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 30

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