Embracing
change
9
CEO Foreword
When Gerard Adriaan Heineken
started this great company in 1864,
he was driven by the desire to create
a successful, sustainable business
that wasn't just financially successtul
but also made a positive contribution
to society as a whole.
Heineken N.V. 01
Summary Sustainability Report 2012
We have shown we
are prepared to take
responsibility and to
lead. Now it is time
to move on to the
next phase.
Jean-Francois van
Boxmeer
Chairman of the
Executive Board/CEO
In the last 149 years, this approach has
served us well. It continues to do so today
and it will remain our approach into the
future. However, what is changing is the
world in which we operate.
The world is facing significant
environmental and sustainability-related
challenges. Mega-trends such as climate
change, population growth, increasing
demand for energy, food security and
water scarcity are real issues that are
forcing society as a whole to think and
act differently.
As our business grows and our
geographic footprint expands, we have
to consistently evolve what we do and
how we do it. That is why we are forcing
ourselves to find new ways to lessen the
negative impact of our operations and
reduce our usage of scarce resources
such as energy and water.
We aim to increase the level of barley,
corn, sorghum, rice and hops that we
source locally. This approach empowers
the local population, stimulates the
economy, and guarantees quality
materials with a lower distribution
cost and a lower carbon footprint.
Everybody wins.
Much of our Company's impact, though,
lies outside our direct control and with
our suppliers and distributors. In 2012,
our Supplier Code was signed by 528
global and more than 34,000 local
suppliers, thus spreading the influence
and impact of our actions and thinking.
In the area of alcohol-related harm,
we are also increasing the impact of
our actions by working closely with
our industry colleagues. In October,
we joined forces with other prominent
international alcohol companies to
back new global initiatives to reduce
the harmful use of alcohol. We recognise
the need for us as a responsible brewer,
marketer and seller to help reduce
misuse of our product. HEINEKEN
will continue to play a leadership
role, through working with industry,
governments, NGOs and with our
business partners.
It remains a matter of deep regret and
sadness that we continue to experience
fatalities within our business. In 2012,
ten people lost their lives working with
or for our company. Whilst this is a
significant reduction compared with
2011 and whilst five were again due to
high levels of violence in Mexico, we will
continue to focus our energies on
doing whatever we reasonably can to
prevent any and every type of fatality
from occurring.
Since 2010, the foundations have
been put in place. We have shown we
are prepared to take responsibility and
to lead. Now it is time to move on to
the next phase.
Outlined in this report are the four
focus areas for the coming three years:
water, sourcing, CO; and responsible
consumption. These have been agreed
in consultation with our stakeholders and
reflect the material areas for our business
and society at large where we can have
the greatest impact.
Once again, we have set ambitious
targets. Having seen what was achieved
in the first three years of Brewing a
Better Future, I have little doubt that
our employees and business partners
will rise to the challenge and deliver
what is needed.
Jean-Francois van Boxmeer
Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO
For the full foreword and an interview with
Sean O'Neill, Chief Corporate Relations
Officer, see our online report.
