Heineken honoured for water resilience leadership

Heineken Malaysia Berhad (HEINEKEN Malaysia) achieves accolades at the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei (UNGCMYB) Forward Faster Sustainability Awards 2023.

Recognised for exceptional leadership in water resilience, the brewer secures victory in the Water Resilience category for its commendable efforts under the Towards Healthy Watersheds programme.

This accolade further solidifies HEINEKEN Malaysia’s commitment to sustainability, building on previous wins for UN SDG benchmarks in 2022.

Heineken: Brew A Better World strategy

Roland Bala, HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Managing Director, expressed gratitude for the consecutive recognition, citing it as an honour and a testament to the company’s dedication to water conservation.

Aligned with HEINEKEN’s Brew A Better World sustainability strategy, the Towards Healthy Watersheds programme focuses on enhancing environmental responsibility.

The roadmap for 2030 outlines a three-pronged approach – Water Efficiency, Water Circularity, and Water Balancing.

“It is an honour for us to be recognised two years in a row as a champion for our efforts in water conservation. Guided by HEINEKEN’s Brew A Better World sustainability strategy,”

Zero non-compliance with wastewater standards

In the pursuit of Water Efficiency, HEINEKEN Malaysia aims to reduce its average water usage to 2.6 hectolitres per hectolitre of beer produced by 2030.

Notable initiatives include machine and utility upgrades, waste reduction, and innovative cleaning technology processes.

The company has already achieved a 5% reduction in water consumption in 2022 compared to 2021 and a 20% reduction versus its 2014 baseline.

For Water Circularity, the brewery treats 100% of its wastewater, ensuring responsible discharge above environmental standards.

The wastewater treatment plant, with a capacity of 780 million litres per year, maintains zero non-compliance with wastewater standards and regulations.

In Water Balancing, HEINEKEN Malaysia targets to balance 1.5 litres of water for every 1 litre used in its products, contributing to watershed conservation.

Beyond internal efforts, the WATER Project collaborates with SPARK Foundation and Global Environment Centre to support water security beyond brewery walls.

The company’s commitment extends further with a new RM6 million investment until 2030 in water stewardship projects.

The company also receives recognition as a Finalist in the Climate Action category for progress towards Net Zero ambitions and sustainable practices.