ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
quantity of halon in use has been reduced dramati
cally in the past year, down from 7.8 tonnes in 2002
to 4.3 tonnes in 2003. Halons have been completely
eliminated at 's-Hertogenbosch and Zoeterwoude
(Netherlands) and Mons en Baroeul (France).
Several halogenated hydrocarbons (CFCs, HCFCs
and HFCs) are used in refrigeration and air-condition
ing systems, which may be released to the atmos
phere in the event of a fault. Fleineken is progressive
ly replacing these media with environment-friendly
refrigerants. The reported quantity of halogenated
hydrocarbons in use in 2003 was slightly higher than
in 2002 at 35.1 tonnes, largely as a consequence of
more detailed inventorisation. Sites included in the
reporting system for the first time in 2003 were also
a contributory factor, notably the production units
in Ama (Nigeria) and Almaty (Kazakhstan).
Refrigerant losses due to faults and maintenance
increased to 12.3 tonnes, partly reflecting the de
tailed inventorisation referred to above, but also due
to significant losses from an old refrigeration system
at the Vieux Fort (St. Lucia) brewery.
The effect of these refrigerant emissions on the
ozone layer, expressed in terms of Rll equivalent,
was 1,303 kg in 2003.
The contribution by refrigerant emissions to the
greenhouse effect, expressed in terms of C02 equiva
lent, was 26,000 tonnes in 2003.
Odour
The main sources of odour are wort-boiling and
waste-water treatment. Odour emanating from the
wort-boiling process can be reduced by making the
boilers airtight and fitting condensers, while that
produced by waste-water treatment plants can be
minimised by covering the installation and removing
aromatic components in compost filters for example.
Measures of this kind are adopted wherever odour
causes nuisance.
3.6 Water
In terms of volume, water is the main raw material
used in brewing and soft-drink production. It is also
used as a consumable for cleaning process tanks,
packaging, production equipment and pipework, and
at our maltings for steeping and germinating barley.
Aware of Water
It is Fleineken's responsibility to take the initiative in
moving towards sustainable water use in the coun
tries in which we operate. This was the motivation
behind the Aware of Water programme, which we
launched in 1999. One of the targets set for this
programme was to reduce water consumption at all
of our breweries to a maximum of seven hectolitres
per hectolitre of beer. By adopting a range of meas
ures, most of the breweries have exceeded that
target by a significant margin, but there are still 23
which use more than seven hectolitres, and we are
continuing to reduce this figure.
Water consumption
Specific water consumption at our breweries in 2003
was 5.4 hectolitres per hectolitre of beer, a decrease
of 3 per cent compared with 2002. Part of this im
provement was due to investment in new systems.
Losses have been reduced significantly at Stara
Zagora (Bulgaria) by installing a complete new distri
bution system. New water treatment plants have
entered service in Warka (Poland) and Ibadan
(Nigeria), which will reduce water consumption by
recycling rinsing water.
Specific water consumption at our maltings was
reduced by 5 per cent over the same period to 4.2
cubic metres per tonne of malt, mainly due to rising
output from our modern malting at Flurbanovo
(Slovakia).
'Let's be Water Citizens'
French youngsters help to promote responsible water use
Having made great progress in
reducing the water used in brewing
beer, Heineken France launched its
'Let's be Water Citizens' campaign
in 2001, with the aim of involving
children - the citizens of tomorrow -
in raising awareness of water as an
essential resource. Among the ideas
they came up with was a series of
animated cartoons, which have been
broadcast on local TV, to convey
the message that water is a scarce
resource.
CORINNE GOFF-LAVIELLE
KEN N.V. SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 200 2-2003
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