O
O Q,
Sustainability Review (continued)
Every Drop - protecting water resources (continued)
Significant water balancing in water-stressed areas
2018 milestone
Report of the Executive Board
Report of the Supervisory Board
2020 commitment
Aim for significant water
balancing by our production
units in water-scarce and water-
stressed areas
18 production units in water-
scarce and water-stressed areas
have started to implement action
plans for water balancing
Our progress
More to do
Our contribution
to the SDGs:
6.6
Protect and restore
water-related ecosystems
We have committed to balancing the water we take
from the local watershed through water stewardship
projects that compensate for the volume we don't
return at the end of our processes. This means that,
for every litre we produce, we aim to return the same
amount in the watershed (and a bit more, as water
also evaporates during the brewing process).
To do it, we develop a water balancing action plan
for each site - based on the local water situation and
the specific needs of the surrounding watershed.
13 of the 23 production units5 in scope have
begun to implement water balancing projects.
The remaining sites6 have either completed the
preparation phase or are at the project identification
stage, where each project plan needs to fit the local
environmental, social and political context.
In Egypt, we launched a partnership with the
Beheira Water and Drainage Company to supply
equipment to enable the Company to detect leaks
in the water system.
In Mexico, we signed an agreement with
Restauremos El Colorado, a collaboration of four
NGOs from the U.S. and Mexico, to bring the river
back to life and to restore wetland areas in the
Colorado River delta. We also started preparations
with other stakeholders to launch a Water Fund
for the Guanajuato watershed, where a lot of food
crops are grown.
In Ethiopia, construction of three pilot sand dams
has been completed in Harar. In Bedele, we have
carried out several feasibility studies to identify
the most effective water balancing intervention.
In Indonesia, we are working with the United Nations
Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to
explore how to scale up our water stewardship activities,
together with our partners in the Water Alliance.
In Tunisia, we completed the development of the
source water protection plans including potential
water balancing options.
Based on an initial global assessment by WWF
International, we identified 13 additional sites where
we investigated the water risks through in-depth
local assessments. These studies confirm that three
sites - Massafra (Italy), Petaling Jaya (Malaysia)
and Sedibeng (South Africa) - are indeed water-
stressed. We will start integrating the three new
sites in our water stewardship approach.
Three sites in Greece are under investigation. Studies
of all other sites showed positive results, which means
that no special action is needed at this moment.
Looking ahead
Water balancing will be an important element
in our 2030 water strategy, Every Drop, and we
will start developing plans to address it with all
breweries in water-stressed areas.
For more on our water stewardship approach and progress,
see our website and case studies.
Financial Statements
Sustainability Review
Heineken N.V. Annual Report 2018
Other Information
Brewing a Better World in action
Bringing the Colorado River Delta
back to life
HEINEKEN Mexico signed an agreement with
Restauremos el Colorado - the first bi-national water
trust, created for bringing the Colorado River Delta back
to life in Mexico and the USA. We will donate 53 hectares
of irrigation rights to the water trust which will be used to
transform the dry riverbed into a flowing river.
