Sustainability Review (continued)
Drop the C - reducing CO2 emissions (continued)
Lower emissions in packaging
GO
O Q.
Introduction Report of the Executive Board Report of the Supervisory Board
Our contribution to the SDGs:
12.2 Sustainable use of natural resources
12.5 Reduce waste generation
Packaging enables our brands to stand out and
ensures our consumers can enjoy our beers and
ciders wherever they are. Packaging is also the single
largest contributor to our carbon footprint. In early
2018, we announced that we would intensify work
with our suppliers and partners and set a carbon
reduction target for packaging within the next
two years.
Innovation is at the heart of our work; we are
looking for new ways to bring fresh beer and cider
to consumers and we want these innovations to
support our carbon reduction ambitions.
For packaging, we are focused on four areas:
Renew: Supporting our suppliers to make the
transition to using more renewable energy in the
production of our packaging.
Reduce: Finding the right balance between
quality packaging that embodies our premium
brands and customer experience, while developing
solutions - such as light-weighting or substitution -
to reduce emissions.
Recycle: Ensuring our packaging is recyclable and
recycled, working with governments and other
stakeholders, and increasing the recycled content
of our packaging.
Reuse: Working with our operating companies to
expand returnable systems. Glass bottles that are
reused through returnable systems emit six to seven
times less CO2 than one-way glass bottles.
Our progress
We are building a better understanding of our
carbon emissions in packaging, which enables
us to identify new projects and partnerships
with suppliers.
For example, by light-weighting our aluminium
cans and aluminium, we have reduced their average
weight by 11% over five years, thus reducing CO2
emissions. In 2018, we joined the Aluminium
Stewardship Initiative to follow best practice and
support industry-wide improvements.
We are harmonising and light-weighting our bottle
portfolio. In the past three years, we reduced the
average weight of our bottles by 7%. In 2018, we
completed programmes in Italy, Austria and Russia.
Looking ahead
We will continue working on our CO2 emissions
reduction targets for 2030, in cooperation with our
packaging suppliers, subcontractors, universities,
expert NGOs and start-ups.
For more on our Drop the C programme 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
Recycling innovation in France
HEINEKEN France has partnered with start-up,
Terradona®, to promote its innovative Cliiink® smart box.
It encourages consumers to recycle by awarding points,
which can be exchanged for vouchers to spend in local
shops or donate to charity.
