Familia Torres is driving a paradigm shift in the distribution of its wines and spirits across Europe by adopting rail transport as the primary means of logistics, aiming to further reduce its carbon footprint. The winery, based in the Penedès region, has reached agreements with several of its European distributors to implement an intermodal transport system that prioritises rail for most of the journey, limiting the use of lorries to sections where no alternative is available. This approach is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transport by an estimated 30 to 40%, depending on the route.
Currently, 14% of the winery's carbon footprint is attributed to distribution. Reducing the environmental impact of transport is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, a goal set out in its Torres & Earth climate action plan. To this end, Familia Torres has held meetings in recent with its distributors, who are responsible for contracting logistics services, urging them to consider intermodal rail transport due to its advantages, particularly in terms of environmental benefits. Rail transport is less polluting, helps to ease road congestion, and reduces the risk of accidents.
Distributors in Germany (Wein Wolf) and the Netherlands (Walraven Sax) have been the first to embrace this change and have already contracted intermodal logistics operators. In both cases, trailers carrying wines and spirits from the Pacs del Penedès winery are loaded onto freight trains at the border between Spain and France, crossing the country—over 1,100 km—before reaching Luxembourg, Belgium, or the Netherlands, depending on the destination. Familia Torres draws on the experience of its Swedish distributor, which has been using rail transport for years, and is confident in its ability to extend this logistics model to all its European distributors.
According to Miguel A. Torres, president of Familia Torres: "Distribution is often relegated to the background. However, its environmental impact is highly significant. Securing the commitment of our distributors to opt for intermodal transport is excellent news that will greatly contribute to achieving our emission reduction targets. I am grateful for the willingness of the distributors who have already decided to make this change."
This strategy is part of Torres & Earth, the climate action programme launched by Familia Torres in 2008 to reduce its carbon footprint, adapt to rising temperatures, and raise awareness within the industry and society about the need for action. Since its inception, the winery has invested €23 million in adaptation and mitigation initiatives. In 2024, it achieved a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions per bottle—from vineyard to consumer—compared to 2008.
Photo credit: picture by Verhoeven Logics, the intermodal logistics operator of Walraven Sax.
