32. Chapter 2: The brewer (continued) Sustainability measures affecting soil fertility, soil loss and nutrients have produced a real reduction in the amounts of nitrogen and phosphate used at a number of farms. The frequent use of green manure crops and the working in of straw made it possible for the soil structure improvement to become visible. In the field of crop protection, the measures included a different choice of agents, a reduction of doses and the use of air-supported spraying systems. These actions, in combination with a more extensive cropping plan, could have an impact on local bird populations, with the skylark, meadow pipit and yellow wagtail being spotted in larger quantities on the farms in the future. In 2005, nearly 80 per cent of the intended action points on crop protection were realised. For Heineken, the project 'Skylark, sustainability understood' is a learning process on the way to sustainable barley farming. The nomination of the project for the 2005 Dutch CSR award (given in acknowledgement of socially responsible entrepreneurship) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality shows that the initiative is widely appreciated. Meanwhile, a start has been made in scaling up the project. As part of a further Fleineken initiative, customers, those processing products from participating farms and the growers, have started a joint venture called 'Friends in Rotation'. The word rotation refers to the crop rotation taking place from year to year on the same plot of land. Discussion with our main suppliers about how to cover a larger proportion of raw materials is now underway. Cooling agents One of our environmental policies relates to cooling agents. In our breweries, we need cooling during the fermentation and lagering process. The cooling agent we use is predominantly ammonia (R717). Cooling agents are also used in point-of-sale cooling-equipment such as refrigerators. We are currently looking at alternative cooling agents for refrigerators that are both ozone-friendly as well as greenhouse-friendly. In 2006, we will finalise a policy and implementation plan that will cover the introduction of environmental-friendly cooling agents in refrigerators. Supply chain responsibility In our Sustainability Report 2002-2003 and in the Update 2004 we explained that we were investigating how Fleineken can best deal with supply chain responsibility. With the adoption of the Heineken Supplier Code at the end of 2005, this process has been finalised. Supply chain responsibility is a priority issue for many of our stakeholders and, in line with our Business Principles and recent actions, is also high on our own agenda. Total Productive Management Productivity cost leadership Customer satisfaction Organisation people Social development responsibility Heineken N.V. - 2004/2005 Sustainability Report

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Heineken - Milieuverslag | 2004 | | pagina 34