ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
3.5 Climate
NOxandSOx
The use of non-renewable fuels is a major factor in
the rising concentration of carbon dioxide (C02) in
the atmosphere, which in turn is one of the causes of
the greenhouse effect and hence climate change.
A study commissioned by Heineken and carried out
by Prof. Dr. E.K. Duursma, Emeritus Professor of
Oceanology at Groningen University, who collated
and analysed a large body of climatic data, yielded a
wealth of information which has been made available
to interested parties in the form of a publication
entitled 'Rainfall, River Flow and Temperature Profile
Trends: Consequences for Water Resources'.
Carbon dioxide
Other atmospheric emissions produced by the direct
and indirect use of fossil fuels consist primarily of
NOx and SOx. SOx are also produced when malt is
sulphurised to remove unwanted components. The
reduction in energy consumption has also meant a
reduction in specific SOx emissions, and this effect
has been enhanced by the switch to lower-sulphur
fuels at the production plants in Patras (Greece) and
St. Denis (Réunion).
The reported NOx volume is a higher because
higher values have been used in calculating emissions
from electricity-generating plant, which had been
underestimated in the past. This effect is most pro
nounced at sites which generate their own electricity.
Heineken's operations emit C02, a product of the
combustion of fossil fuels, either directly in our own
systems or indirectly via bought-in electricity gener
ated elsewhere. From 2003, Heineken will report
both direct and indirect C02 emissions produced by
burning fossil fuels.
Direct C02 emissions in 2003 amounted to 7.66 kg
per hectolitre of beer and indirect emissions to 4.40
kg/hi, making a total of 12.1 kg/hi.
Over the period 2004-2006, the Aware of Energy
programme is expected to yield a further reduction
to 11.2 kg/hi. We plan to bring our reporting on C02
emissions more closely into line with the GRI guide
lines in the coming year.
Short-cycle C02, the carbon dioxide produced by
the fermentation process, is not reported because it
is in balance with C02 uptake by the growing barley
and hence does not contribute to the greenhouse
effect.
Ozone depletion
A number of substances are used at Heineken's
production units which, if released into the atmos
phere, could harm the ozone layer. One of these is
halon, which is used in some automatic firefighting
systems. By switching to alternative agents, the total
Halogenated hydrocarbon-based refrigerants in use
by weight
BLENDS AND OTHER
77
6
13
Direct and indirect C02 emissions kg/hi
Direct C02 emissions
Indirect C02 emissions
target
Losses of halogenated hydrocarbon-based refrigerants
by weight
2003
2004*
2005*
2006*
CFCs
10
7.7
7.4
7.1
HCFCs
81
4.4
4.3
4.2
HFCs
3
BLENDS AND OTHER
TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY
29
