Transparent and audited
In this report, we have endeavoured to give a sense of
both the philosophy and the facts relating to our approach
to sustainability.
We have been transparent and clear in setting out both our
achievements as well as those areas where we acknowledge
we still have more to do. As always, we have had both the
facts and the text in the report independently verified to a
limited level of assurance by KPMG Sustainability, one of the
world's leading assurance providers. You will find their
report in a dedicated section of this report (pages 30-31).
In addition, our Group Internal Audit function has extended
the scope of their activities in providing internal assurance
of the information.
Full data set available
The report provides an overview of our actions and
performance against the targets and commitments
we published in last year's report, but we cannot cover
everything. For a full overview on our approach, objectives,
strategies and additional information, please visit
www.heinekeninternational.com/responsibility where
you will find a comprehensive data sheet based on the G3
Guidelines as issued by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
This datasheet also serves as a GRI table.
In reply to remarks made by certain stakeholders and
contrary to our normal practice of including data on
new acquisitions only after the first full calendar year of
consolidation, we have also provided relevant data on
new acquisitions, mainly the former Scottish Newcastle
operations where possible. This particularly applies to
the sections on energy, water, safety and responsible
beer consumption.
This report includes all operations in which Fleineken owns
more than 50 per cent of the equity, or has management or
technical control. These operations are listed in Appendix 2.
Our dialogue with stakeholders
This year we increased both the number and quality
of the conversations we had with stakeholders, focusing
the discussions on our focus areas (and hence areas of risks
and opportunities) with our 2007 Sustainability Report
as the starting point.
In general, this approach has provided us with input for our
long-term objectives and has helped us better understand
what is asked of us and what we as a business can deliver.
On the basis of our previous report, we have or will conduct
discussions with:
Employees representatives (international trade unions,
the European Workers Council, employee workshops and
feedback sessions)
Governmental institutions (e.g. the European Commission,
Dutch Government)
Trade and industry organisations representing suppliers
and customers (EuroCommerce, Euromaltandthe
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC))
Investors (both sustainable investment and
mainstream investors)
NGOs active in one or more of our focus areas
(e.g. International Union for the Conservation of Nature
and Amnesty International)
Our auditors who made several recommendations
in the form of a formal management letter.
As a result of these discussions, we have made the
following changes in this report:
In the foreword, we give a clearer outline of what
sustainability means to us
We have included information with regard to
stakeholder engagement
We have given some easy-to-read examples of what
our operations are doing in the area of sustainability.
ABOUT THIS REPORT
02 HEINEKEN N.V. SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2008
