HEINEKEN is one of the world’s largest brewing groups, with over 170 breweries across more than 70 countries and a global portfolio of 300-plus brands. Its formal sustainability framework, Brew a Better World 2030, organises commitments across three pillars: Environmental, Social, and Responsible Consumption. On 20 February 2025, the company published its combined Financial and Sustainability Annual Report 2024, its first fully aligned with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), introducing double materiality assessments and an expanded set of disclosures. CEO Dolf van den Brink describes sustainability as an inseparable part of business growth, not an adjacent programme.
The 2024 report confirms that HEINEKEN has moved from goal-setting to measurable delivery across most key metrics, while acknowledging structural gaps in Scope 3 reduction, water balance coverage, and packaging circularity that require acceleration before 2030. The company updated its Brew a Better World strategy in late 2025, tightening the water-efficiency goal and adjusting focus areas based on where progress has been slowest.
Key Highlights
- Scope 1 and 2 emissions cut by 34% since the 2022 baseline, ahead of schedule toward a 2030 net zero production target
- 84% of global operations powered by renewable electricity in 2024, up from 28% thermal renewable in 2022
- Scope 3 emissions reduced by 14% since 2022, with agricultural (FLAG) emissions down 23% and energy-based Scope 3 down 11%
- 56 suppliers enrolled in Science-Based Targets through the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition programme, with 18 new joiners in 2024
- Total Recordable Injury Rate improved to 0.9 from 1.2 per 200,000 hours worked
- 30% women in senior management achieved in 2024, one year ahead of the 2025 target
- 99.7% of assessed employees earning a fair wage globally
- 39% of beer sold in reusable packaging; 44% recycled content in bottles and cans; 98% of packaging recyclable by design
- Water use reduced by 11% since 2018 baseline across 56 active sites; water balancing expanded from 32 to 41 locations
- 91% of global beer volume has a zero-alcohol alternative; 1.1 billion consumers reached with responsible drinking messaging
- First CSRD-aligned Annual Report published, including double materiality assessment and expanded ESG disclosures
Source
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/newsroom/heineken-nv-publishes-combined-financial-and-sustainability-annual-report-2024/
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sustainability-and-responsibility
https://esgpost.com/heineken-updates-brew-a-better-world-sustainability-strategy/
Sustainability Strategy and Goals
HEINEKEN’s Brew a Better World 2030 strategy aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and is validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). It organises all commitments across Environmental, Social, and Responsible Consumption pillars. The strategy was updated in late 2025 to reflect areas where work is delivering the greatest impact and where the company needs to accelerate.
Net Zero and Carbon Emissions
HEINEKEN targets net zero in Scope 1 and 2 by 2030 and net zero across the full value chain by 2040. By end of 2024, it had cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 34% against the 2022 baseline, up from a 19% reduction reported in 2023, confirming strong acceleration in the most recent reporting year.
- Total 2024 carbon footprint: 15.9 million tonnes CO2e, with Scope 1 at 974 million kg CO2e and Scope 2 at 117 million kg CO2e
- Scope 3 total reduction: 14% since 2022; agricultural (FLAG) Scope 3 down 23%; energy-based Scope 3 down 11%
- Renewable electricity: 84% of global operational electricity in 2024
- Strategic Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) secured in Nigeria; renewable solutions deployed in Suriname, DRC, and Peru
- 56 suppliers have set Science-Based Targets; 18 enrolled in 2024 alone through the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition programme
- REfresh Alliance launched with 10 beverage companies to scale renewable electricity adoption across shared supplier bases
- Investments in new decarbonisation technology include an electric boiler in Ethiopia, a heat pump in Hungary, and renewable thermal projects in Portugal
Water Stewardship
HEINEKEN’s Water Acceleration Programme operates at 56 sites globally and uses a mix of process optimisation, closed-circuit reverse osmosis, and supplier collaboration on cleaning and disinfection to reduce consumption. The company reduced water use by 11% against the 2018 baseline by 2024, and in water-stressed areas it has committed to replenishing 1.5 litres for every litre of beer produced.
- Water replenishment: 29% of global sites now replenish as much water as they use; target is 100% balance in water-stressed areas by 2030
- Italy and Brazil achieved 11% and 9% water use reductions respectively through the programme
- Indonesia reached 100% water balance in 2024
- HEINEKEN Mexico’s Meoqui brewery reached 1.7 litres per litre of beer, the best-performing site globally
- Advanced technologies deployed include closed-circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) in Ethiopia and water treatment optimisation in Mexico
- Agriculture accounts for 90% of HEINEKEN’s total water footprint, driving the emphasis on sustainable sourcing of barley and hops
- Water balancing locations expanded from 32 to 41 between 2023 and 2024
Regenerative Agriculture
HEINEKEN’s Low Carbon Farming programme has expanded from 8 to 15 countries with a target of 200 pilot farms by 2025. The programme focuses on reducing synthetic fertiliser use, improving soil carbon capture through regenerative and conservation agriculture techniques, and generating scalable models for adoption across thousands of farms after 2027.
- 75% of barley and hops sourced sustainably in 2024, measured against the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) framework
- Target: 100% sustainably sourced barley and hops by 2030, linked directly to both Scope 3 FLAG emissions and water footprint
- After 2027, techniques proven in pilot farms will be scaled to approximately 10,000 farmers and sourcing partners
- Geraldine Bernard, Heineken Global Sustainability Manager: “The Heineken Low Carbon Farming program will enable many of our partner farmers to explore new techniques that allow CO2 reduction and sequestration.”
- Barley is described as naturally water-efficient but irrigation-dependent in some regions, making on-farm water management a critical component of the programme
Deforestation and Biodiversity
HEINEKEN’s FLAG (Forestry, Land, and Agriculture) Scope 3 emissions, which cover deforestation risk in agricultural supply chains, decreased by 23% against the 2022 baseline by 2024. The company has launched reforestation initiatives in Brazil, Nigeria, and Ethiopia to support biodiversity and restore watershed health near water-stressed operations.
- FLAG Scope 3 emissions: 23% reduction since 2022 vs. a 25% reduction target by 2030
- Reforestation projects active in three countries (Brazil, Nigeria, Ethiopia), designed to connect directly to the water replenishment commitments in those regions
- Nature-based solutions form part of the 2040 full value chain net zero strategy, with biodiversity restoration treated as a co-benefit of agricultural decarbonisation
Packaging and Circular Economy
HEINEKEN launched a global circularity strategy in 2024 centred on three dimensions: returnable and reusable formats, recycled material content, and recyclability by design. The company is transitioning away from a linear packaging model across all major markets, using both direct innovation (new bottle formats) and partnership models (closed-loop recycling programmes).
- 39% of beer volume sold in reusable packaging in 2024, against a 2030 target of 43%
- 44% recycled content in bottles and cans in 2024, against a 2030 target of 50%
- 98% of all packaging recyclable by design in 2024, against a 2025 target of 100%
- HEINEKEN South Africa launched the Heineken Returnable STAR bottle, the first returnable Heineken-branded glass bottle in that market
- Circular glass recycling programme launched in Brazil in partnership with Ambipar, creating a closed-loop glass supply chain
- In Europe, supply chain transformation delivered a 52% reduction in unique bottle formats and a 50% reduction in secondary packaging volume in the first year
- A ‘reduce and replace’ procurement approach covers glass, aluminium, plastic, and paper, combining design innovation with supplier materials reduction
Human Rights and Responsible Sourcing
HEINEKEN’s Human Rights Policy covers non-discrimination across race, gender, nationality, age, religion, sexual orientation, and disability and is enforced through mandatory due diligence aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The company integrates human rights assessments into supplier onboarding as part of its responsible sourcing framework.
- 99.7% of assessed employees earned a fair wage in 2024
- Gender pay gap: 2.1% in favour of men in 2024, improved from 2.3% in the prior year and below the EU benchmark of 5%
- 50.4% of the workforce were trade union members as of December 2024, reflecting active support for freedom of association
- An action plan is in place for Singapore to close remaining wage equity gaps
- Total Recordable Injury Rate reduced from 1.2 to 0.9 per 200,000 hours worked in 2024
Nutrition and Health
HEINEKEN aims to make zero-alcohol alternatives available for its entire global portfolio and committed 15% of Heineken brand media spend to responsible drinking campaigns in 2024. Responsible consumption is a standalone pillar of the Brew a Better World strategy, not a sub-category of social responsibility.
- 91% of global beer volume has a zero-alcohol option as of 2024, against a target of 100% by 2030
- 1.1 billion consumers reached with responsible drinking messaging across campaigns and media investment
- 98% compliance with International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) digital marketing standards in 2024
- HEINEKEN uses the IARD Digital Guiding Principles to govern the placement of all alcohol advertising online
Community and Social Impact
HEINEKEN’s social impact programmes prioritise communities near water-stressed operations and use water replenishment as a vehicle for both environmental and community benefit. The company also supports grassroots responsible drinking advocacy through partnerships with local organisations in all major markets.
- Women in senior management: 30% in 2024, achieved one year ahead of the 2025 target; the next milestone is 40% by 2030
- HEINEKEN Ireland achieved near-zero gender pay gap for four consecutive years through 2025, with female representation in middle-to-senior leadership reaching 49%, up from 29% in 2023
- Water access provided to communities adjacent to the 41 water balancing locations globally
- Reforestation projects in Brazil, Nigeria, and Ethiopia deliver both biodiversity and direct community water access benefits
Governance and Transparency
The 2024 Annual Report is HEINEKEN’s first prepared to comply with CSRD standards, introducing double materiality assessments, an expanded set of ESG metrics, and independent third-party assurance of sustainability data. The company follows the GHG Protocol for emissions accounting and reports against SBTi-validated targets.
- Double materiality assessments conducted to identify key sustainability risks and opportunities across the value chain
- HEINEKEN’s 2024 WEF Annual Report provides supplementary disclosures on pay equity and gender representation aligned with World Economic Forum stakeholder capitalism metrics
- The company’s combined financial and sustainability reporting model is designed to ensure sustainability performance is reviewed alongside financial results at board level
Technology and Innovation
HEINEKEN’s renewable thermal energy transition remains the most technically complex dimension of its decarbonisation programme, with fragmented infrastructure and policy gaps in key markets creating barriers to full deployment. The company is investing in site-specific technology solutions rather than relying on a single universal pathway.
- Vialonga brewery in Portugal targeted for 100% renewable energy by 2030 through integrated on-site generation and process electrification
- Electric boiler installed in Ethiopia; heat pump deployed in Hungary; renewable thermal projects active in Portugal
- Strategic Power Purchase Agreements secured in Nigeria; renewable energy deployed in Suriname, DRC, and Peru
- HEINEKEN Malaysia installed mono-perc solar panels at Sungei Way Brewery in July 2024, achieving 36% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon intensity since the 2022 baseline
- Closed-circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) deployed in Ethiopia for water treatment; advanced optimisation technology in Mexico
- Digital transformation across 25 European operating companies delivered supply chain simplification including a 52% reduction in unique bottle formats
Global Partnerships and Advocacy
HEINEKEN extends its sustainability reach through structured alliances in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, responsible sourcing, and responsible consumption. Partnership models form the backbone of its Scope 3 strategy, where HEINEKEN does not have direct operational control.
- REfresh Alliance launched with 10 global beverage companies to accelerate renewable electricity adoption across shared supplier networks
- Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition: 56 suppliers with active Science-Based Targets, 18 added in 2024
- Water replenishment partnerships active at 41 locations globally, up from 32 in the prior year
- SAI Platform framework used for sustainable agricultural sourcing across all barley and hops origins
- Member of IARD and active in global responsible drinking advocacy coalitions
Source
https://supplychaindigital.com/procurement/heineken-sustainable-sourcing-driving-down-emissions
https://www.esmmagazine.com/supply-chain/heineken-reports-progress-on-water-conservation-efforts-285021
https://esgnews.com/heineken-reaches-84-renewable-electricity-in-2024-cuts-scope-1-2-emissions-by-34/
https://www.heinekenmalaysia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Environmental-Sustainability.pdf
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/20/3029318/0/en/Heineken-N-V-publishes-combined-Financial-and-Sustainability-Annual-Report-2024
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sites/heineken-corp/files/2025-03/heineken-wef-2024-v2.pdf
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/heineken_heineken-ireland-gender-pay-gap-2025-activity-7399765589394726912-Lgey
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sustainability-and-responsibility/environmental/path-net-zero
https://mexicobusiness.news/sustainability/news/heineken-mexico-reports-2024-sustainability-progress
https://supplychaindigital.com/procurement/heineken-sustainable-sourcing-driving-down-emissions
https://responsibleus.com/heineken-achieves-key-sustainability-milestones-in-2024
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sites/heineken-corp/files/2025-02/our-2024-babw-progress.pdf
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/newsroom/from-linear-to-circular-packaging/
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sustainability-and-responsibility/social
https://www.heinekenmalaysia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Social-Sustainability.pdf
Progress vs. Target Tracker
Source
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sites/heineken-corp/files/2025-02/our-2024-babw-progress.pdf
https://responsibleus.com/heineken-achieves-key-sustainability-milestones-in-2024
https://esgnews.com/heineken-reaches-84-renewable-electricity-in-2024-cuts-scope-1-2-emissions-by-34/
Key Sustainability Innovations and Technologies
HEINEKEN’s decarbonisation innovation spans energy transition, agricultural technology, packaging design, and water management. The company is investing in both site-level technology deployment and multi-company collaborative platforms to extend the reach of its innovations beyond its own operations.
- Low Carbon Farming programme is active in 15 countries, up from 8, with pilot farms testing fertiliser reduction, soil carbon sequestration, and regenerative techniques; designed to scale to 10,000 farmers after 2027
- Vialonga Brewery in Portugal is the flagship full-renewable energy site, targeting 100% on-site renewable electricity by 2030 through integrated process electrification and clean energy procurement
- The Heineken Returnable STAR Bottle in South Africa standardises a returnable glass format, reducing Scope 3 packaging emissions and lowering reliance on virgin glass materials
- Circular glass recycling partnership with Ambipar in Brazil creates a closed-loop glass supply chain reducing both packaging waste and upstream production emissions
- REfresh Alliance brings together 10 global beverage companies to pool supplier engagement and accelerate renewable electricity adoption across thousands of shared tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers
- Closed-circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) technology deployed in Ethiopia for water efficiency; advanced water treatment optimisation in Mexico; both are being shared via HEINEKEN’s global best-practice platform
- European supply chain digital transformation across 25 operating companies produced a 52% reduction in unique bottle formats and 50% reduction in secondary packaging in year one
- HEINEKEN Malaysia’s mono-perc solar installation at Sungei Way Brewery delivered a 36% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon intensity from the 2022 baseline within two years
Source
https://supplychaindigital.com/procurement/heineken-sustainable-sourcing-driving-down-emissions
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/newsroom/from-linear-to-circular-packaging/
https://www.heinekenmalaysia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Environmental-Sustainability.pdf
https://www.esmmagazine.com/supply-chain/heineken-reports-progress-on-water-conservation-efforts-285021
Measurable Impacts
HEINEKEN’s 2024 Annual Report provides multi-year data against the 2022 baseline used for all SBTi-aligned targets, allowing practitioners to assess trajectory rather than static snapshots. The 2024 data confirms that Scope 1 and 2 progress is accelerating, while Scope 3 progress varies significantly by category.
- Scope 1 and 2 absolute emissions: 34% reduction by end 2024 vs 2022 baseline; 19% reduction was the 2023 figure, confirming year-on-year acceleration
- Total 2024 carbon footprint: 15.9 million tonnes CO2e; Scope 1 at 974 million kg CO2e; Scope 2 at 117 million kg CO2e
- Scope 3 total: 14% reduction since 2022; FLAG agricultural emissions down 23%; non-FLAG energy-based emissions down 11%
- Renewable electricity: 84% of operational electricity in 2024, compared to 28% thermal renewable share reported in 2022
- Water use: 11% efficiency improvement since 2018 baseline at 56 active sites; Italy down 13%, Brazil down 9%
- Water balancing: 29% of sites at full replenishment in 2024; 41 active locations vs 32 in prior year
- Reusable packaging: 39% of volume in 2024; recycled content in packaging 44%; 98% recyclable by design
- Women in senior management: 30% in 2024, up from a lower base, meeting the 2025 milestone early
- Gender pay gap: 2.1% in favour of men, improved from 2.3% year-on-year; below EU average of 5%
- Total Recordable Injury Rate: 0.9 per 200,000 hours in 2024, down from 1.2
- Fair wage: 99.7% of assessed employees covered in 2024
- Supplier engagement: 56 suppliers with active SBTs; 18 joined in 2024
Source
https://esgnews.com/heineken-reaches-84-renewable-electricity-in-2024-cuts-scope-1-2-emissions-by-34/
https://responsibleus.com/heineken-achieves-key-sustainability-milestones-in-2024
https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/heineken
Challenges and Areas for Improvement
Scope 3 emissions remain the dominant structural challenge for HEINEKEN. They make up the overwhelming majority of the total 15.9 million tonne CO2e footprint, with agriculture, packaging, and supplier energy use as the three largest categories. Non-FLAG Scope 3 emissions reduced by only 11% since 2022 against a 25% target by 2030, meaning the company must roughly double its rate of reduction in the remaining six years.
The zero-waste-to-landfill 2025 commitment has not been confirmed as achieved in the 2024 Annual Report, despite being a published target since the 2022 ESG Report. The absence of a clear status disclosure under CSRD-aligned reporting is a credibility gap that will attract scrutiny from ESG analysts and investors in the 2025 cycle.
Water balance coverage at 29% of sites against a 100% target by 2030 for water-stressed areas is the most structurally constrained goal in the portfolio. Worsening watershed conditions in key brewing markets and the dependency on local infrastructure and regulation outside HEINEKEN’s direct control make this timeline uncertain.
- Recycled content in packaging: 44% vs 50% target, a 6-percentage-point gap with six years remaining
- Reusable packaging: 39% of volume vs 43% target; growth depends on creating returnable infrastructure in markets where it does not currently exist
- Non-FLAG Scope 3 reduction: 11% since 2022 vs 25% target by 2030
- Sustainable sourcing of barley and hops: 75%, leaving a 25-percentage-point gap to 2030 target
- Gender pay gap of 2.1% in favour of men shows remaining systemic barriers in pay parity despite improvement
- Renewable thermal energy access remains blocked in several markets due to fragmented infrastructure and policy gaps, with no clear resolution timeline
- The rate of supplier SBT adoption (18 new joiners in 2024, 56 total) must accelerate significantly if Scope 3 non-FLAG targets are to be achieved by 2030
Source
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sites/heineken-corp/files/2025-02/our-2024-babw-progress.pdf
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sustainability-and-responsibility/social
https://www.scribd.com/document/993279962/Heineken-ESG-Report-2022
Future Plans and Long-Term Goals
HEINEKEN’s 2030 roadmap calls for net zero in production operations, 43% of volumes in reusable packaging, 50% recycled content, 100% sustainably sourced barley and hops, full water balance in all water-stressed areas, and 40% women in senior management. The 2040 net zero commitment extends accountability across the entire value chain.
The Vialonga brewery in Portugal, targeted for 100% renewable energy by 2030, is a flagship proof-of-concept for full site-level decarbonisation. Scaling that model across 170-plus breweries globally is the defining challenge of HEINEKEN’s 2030 Scope 1 and 2 ambition.
- By 2027, the Low Carbon Farming programme will identify proven regenerative techniques for scaling to 10,000 farmers post-2027
- Returnable and circular packaging programmes will expand into new markets beyond South Africa and Brazil
- Water balance activities will expand from 41 to cover all water-stressed operating locations by 2030
- The 2025 Brew a Better World strategy update tightened the water-efficiency goal, signalling that internal assessment found current progress insufficient for the 2030 watermark
- Scope 3 supplier engagement through REfresh Alliance and Science-Based Targets is expected to become contractually embedded in procurement decisions, moving beyond voluntary participation
- HEINEKEN targets 40% women in senior management by 2030, building on the early achievement of the 30% milestone
Source
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sustainability-and-responsibility/environmental/path-net-zero
https://esgpost.com/heineken-updates-brew-a-better-world-sustainability-strategy/
https://supplychaindigital.com/procurement/heineken-sustainable-sourcing-driving-down-emissions
Comparisons to Industry Competitors
HEINEKEN, Carlsberg, and AB InBev all target net zero by 2040 and have SBTi-validated commitments. The substantive differences lie in renewable energy coverage, absolute versus intensity-based emissions measurement, packaging circularity ambition, and the scale of Scope 3 supplier programmes.
Carlsberg leads on renewable electricity at 90% versus HEINEKEN’s 84% and holds a higher third-party ESG score of 8.78 versus 8.44. AB InBev’s absolute Scope 1 and 2 reduction of 42% against a longer 2017 baseline reflects an earlier start on decarbonisation, though its total footprint of 25.3 million tonnes CO2e is substantially larger than HEINEKEN’s 15.9 million tonnes, making direct percentage comparisons misleading without accounting for portfolio scale.
Source
https://www.coolset.com/ranking-the-beers-esg
https://esgnews.com/carlsberg-raises-climate-ambition-with-updated-brewing-tomorrow-esg-programme/
https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/ab-inbev
https://www.carlsberggroup.com/newsroom/carlsberg-group-delivers-significant-esg-progress-in-2025/
https://www.scribd.com/document/918542270/AB-InBev-2024-Annual-Report-FINAL-Interactive
What to Watch: 12 to 18 Month Indicators
Three specific signals will determine whether HEINEKEN’s sustainability standing strengthens or weakens between mid-2026 and end-2027.
First, the zero-waste-to-landfill 2025 commitment. HEINEKEN set this target in the 2022 ESG Report and the 2026 Annual Report should either confirm achievement or disclose the shortfall with a remediation plan. Failure to report on this target with a definitive outcome would represent a CSRD disclosure gap given the heightened accountability standards HEINEKEN adopted in 2024.
Second, the rate of non-FLAG Scope 3 emissions reduction. Currently at 11% since 2022, the trajectory must roughly double to reach 25% by 2030. The primary lever is supplier engagement through the Science-Based Targets programme, where 56 suppliers are enrolled and 18 joined in 2024. Watch for the next annual report to confirm whether supplier SBT enrollment crosses 80 or whether growth rate stalls, which would signal structural limits of the voluntary programme model.
Third, reusable packaging volume growth. At 39% of total volume, HEINEKEN sits 4 percentage points short of its 43% target with six years remaining. Reaching 43% requires commercial rollout of returnable formats in new markets beyond the mature returnable systems of Latin America and Africa. Lack of specific new market announcements or stagnation in the annual reusable volume figure between 2025 and 2027 would indicate structural market barriers are outpacing strategic intent.
Source
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sites/heineken-corp/files/2025-02/our-2024-babw-progress.pdf
https://esgnews.com/heineken-reaches-84-renewable-electricity-in-2024-cuts-scope-1-2-emissions-by-34/
https://responsibleus.com/heineken-achieves-key-sustainability-milestones-in-2024
HEINEKEN has delivered genuine, measurable progress where it has operational control: Scope 1 and 2 emissions cut by 34% in two years, renewable electricity at 84%, gender leadership target met a year early, and 99.7% fair wage coverage for assessed staff. The 2024 report also represents a step up in governance maturity, with CSRD alignment and double materiality disclosure adding accountability that was absent in prior reporting cycles.
The gaps are specific and quantifiable. Non-FLAG Scope 3 is tracking at roughly half the pace needed to meet the 2030 target. The zero-waste-to-landfill 2025 target has gone unconfirmed. Water balance coverage at 29% of sites is structurally constrained. These are not minor shortfalls; they cover the largest share of HEINEKEN’s total environmental impact and are the hardest to resolve through internal action alone.
Three strategic takeaways for practitioners benchmarking or replicating this approach:
- Voluntary supplier SBT enrolment is insufficient at scale. HEINEKEN’s 56-supplier enrolment after four years of programme operation has not produced the Scope 3 trajectory the targets require. Embedding SBT requirements and renewable energy adoption into procurement contracts and supplier scorecards, not just into invitation programmes like REfresh Alliance, is the necessary next step.
- Circular packaging ambition requires retail and regulatory co-investment. The 39% reusable volume figure reflects markets where return infrastructure already exists. Moving beyond that floor means creating new returnable systems in markets that lack them, which requires active engagement with retailers, municipalities, and regulators, not just product redesign.
- CSRD alignment creates obligation, not just opportunity. HEINEKEN’s first CSRD-aligned report sets a transparency standard that requires consistent disclosure of missed targets with the same prominence given to achievements. The absence of a confirmed zero-waste-to-landfill outcome in a year when the target deadline arrives will be harder to sustain under CSRD scrutiny in 2025 reporting.
Source
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/newsroom/heineken-nv-publishes-combined-financial-and-sustainability-annual-report-2024/
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sites/heineken-corp/files/2025-02/our-2024-babw-progress.pdf
https://esgnews.com/heineken-reaches-84-renewable-electricity-in-2024-cuts-scope-1-2-emissions-by-34/
https://www.theheinekencompany.com/sustainability-and-responsibility/environmental/path-net-zero
