Under a business-as-usual scenario, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts that global water demand for manufacturing industries will increase by 400% from 2000 to 2050.
To achieve inclusive and sustainable industrial development, water use efficiency has to drastically increase; water consumption as well as water pollution per unit of industrial output has to be significantly reduced. This requires collaborative efforts by all water users, with industries having a chance to play a catalytic role.
As one of the world’s largest beer companies and a signatory to the United Nations CEO Water Mandate, Heineken recognizes that it has a responsibility to promote responsible water use in catchment areas shared by Heineken with other users. In February 2015 Heineken signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to foster sustainably-managed public private partnerships for water stewardship in order to reduce stress on water resources in 11 water-stressed priority catchment areas in Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mexico and Nigeria.
Under its water stewardship approach Heineken has committed to:
1. Reduce water consumption in its breweries to 3.5 hl/hl overall, and 3.3 hl/hl on average for breweries in water stressed areas
2. Protect water resources in water-stressed areas
3. Aim for significant water balancing in these areas
- Organization: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)