REPORTING BASIS
as a minimum be reported at local level, to serve as
the basis for measuring the results achieved by our
breweries, maltings and soft-drink plants. These
results are expressed in two performance indicators.
Environmental reporting
The purpose of environmental reporting is to clarify
the environmental effects of producing malt, beer and
soft drinks at our production locations. These effects
include depletion of resources, atmospheric emis
sions, discharge of treated and untreated waste
water, waste disposal and nuisance. To measure the
results achieved in these areas, Corporate Production
has defined a number of parameters for our brew
eries, maltings and soft-drink plants. Performance is
measured in terms of production, expressed in hec
tolitres of beer or soft drinks or tonnes of malt, to
facilitate comparison of the results.
Important parameters relating to climate change
are the contribution to the greenhouse effect and the
depletion of the ozone layer. The contribution to the
greenhouse effect is expressed as the quantity of C02
emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels. The contri
bution made by refrigerant leakage is expressed in
C02 equivalent. The contribution to depletion of the
ozone layer made by leakage of refrigerants was
determined for the first time in 2003. The WBCSD
Greenhouse Gas Protocol was used to calculate
indirect C02 emissions due to electricity generation
from fossil fuels. Only hazardous waste which is not
recycled, i.e. the waste which is incinerated or taken
to landfill, is reported. The primary sludge from
waste-water treatment plants is now reported as part
of non-recycled industrial waste.
Qualified reliability of safety
and environmental data
The reliability of the data is subject to certain qualifi
cations, despite the fact that the safety and environ
mental experts at our production units have reported
to the best of their knowledge, in good faith and in
accordance with agreed procedures and their figures
have been validated by the Heineken Technical
Services unit. Heineken is continuing to work on
formulating and applying uniform definitions and
instructions for reporting purposes, in order to im
prove the accuracy and comparability of the data.
Standard calculation protocols for atmospheric
emissions have been developed, for example, to
minimise the error in these figures.
Definitions
Differences in the interpretation of definitions have
occurred in some cases. On the basis of our internal
validation findings, we do not expect these differ
ences at the aggregated level to be greater than
±10 per cent.
Completeness
Reporting was not forthcoming or incomplete in
some cases. In order to provide a realistic represen
tation of Heineken's total environmental impact, the
missing data have been estimated in accordance with
our internal procedures. Some data have been esti
mated by our operating companies.
Accuracy
The accuracy of the data depends on the method of
measurement, the calculation procedure and
whether estimates have been used.
Environmental performance parameters
Water
Waste-water quality
Energy consumption
Atmospheric emissions
Solid waste
Nuisance
Water consumption and waste-water discharge volume
Concentration of organic matter, solids in suspension,
nitrogen and phosphorus in waste water after treatment,
where discharged into surface water
Consumption of electrical and thermal energy
Emissions of C02, NOx, SOx, refrigerants (HCFCs, NH3) in use
and lost and halons in use and lost
Non-recycled waste such as hazardous waste,
waste-water treatment sludge and industrial waste
Number of complaints
TOWARDS SUS TA INABILITY
55
