Protecting water
resources
Our focus areas
Balancing the needs of the
community with our needs
is at the heart of our approach
to water usage.
"We are clearly making progress. As a
global company we can be leaders in
effective water usage."
Why this is important
8 Heineken N.V.
Summary Sustainability Report 2013
Marc Gross
Chief Supply Chain Officer
Global demand for water has doubled during the past
50 years and is expected to increase by another 40% by
2030. In water-scarce areas this may result in increased
competition for water among industry, the general
population, agriculture and ecosystems.
We use water in our finished product - beer is 95% water
- and throughout our supply chain, including in the
maintenance and growth of crops. We understand the
critical importance of sustainable use and protection of
water to safeguard this precious resource.
As one of the world's largest brewers, and a signatory to the
United Nations CEO Water Mandate, we recognise that we
have a responsibility to promote responsible water use and
encourage our suppliers to do the same.
We describe our approach for addressing water-related
issues around the world as 'Water Stewardship'. For all our
water-related investments, we consider how they benefit
the wider community, not just our breweries.
