Heineken Sustainability Report 2008

Case study: High energy international workshop

In September 2008, Heineken invited 25 internal and external stakeholders to Noordwijk in the Netherlands for the Company’s first-ever Energy Workshop. The event brought together experts from across all areas of the business to discuss energy issues, gain a clear understanding of how these affect the Company and contribute towards a long-term strategy.

“It was a great success. Along with external experts, we gathered people from supply chain, distribution, logistics and production as well as brewing, agriculture and corporate relations,” explains Sietze Montijn, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Heineken.

Representatives from the private sector included senior management from Shell, the Dutch government and the Dutch Institution of Weather, Climate and Seismology (KNMI). They spoke about the global outlook for energy supplies, how the brewing sector would be affected in terms of costs, increasing EU climate regulation and production capabilities.

Delegates split into break-out groups to exchange ideas about ways of reducing energy consumption, and share best practices about renewable energy sources and carbon offsetting. The groups focused on specific areas, such as production, office lighting and transportation. Afterwards, the groups reported the outcomes of their discussions and highlighted opportunities and challenges for Heineken.

“In last year’s Sustainability Report we identified the importance of involving people from outside the production process involved in the energy debate. Our energy day facilitated this and allowed people to exchange ideas with experts and departments they might not otherwise come into contact with. Everybody learned a lot,” says Sietze.

The results of the day will form part of the input into Heineken’s consideration of its climate strategy in 2009.