Heineken Sustainability Report 2008

Case study: Building a culture of reporting

Heineken’s operating company in Greece, Athenian Brewery, published its first ever Sustainability Report in December 2008, outlining the full range of its CSR activities to stakeholders.

The report covers the Company’s internal and external projects, how they are being implemented, and the results that have been achieved. These include the introduction of Heineken’s Cool@Work programme aimed at encouraging staff to promote responsible alcohol consumption, an environmental campaign focused on protecting local beaches, and the improvement of waste management and recycling processes.

“We’re very pleased with the reception it has had,” says Marnie Kontovraki, External Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Athenian Brewery. “The work we do to improve our contribution to the environment and to local communities is very important to us. The report has given us a great platform to showcase these activities.”

The report was well received by the Press and it was distributed to external stakeholders including government, NGOs, as well as the Company’s wholesale and retail partners, many of whom had been unaware of the full scope of the company’s sustainability activities. The report was also presented internally, explaining to employees that their employer is socially and environmentally engaged and strives to have a positive impact on society.

“The results have far exceeded our expectations and we’re now looking forward to presenting the 2009 edition,” says Marnie.