Heineken publishes 2010 Sustainability Report, ‘Brewing a Better Future’

Heineken N.V. published its 2010 sustainability report, ‘Brewing a Better Future’, which takes its theme from Heineken’s integrated approach to sustainability that was launched in April 2010. The report summarises Heineken’s delivery against its public commitments, as well as overall progress on its global sustainability strategy.

In addition, the report provides detailed updates on the company’s 23 integrated programmes, built around its three strategic imperatives:

• Continuously improve the environmental impact of our brands and business
• Empower our people and thecommunities in which we operate
• Positively impact the role of beer in society

Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO, said: “Brewing a Better Future puts renewed focus on our determination to create value at all levels of society and for all our stakeholders. Delivering on the targets we have set ourselves will impact the way in which we bring our brands to market, improve our environmental performance, contribute to our communities and engage all stakeholders.”

Highlights from the Heineken 2010 sustainability report:

• In 2010, ‘Brewing a Better Future’ was rolled-out internationally. Fifty Heineken markets now have a three-year sustainability plan in place with clear deliverables, targets, budget and roles and responsibilities. In addition, each company has established a sustainability committee that is responsible for the development and roll-out of the local sustainability agenda. During the year, 21 markets published their own local sustainability reports.
• In 2010, Heineken conducted two water footprint studies, in Egypt and Slovakia. The water footprint is an indicator of freshwater use that looks not only at water usage in breweries, but also takes into account the water use by all the products, processes and services that are required to produce beer. The studies found that more than 90 per cent of the water footprint is related to the cultivation of crops. The studies’ findings raised interesting questions, such as how to involve suppliers in water reduction strategies and how to balance local sourcing with the impact of crops on local water sources.
• To serve the company’s beer at the optimum temperature, Heineken aims to use refrigeration equipment with a low carbon footprint and energy consumption. The company’s policy is that wherever it is technically and legally possible, every new fridge Heineken buys will include the safe and more environmental friendly hydrocarbon refrigerant, uses LED illumination and has a thermostat with an energy management system for large fridges. Combined these three elements are expected to yield energy reduction of at least 35 per cent. In 2010, the company began implementing this new approach and 80 per cent of the new fridges met at least one of the above standards.
• In January 2010, Heineken donated an additional €10 million to the Heineken Africa Foundation. This money enabled the Foundation to initiate three new projects focused on the fight against HIV/AIDS in African communities where the company operates, which were announced at the company’s HIV/AIDS Symposium in March 2011.
• Heineken developed several initiatives to endorse the company’s responsible consumption programme ‘Enjoy Heineken® Responsibly’ (EHR). These included new design rules and guidelines to have the EHR logo on all primary and secondary Heineken packaging. In addition, all UEFA Champions League (UCL) broadcasts included perimeter advertising featuring an EHR logo where legally allowed.

Heineken’s 2010 sustainability report reflects feedback that the company received by reaching out to numerous stakeholders throughout the year and the report is based on the disclosure guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

A full HTML version of the report with added functionality and features is available at www.sustainabilityreport.heineken.com. The sustainability section on the company website, www.heinekeninternational.com/sustainability, includes downloadable information about Heineken’s sustainability performance relating to six sustainability initiatives, as well as the reports from the local markets. Heineken encourages dialogue around sustainability and feedback from its stakeholders. Comments on the report may be sent to: [email protected].

The ‘Brewing a Better Future’ initiative comes a decade after Heineken published its first sustainability agenda in 2000. Over the past decade, the company has made significant progress to improve its responsibility towards various stakeholders. Heineken is a member of UN Global Compact LEAD, subscribes to the UN Water Mandate and actively promotes responsible consumption via brand communication and responsibility activities in partnership with other beverage companies. Heineken is also member of FTSE4Good.