CEO Foreword
150 years ago, Gerard Adriaan
Heineken founded our Company.
From day one he was driven by the
desire to create a business that was
both successful and sustainable.
Heineken N.V. 1
Summary Sustainability Report 2013
Fast forward 150 years and the values on which H EIN EKEN
was built remain at the core of how we think and conduct
business. Nothing demonstrates this better than 'Brewing
a Better Future', our long-term approach to creating shared
sustainable value for our Company and all of our stakeholders.
Its aim is to create shared value across all of our
stakeholders by focusing on the delivery of concrete
commitments in four areas that we can directly impact
through our operations: Protecting water resources,
Reducing C02 emissions, Sourcing sustainably and
Advocating responsible consumption.
As you read this report, you will see that we are making
progress - not only against our 2015 goals - but also
towards the ambitious targets we have set for 2020.
We again reduced our average water consumption and
we remain on track for our breweries in water-stressed
areas to put in place Source Water Protection Plans. We
reduced the C02 emissions in our breweries further and
have now achieved a 26% reduction since 2008. We have
increased our local sourcing of raw materials in Africa and
in 2013 we started three new Public-Private Partnership
projects in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone linked to
our 2020 commitment.
Advocating responsible consumption also took a major
step forward with the development of the Fleineken®
brand's 'Dance More, Drink Slow' campaign. This is the
second campaign in our approach to make moderate
drinking aspirational.
On a less positive note, however, it remains a matter of
deep regret and sadness that nine people lost their lives in
2013 working with or for our Company. This is a reduction
compared with 2012 but it remains unacceptable. Over the
last two years, regardless of location, we have put in place
plans aimed at reducing accidents and fatalities through
better practices and behavioural change. Both are essential
to make genuine, lasting progress.
Looking forward, we are much better positioned to confront
some of the unprecedented economic, societal and climate
changes under way across our planet. These changes are
giving rise to major challenges such as greater income
disparity, high levels of youth unemployment, water
shortage and urbanisation. It is clear that there is no single
answer to any one of these critical issues and that no single
entity can alone provide a solution.
Flowever, I believe that we have a responsibility to think
about how we can turn these challenges into opportunity.
It is a tough task but we have little option if we are to leave a
stronger, better society for future generations. In 1864, Gerard
Adriaan Heineken recognised this. He faced issues and worked
with others to take action. We are doing the same now.
Jean-Frangois van Boxmeer
Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO
See our online report to read the full foreword, including
'Perspective on progress' by Sean O'Neill, Chief Corporate
Relations Officer.
