Introduction
Jean-François van Boxmeer
Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO
We live in a fast-changing world. We operate in an industry in which new issues emerge before old ones are solved. Understanding how to build a business, that can grow sustainably and make a contribution, is a challenge that successive generations of Heineken management have been addressing, since the Company was founded nearly 150 years ago.
Today though, we are luckier than our predecessors. We have the benefit of more than a hundred years of science and experience. Today’s generation of Heineken management knows more about our impact on society, understands more and is able to deliver more in this regard, than any before it.
With our acquisition of key parts of the Scottish & Newcastle business, I am pleased to say that we will welcome into Heineken, individuals who have helped to build a strong reputation for citizenship and sustainability. My colleagues and I are looking forward to sharing ideas and learnings in order to build a stronger business and social agenda.
This report helps us to explain our social agenda as well as our achievements against it. The explicit focus on seven areas last year was a significant step in the transparency of our operations and received positive feedback from many groups of stakeholders. Real, two-way communication between our stakeholders and Heineken is crucial. That is why in 2008, we will continue to actively seek dialogue with stakeholder groups across these seven focus areas.
Heineken is a proud company. In itself, this puts additional pressure on us to act and to respond as a responsible member of society. In this regard, the organisation was proud to have achieved the leadership position in the beverage category of the SAM Dow Jones Sustainability Index. It is a good reflection of the efforts we have made in the last few years to build action and impact on our sustainability and responsibility agenda.
You will read in this report about our progress on many issues including those that relate to our commitment to the responsible consumption of our brands. Over the coming years we will continue to build both our investment in, and action on, this aspect of our business. Where relevant and possible, we will increasingly do this in partnership with industry, government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other third parties.
We have also made progress this year against our energy and water targets. Whilst we still have much to do to achieve our overall targets for energy, we are on the right track. In particular, I am pleased that those businesses for which we set a target in 2002 have achieved their goal three years ahead of schedule. Our challenge now is to ensure that the newly acquired businesses, up to the end of 2007, also deliver on these targets.
Unfortunately, we cannot only bring good news. In 2007, five employees and three contractors lost their lives while working for or commuting to and from Heineken. We offer our condolences and continued support to the families, friends and colleagues they left behind. In 2008, we will redouble our efforts to ensure that all necessary advice, precautions and policies are in place and enforced, regardless of whether this relates to production, construction or road safety.
To conclude, I would like to thank our employees for their work and commitment and our stakeholders for their comments, challenges and positive feedback. Collectively, this has helped us to build a stronger, more sustainable business.
In 2007, we had a good year. We aim to build an even better future, for our Company, our stakeholders and for the societies in which we live and work.
Jean-François van Boxmeer
Chairman Executive Board/CEO
Amsterdam, 31 March 2007