The Factors That Influence Environmental Commitment in the Wine Growing Industry of Ontario, Canada
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THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT IN THE WINE GROWING INDUSTRY OF ONTARIO, CANADA by Lindsay Johanna Burgess Walker BEng, McGill University, Montreal, 2005 A thesis presented to Ryerson University in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Applied Science in the program of Environmental Applied Science and Management Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2010 © Lindsay Walker 2010 Author’s Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. I authorize Ryerson University to lend this thesis to other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research. I further authorize Ryerson University to reproduce this thesis by photocopying or by other means, in total or in part, at the request of other institutions or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research. ii The Factors that Influence Environmental Commitment in the Wine Growing Industry of Ontario, Canada Master of Applied Science, 2010 Lindsay Johanna Burgess Walker Environmental Applied Science and Management, Ryerson University Abstract In recent years, the Ontario wine growing industry has gained significant recognition for its production of high quality wines. Closely reliant on the natural environment, this industry must manage its environmental, social and economic impacts in order to sustain successful long-term growth. This study identifies the environmental initiatives currently used and the main factors that influence their implementation. It also highlights the criteria that differentiate the number and type of initiatives undertaken. Key factors discovered to influence environmental commitment are wine quality, protection of the environment, leadership, financial considerations, regulatory compliance and practical knowledge. The presence of three criteria: 1) leadership with strong environmental values, 2) knowledge of financial benefits, and 3) accessible practical information regarding implementation lead to greater winery estate involvement and adoption of initiatives. This study proposes eight recommendations which could further improve environmental commitment in the Ontario wine growing industry. iii Acknowledgements There are several people that have guided, supported and encouraged me during this thesis process and to whom I am incredibly grateful. I must first thank my supervisor Dr. Sonya Graci for her consistent guidance, encouragement and incredible enthusiasm that inspired me the first day we met to the final stage of this thesis. Her direction and constructive criticism was so valuable. I want to sincerely thank my (un-official) assistant thesis advisor Bernard McEvoy who was always available for a coffee and to bounce around ideas. I am incredibly grateful that he brought Sonya and I together and helped me connect the dots in relation to selecting the thesis topic. I also want to thank Dr. Ron Puschak who encouraged me to come into the Environmental Applied Science and Management program and provided his thoughts and advice on my work in the past few months. Additional thank you go to my thesis committee members Dr. Rachel Dodds and Dr. Michal Bardecki for their insight and assistance in the final stages of the work. Thank you to the interviewees, key informants and industry association representatives from the Ontario wine industry who took the time to share their thoughts and opinions with me. To my statistics advisor, Mark Holmes who graciously spent much more time than he probably expected to and many emails assisting with my statistical analysis, Thank you. Infinite appreciation goes to my partner Matthew McEvoy, for his unwavering patience, support, and encouragement which kept me ‘hanging in there’. I am so grateful for the endless hours he has spent as my ‘senior’ editor, his amazing talent at making me laugh, and setting me straight as needed. Thank you to my wonderful and supportive friends Andrea Dort, Julie Runions, Natalie Telewiak, Natalie Caine, Christina Kubacki and Sonia Handi who were always close by to lend support and an ear for my often lengthy thoughts, you are the best fanclub. Last, but in no way least, an enormous thank you goes to my family. To my parents, Karen and Bruce Walker and my brothers Jeff and Peter Walker, who have supported me (in so many ways) during this work and throughout my life. iv Table of Contents Author’s Declaration ......................................................................................................... ii Abstract ....................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. v List of Tables ................................................................................................................. ix List of Figures ................................................................................................................ xi List of Appendices .......................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Canadian Wine Growing Industry ........................................................................... 2 1.2 World Wine Growing Industry .................................................................................... 2 1.3 Environmental Commitment ....................................................................................... 3 1.4 Research Objectives ................................................................................................. 3 1.5 Research Approach and Conceptual Framework ................................................................ 4 1.6 Structure of Thesis ................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................. 6 2.1 Business and Environmental Commitment ....................................................................... 6 2.2 Small and Medium Enterprises ..................................................................................... 7 2.3 The Negative Social, Environmental and Economic Impacts of the Wine Growing Industry ............ 7 2.3.1 Main Negative Impacts Related to Vineyard Operations ................................................ 7 2.3.2 Main Negative Impacts Related to Wine Making Operations .......................................... 8 2.3.3 Impacts Related to Wine Tourism .......................................................................... 9 2.4 Stakeholder Theory, SMEs and Environmental Commitment .............................................. 10 2.5 Resource Based Theory, SMEs and Environmental Commitment ......................................... 13 2.6 Factors That Influence Environmental Commitment in the Wine Growing Industry................... 14 2.6.1 Drivers of Proactive Environmentalism in the United States Wine Growing Industry ........... 14 2.6.2 Drivers of Sustainability in the New Zealand Wine Growing Industry.............................. 16 2.6.3 Environmental Commitment in the Tourism Industry ................................................ 17 2.7 Barriers to Environmental Commitment in SMEs ............................................................ 18 2.8 Environmental Commitment and the World Wine Growing Industry .................................... 21 2.8.1 United States (California) Wine Growing Industry .................................................... 23 2.8.2 New Zealand Wine Growing Industry ................................................................... 24 2.8.3 Australian Wine Growing Industry ....................................................................... 25 2.8.4 European Wine Growing Industries ...................................................................... 26 2.8.5 South Africa Wine Growing Industry..................................................................... 27 2.8.6 Canada and Ontario’s Wine Growing Industry ......................................................... 27 2.9 Summary............................................................................................................. 32 Chapter 3: Research Setting .............................................................................................. 33 3.1 Winery Estate and Wine Growing Industry Defined ......................................................... 33 3.2 The History of the Canadian Wine Growing Industry ....................................................... 34 3.3 Wine Growing Industry Structure .............................................................................. 35 3.4 Wine Growing Industry Associations ........................................................................... 36 3.4.1 Canadian Vintners Association ............................................................................. 36 3.4.2 Vintners Quality Alliance ................................................................................... 36 3.4.3 Wine Council of Ontario ................................................................................... 37 3.4.4 Grape Growers of Ontario ................................................................................