The results of the environmental audits and the aforementioned studies contribute to the reduction of brewery waste, packaging material and energy consumption, as well as to a reduction of the quantity of waste water. The purification of waste water, too, receives much attention. In the brewery at Zoeterwoude a start was made on the extension of the waste water purification plant; in that connection the existing aerobic plant will be combined with one that is anaerobic. The biogas released during the anaerobic purification will be used to generate electricity for the offices of this establishment. A waste water purification plant was taken into operation in our breweries at Mons-en- Baroeul (France) and Valencia (Spain). In the brewery at Aosta (Italy) a start was made on the construction of a fully automated waste water purification plant. We succeeded in developing a process for the removal of cadmium-containing pigments from old crate material. The feasibility study for this was carried out on our instructions by the TNO research institute. This is an important step towards the implementation of a covenant on that subject which Heineken Nederland has signed with the environmental organizations. In the Netherlands, the combined breweries and the Ministry of Economic Affairs signed the Energy Conservation Covenant in 1993. The object of this voluntary agreement is to achieve a 12% improvement in energy efficiency by 1996 compared with the 1989 level. The pursuit of an environmental policy by international enterprises such as Heineken is determined by a large extent by the different laws and regulations in the various countries, as a result of which little uniformity in policy is yet possible. We are in favour of the maximum standardization of rules and regulations and are making a contribution to this through our involvement in a large number of national and international consultative organizations in the field of the environment. We are continuing our efforts to combat alcohol abuse and to promote responsible use, amongst other things by information campaigns. In our opinion, information and self- regulation are the mainstays of a well-balanced policy in this field. Our Company is a member of the 'Amsterdam Group', in which fourteen large European beverage companies participate. The principal objective is to carry out research into and give advice on responsible use of alcohol. In 1993 this group published the report 'Alcoholic Beverages and European Society', in which inter alia a number of social and medical aspects of the use of alcohol are discussed. The report will serve as a basis for consultation with the European Commission and the World Health Organization regarding health and social aspects of alcoholic beverages.

Jaarverslagen en Personeelsbladen Heineken

Jaarverslagen | 1993 | | pagina 29