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