3.2 The Heineken Company Environmental Policy Statement
In October 1999 the Executive Board issued the Heineken Company Environmental
Policy Statement (CEPS, see cover). This statement specifies the principles of the envi
ronmental policy Heineken adopts, in order to contribute to both global and local
preservation-or improvement-of the quality of the environment.
In the preceding ten-year period each European Heineken operating compa
ny determined its own environmental policy. The principles incorporated in these
policies were in part influenced by local conditions and local priorities. In view of
the diversity of our operating companies it was decided that the CEPS would be
formulated in such a manner that the operating companies would still be able to
adapt their policies, where necessary, to accommodate local circumstances. It is self-
evident that locally formulated environmental policies must comply with the prin
ciples in the CEPS.
One important element of the CEPS is the biennial publication of an environ
ment report. This report serves as a means of entering into dialogue with our employ
ees and with other interested parties. The information obtained from these internal
and external dialogues in part determines the outcome of the periodic assessment
and, where relevant, modification of Heineken's environmental policy. The other fac
tor influencing these assessments is the outcome of the evaluation of projects carried
out within the scope of the CEPS, involving an evaluation of the cost of each project
and the concomitant benefits in terms of results and improvements in efficiency.
3.3 Strategy and targets
The CEPS constitutes the foundation for the our environmental policy and the specifi
cation of the long-term targets. Environmental factors are of strategic importance to
Heineken's core activities, the production and marketing of high-quality beers. A
responsible environmental policy supports the Company's strategy of expansion by
means of autonomous growth and acquisitions.
We plan to specify a number of target figures during the coming two years. In 1999 we
specified a global target figure for the maximum specific consumption of water; i.e.
SHIMON PERES 'FROM CALIFORNIA TO KAZACHSTAN. YOU CAN SEE THE PROBLEM OF DROUGHTS,
PRESIDENT OF THE PERES CENTER FOR PEACE THE PROBLEM OF DISAPPEARING LAKES OR RIVERS, SHORTAGES OF WATER ALL OVER THE PLACES.
IT IS REALLY ONE OF THE GREATEST WORLD PROBLEMS.
AND I THINK THE BETTER PART OF IT, THE MORE PROMISING IS, WE CAN HANDLE IT.
TARGETS SPECIFIED FOR THE
PERIOD 2000-2001
Within the context of the continual
improvement of environmental
performance, Heineken has
specified the following targets for
the next two years:
the formulation of long-term target
values applicable to all operating
companies, regarding the con
sumption of strategic natural
resources, as well as for the most
important environmental topics
the further integration of health
and safety aspects in operating
companies
the further development of
the environmental management
systems, including expansion to
other parts of the supply chain
the incorporation of all indicators
used to measure environmental
performance in the Brewery Com
parison System. This will facilitate
monitoring, reviewing, verification
and reporting
the creation of a structured system
of dialogue with our primary
stakeholders
the further development of a sys
tematic approach to the calculation
of the costs (and benefits) of envi
ronmental management
the expansion of the Environment
Report to include other regions and
other subjects.
HEINEKEN ENVIRONMENT REPORT 1998-1999