EcoStep-Wine was developed specifically for and with small and medium-sized wineries and sparkling wine houses together with Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences back in 2005, with the aim of optimizing farm structures and improving competitiveness.
EcoStep wine is now used by around 50 wineries and sparkling wine houses. 15 wineries have joined forces to form the "EcoStep-Wein working group" and are continuously working on the further development of the system.
EcoStep-Wine is an integrated management system that takes into account the core requirements of the quality management system (ISO 9001), environmental management (ISO 14001), occupational health and safety (ISO 45001) and food safety (ISO 22000).
All important legal requirements are recorded in this integrated system and their proper application is verified. The focus is on the respective operation and the specific requirements of the customers.
EcoStep-Wine is a continuous improvement process (CIP) and takes into account the current legal framework. To this end, all processes and documents are regularly subjected to critical evaluation and discussed and continuously optimized among the participating winemakers.
The updates of the EcoStep wine documents are then carried out in coordination between the KATALYSE Institute and the Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences.
EcoStep-Wine is a sustainable management system because it incorporates economic, environmental and social criteria in an integrated approach and establishes them in a permanent system.
EcoStep-Wein was developed in cooperation with the Environmental Alliance of Hesse together with companies and further developed to the point of certifiability within the framework of an EU-LIFE project (2004 - 2007).