O O Qs
Every Drop - protecting water resources
Every Drop
2030 strategy
Global ambition, local context
Introduction Report of the Executive Board Report of the Supervisory Board
1
Every Drop: thinking differently
Water is a vital but undervalued resource.
Even though water covers 70% of our planet,
only 3% is freshwater, of which 1% is accessible.
A growing population, economic development and
climate change are making fresh water scarce in
many parts of the world.
For brewers like HEINEKEN, water is an essential
ingredient for brewing and growing our crops.
Until now, brewers have mainly focused on the
areas they directly control - namely increasing
water efficiency and treating wastewater. We will
continue to invest in improving processes and
technology to drive progress in these areas.
However, it is clear that, in water-stressed areas,
this is no longer enough. We need to look at our
water impact more contextually and - quite
literally - think out of the box. That is why our 2030
strategy has the health of local watersheds at its
heart. Our aim is to make a positive contribution to
secure the health of the watersheds that sustain our
operations, specifically in parts of the world that are
water stressed.
To realise this vision, HEINEKEN has developed
a water triangle which comprises three key focus
areas for its breweries in water-stressed areas to
undertake: water stewardship, water circularity and
water efficiency.
We will continue to reduce water use and treat
wastewater. In areas that are water stressed, our
aim will also be to reuse water as much as possible.
We will look to return to the local watershed every
litre of water that goes into our product and is not
given back to nature. We do this, for example, by
delivering nature-based solutions like reforestation
and wetland restoration.
We have defined global commitments for each of
these priorities, but we also recognise that every
watershed is unique. Local context matters and our
breweries in water-stressed areas will develop bespoke
action plans to maximise their positive impact on the
local watershed and the communities it supports.
The need for collective action
Many different users tap into shared water resources
and maintaining the health of the watershed
requires collective effort and co-operation.
In Mexico for example, we are working with other
companies, NGOs and government institutions to
protect the watershed of the San Juan River through
the Monterrey Water Fund. In Indonesia, we are
part of a water alliance ('Aliansi Air') that is working
to conserve water and reduce pollution in the
Brantas river basin. HEINEKEN has been a signatory
of the UN CEO Water Mandate since 2009 and
works in partnership with the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
What about water used in agriculture?
According to The World Bank, agriculture uses 70%
of the world's available freshwater. Growing crops,
mainly barley, accounts for 90% of our water
footprint. The good news is that barley is a
water-efficient crop. It is commonly grown in
moderate climate zones and generally survives on
rainfall. Irrigation is needed in some areas in the
world and we expect this need to increase due to
climate change. We are focused on developing and
supporting agricultural practices that allow us to
grow more barley with less water in these 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 2019
Other Information
Working together towards
a healthy watershed
Every watershed is unique in terms of geology,
climate, topography and users - so context
matters. A healthy watershed requires close
co-operation and collaborative activities that
reduce shared water risks.
Our 2030 Targets^
Water Stewardship
Fully balance the water that is
used in our products, in water-
stressed areas
Work collectively with
other stakeholders
Water Circularity
Maximise reuse and recycling in
water-stressed areas
Treat 100% of wastewater of
all breweries
Water Efficiency
2.8 litre per litre beer produced,
for breweries in water-stressed areas
3.2 litre per litre for all
breweries worldwide
