Heineken said it aims “to be carbon neutral in our production sites by 2030 in order to meet the 1.5°C goal set by the Paris Agreement. We will further reduce our emissions through energy efficiency and speed up the transition towards renewable energy,” said Heineken’s CEO/Dolf van den Brink.
“A large part of our overall carbon footprint beyond production comes from agriculture, packaging, distribution and cooling. This means we will work in close partnership with our suppliers and partners to reach our ambitious goal of a carbon neutral value chain by 2040. We know that Heineken can only thrive if our planet and our communities thrive. I want to thank our deeply committed employees for their passion for this topic. Together, we will do our part to brew a better world.”
From barley to bar, here’s how Heineken plans to reduce its carbon footprint:
- Heineken aims for all of its production sites to become carbon neutral by maximizing energy efficiency and renewable energy use by 2030.
- In close partnership with suppliers, also by 2030, Heineken aims to cut emissions by 30% across its entire value chain2 from a 2018 baseline.
- Looking ahead to 2040, the company will be the first global brewer to aim for carbon neutrality in its full value chain.
- The company is taking a science-based approach by working closely with the SBTi3 to validate its new commitment.
Here’s what Heineken has done thus far:
- Reduced carbon emissions per hectoliter in its breweries by 51%.
- Since committing to the transition to renewable energy in 2018, the company has implemented over 130 renewable energy projects, including 5 of the world’s 10 largest on-site solar-powered breweries.
- Partnered to build a wind farm in Finland that will inject renewable electricity in the European grid supplying 13 of its operating companies.
- In Indonesia, the company uses sustainable biomass made out of agricultural waste to heat its two breweries.
- In Nigeria, Heineken has recently inaugurated solar panels in its Ibadan brewery.
- In Vietnam, the company sources rice husks from local farmers to heat its brewing boilers.
- Heineken is supporting a pilot of 500 low-carbon farming projects in eight countries, as well as shifting to zero-emission breweries in Spain and Austria.
- In Mexico, the company is using smart fridges that leverage software to automatically adjust cooling settings to minimize energy use.
- Heineken Netherlands is pioneering cleaner inland shipping methods for its beer and cider.
- In the UK, Heineken has launched an innovative cardboard multi-pack called Green Grip, reducing carbon and saving 500 tons of plastic every year.
To mark its commitments, Heineken is joining alliances to drive collective forward momentum. The brewer is proudly becoming a member of the Business Ambition for 1.5C, the Race to Zero as well as RE100.