Bureau Veritas, advisors, auditors, operators, the CIVB, external third parties) are recorded in a complaints tracking table and are processed accordingly. 17

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Associated document: Issues tracking table

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