“CSR is not a cost, it’s a performance drive”
Written by Valentina Zajackowski
Discover our latest interview with Heineken
The beer industry relies on essential natural resources: water, barley, hops… Ingredients that are directly threatened by climate change. The challenges are significant for a sector that also has an environmental footprint, particularly through carbon emissions and packaging.
In this context, how can brewing tradition be reconciled with ecological urgency?
Nicolas Clerget, Global Director Net Zero Carbon Strategy at Heineken, shares insights in a discussion with Victoire André, Key Account Manager at the Climate School.
A strategy grounded in reality
Heineken represents 200 years of history, 300 brands, and 90,000 employees across 60 countries. For the group, climate is the primary pillar of its environmental strategy. For Scope 1 and 2 emissions (8% of total emissions), the goal is an 80% reduction by 2030. But the biggest challenge lies in Scope 3 (92% of emissions): accelerating regenerative agriculture and the decarbonization of suppliers.
Water, another vital resource, is also a key focus. Heineken is investing in efficiency and “water balancing,” with concrete projects such as reforestation initiatives in Spain and Mexico. Finally, the circular economy is a major priority: reducing waste and packaging-related emissions by prioritizing reuse and recycled materials, such as aluminum.
Training to take action
For Heineken, training is a key lever. “Most employees were aware of the climate issue, but didn’t know what was concretely expected of them,” explains Nicolas Clerget. The group therefore selected Climate School modules tailored to each role, embedding CSR into daily operations. “We received very positive feedback with short, frequent training formats,” he adds.
A visible impact
The changes are immediate: “Fewer personal opinions, more established facts,” observes Nicolas Clerget. On an operational level, Heineken is accelerating decarbonization, with annual emissions reductions and improved investment performance. “Teams are leveraging their professional expertise with a much stronger economic understanding than five years ago,” he adds.
Read the full interview here
—————————————–
Discover other stories :
– Aviv Group for a sustainable digital real estate transition
