2003 in Retrospect the report later in 2004. Significantly more accidents occur in Heineken's operating companies in Africa than in its European operating companies, the effect partly of cultural differences and partly of differ ences in the technology used. In Africa in particular, Heineken pursues an active medical policy. A key element of this policy is the HIV/Aids programme, which was extended from Burundi and Rwanda to Nigeria, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana and also to Cambodia. Heineken entered into a num ber of new public-private partnerships so that anti-retroviral treatment could be provided. Although Heineken's policy relates primarily to its own employees and their families, it is to be hoped that it will serve as an example in the outside world for other companies. Heineken also coordinates, via central policy, the sharing and dissemination of knowledge about prevention of and treatment methods for other diseases, such as infectious dis eases, malaria and occupational diseases. Environment Environmental policy plays an integral part in Heineken's operations. Our environ mental policy addresses all links in the supply chain, from procurement of materi als and services, through the production, packaging, distribution and consumption of our products to the processing of by products and waste. High priority is given to efficient use of raw materials, water and energy. The performance figures for 2003 given here are estimates; the final 2003 figures will be presented in the report to be published later this year. The Aware of Energy' project, under which Heineken is implementing new waste and energy management program mes, was launched in mid-2003. This was slightly later than announced in last year's annual report, because it took longer than expected to organise the workshops on how to prepare energy-saving plans. The Aware of Energy' project features new energy-saving and waste-management programmes. The target last year was a 10% saving within two years, but we now consider a three-year horizon more realistic. This goal can only be achieved by promoting energy-aware behaviour and introducing new technologies such as heat recovery and biogas. Savings of 3% on electricity and 5% on fossil fuels were achieved in 2003. Since our new brewery in Nigeria, which came on stream in 2003, is equipped with the latest technology and our existing breweries in Nigeria have been updated, water and energy consumption and hydrocarbon emissions are low at both locations. In the new brewery, sustainable energy is produced by the combustion (with heat recovery) of the brewers grains which are a by-product of the brewing process. In many countries, spent grains are used in animal feed, but, where this is not an option, burning spent grains is an alternative which is preferable on both economic and environmental grounds to disposal via landfill. Heineken has been pursuing an inten sive water-saving campaign, known as the Aware of Water' project, for several years. In 2001 and 2002, our breweries reduced their specific water consumption (usage per hectolitre of beer) by 8.2% and a further reduction of 4% in 2003 is estimated. New breweries with anaerobic waste-water treatment facilities came on stream in Enugu in Nigeria and Hatay in Vietnam. A treatment installation is under construction at the brewery in Kinshasa in Congo. Heineken was not chosen for inclusion in the Dow Jones STOXX Sustainability Indexes in 2003, because preference was given to a number of other companies in the beverage sector which had expanded their reporting to cover social aspects of their corporate policy. Heineken also intends to widen the coverage of its reporting to include social aspects of its corporate policy, particularly in regard to alcohol policy and codes of conduct. Alcohol and Society Most people use alcohol sensibly, as one of the pleasures of life, but a small minori ty abuse it, and that can lead to problems, including drink-driving. Heineken initiates and supports - in some cases working with the European trade organisation - information and education projects to combat alcohol abuse. As part of its policy, Heineken imposes its own internal rules on its marketing communication, with a view to promoting sensible alcohol use and preventing its misuse. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 21

Jaarverslagen en Personeelsbladen Heineken

Jaarverslagen | 2003 | | pagina 27