Drop the C - reducing CO2 emissions
Lower emissions /S\
in packaging and \JJ
tackling plastic
CO
O O Qs
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
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Packaging ensures our brands stand out but it is also
the single largest contributor to our carbon footprint.
Reducing carbon emissions in packaging is therefore
a priority.
To reduce our packaging carbon footprint, we are
working closely with our suppliers. In 2019, we held
the first Sustainable Packaging Day. The event
brought management from our 12 biggest
packaging material producers together to discuss
ways in which we can reduce our collective impact
on the environment. We are now working together
with these suppliers to innovate and establish
CO2 reduction targets for 2030, and roadmaps to
achieve them.
Examples of actions undertaken across our five focus
areas include:
Reduce: We light weighted our Desperados bottle
portfolio, reducing glass by 11 and CO2 emissions by
11% per hl of beer. Globally, we have introduced light
weighted can ends, cutting average weight by 10%.
Renew: Many of our packaging material suppliers
have installed solar panels at their factories and
signed Power Purchase Agreements to secure
renewable electricity for the production of
our packaging.
Reuse: We successfully trialled Heineken® 0.0 in
returnable bottles as part of our journey towards
100% returnable bottles in the Netherlands by
2022. The carbon footprint of a returnable glass
bottle is seven times lower than a single-use bottle.
Rethink: In the UK, we announced we will remove
all plastic shrinkwrap and rings from multipacks by
the end of 2021.
Recycle: In Austria, Gösser brand bottle labels will
be made of 100% recycled paper starting in 2020.
This will save 2,000 trees annually and will reduce
CO2 emissions from making Gösser labels by 20%
and water consumption by 40%. We have trialled
a beer bottle return system at 11 supermarkets
in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and, in Vietnam, we collected
crown corks that were recycled into steel bridges to
connect local communities.
Tackling plastic
Plastic accounts for about 6% of our packaging
by weight. We aim to reduce our plastic use and
contribute to increased collection and recycling
of plastic where possible. To have the biggest
positive impact, we use regional strategies that
take into account the maturity of each region, the
local use of plastic and the current availability of
recycling infrastructures.
Looking ahead
We will continue to work with our suppliers and
will reduce CO2 emissions from our packaging
materials through energy efficiency, renewable
energy, recycling and light-weighting. We will
also work on sustainable innovations that can
significantly change the way packaging materials
are produced, or change the packaging materials
themselves. In 2020, we will announce our target
for scope 3 emissions, which includes packaging.
For more on our Drop the C programme approach and progress,
see our website and case studies
Sustainability Review
Heineken UK will eliminate over 500 tonnes of plastic
annually (an equivalent of 94 million plastic bags)
by no longer using plastic rings and shrink wrapping
by the end of 2021. Enabled by a €26 million
(£22 million) investment across its Manchester,
Tadcaster and Hereford sites, an innovative sustainably
sourced cardboard topper is replacing plastic rings
across the entire portfolio of beer and cider multi-pack
cans, including Heineken®, Foster's and Strongbow.
Financial Statements
Heineken N.V. Annual Report 2019
Other Information
Removing plastic from Heineken UK
multi-pack cans by 2021
