Shock at South Africa’s high rate of foetal alcohol syndrome has seen investors turn their pallets away from South African wines, saying the human cost of our harvest was unpalatable.
The “dop” system of paying for labour with alcohol is one of the leading causes of South Africa having the world’s highest levels of foetal alcohol syndrome.
The rate of this syndrome amongst South African children, is 14 times higher than the global average. This has spurred the growth of socially conscious and responsible investing.
The Social Responsibility Index (SRI) series has evolved considerably since it was launched in 2004 and the South African wine industry has come under pressure for its treatment of women and children.
This has led to declining demand for our wines in Scandinavian countries that rate high on the Social Responsibility Investment Index.
The dawn of sustainability initiatives internationally and the King code locally, also saw the index created to foster good corporate citizenship and promote sustainable development.
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