The Heineken México company , one of the largest brewing groups, has established a series of initiatives to reduce the environmental impact in its supply chain , ranging from agriculture to final distribution.
These efforts focus on sustainable practices and improving operational efficiency throughout the entire value chain, according to its 2023 Sustainability Report .
Daniela Rosen, Sustainability and Manufacturing Manager at Heineken Mexico, explained that the processes include agriculture, production, packaging, logistics, refrigeration and last mile , which are always executed with the benefit of the environment in mind.
For production , the company worked closely with local farmers and suppliers. Farmers supplying barley and other raw materials were assessed through social and environmental responsibility audits, focusing on the origin and handling of ingredients.
Likewise, of the total barley used for beer production , 28.21% came from certified producers, of which 3.4% operate in areas with water stress.
Also, the company collaborated with more than three thousand 058 suppliers, of which 95.4% were national. All new suppliers passed selection filters applying social criteria.
Likewise, the company promoted conservation agriculture , promoting sustainable practices that minimized environmental impact and improved the health of ecosystems.
This strategy included certification of the barley used. The company collaborated with 38 producers for the development of farmers, lands and communities, covering six thousand hectares, which resulted in 50% less emissions in this sector.
Another production achievement in environmental matters is that 100% of the electricity used in its seven brewing plants and one malt plant came from renewable sources.
Likewise, they took advantage of the biogas generated in their wastewater treatment plants to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
In 2023, 5% of the technical demand will be covered with captured and used biogas. The company also achieved a 25% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Regarding the packaging used for the products , Heineken worked on designs that reduced its carbon footprint, using lighter and more recyclable materials, as well as increasing returnability.
However, this process continues to be a challenge ; packaging currently represents 48% of the company’s carbon footprint.
Claudia de la Vega, vice president of Corporate Affairs at Heineken Mexico, highlighted that “in the last mile and in the packaging part we can say that it is like a hybrid, it is a balance, we are lightening the materials, our packaging, we are also doing the content integration. It is not only about supplying, carrying, producing a beer, but how it reaches consumers, that is something that is a challenge for everyone.”
De la Vega also highlighted that the company has electric vehicles for supply and that they are also looking for different alternatives to motivate their suppliers to work towards applying best practices.
Likewise, the company designed an efficient refrigeration cycle , installing variable speed motors and compressors that reduced energy consumption by 30 percent.
These data were revealed during the 2023 Sustainability Report , where Heineken highlighted its goals and results for Mexico, including:
- Achieve net zero emissions in scopes 1 and 2 by 2030.
- Reduce 21% of scope 3 emissions by 2030.
- Achieve net zero carbon emissions across the value chain by 2040.
- Reduce emissions by 30% throughout the value chain (scope 1, 2 and 3) by 2030.
- 100% of barley purchased from sustainable sources by 2030.
While in 2023 they achieved a reduction of 29.69% in scope 1 and 2 emissions, and 7.8% in scope 3 compared to 2022 . Likewise, they seek zero waste sent to landfill at all production sites by 2025, as was done in 2023. In addition to valorizing waste and closing material cycles throughout the value chain by 2030.
Finally, regarding water protection , during the sustainability report they reported that they carry out reforestation, conservation and resource reuse initiatives. Currently, Heineken uses 2.42 liters of water for every liter of beer they produce, with the aim of reducing this figure to 1.70 liters. The Meoqui plant, in Chihuahua, stands out as the most efficient, using only 1.71 liters of water per liter of beer.
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