This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on October 6, 2025 - October 12, 2025

Rooted in the belief that a business can thrive only if its people, the planet and the communities it serves also thrive, Heineken Malaysia Bhd (KL:HEIM) has made its commitment to making a positive impact on the environment, society and its consumers an integral part of its business strategy.

Driven by its global framework “Brew a Better World”, the group focuses on three core pillars — environmental sustainability, social impact and responsible consumption — an effort that has culminated in its inaugural win for Best CR Initiatives at The Edge Billion Ringgit Club 2025 Awards.

A major achievement in the group’s journey towards environmental sustainability last year was fully transitioning its sole brewery in the country — located in Sungei Way, Petaling Jaya, Selangor — to renewable energy. The installation of 3,500 solar panels on the brewery helped significantly reduce the group’s carbon emissions. The group, which has subscribed to the Green Electricity Tariff (GET) programme since March 2022, reported a 36% reduction of its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (direct and indirect respectively) in production versus its FY2022 baseline, supporting its ambitious net-zero target at group level by 2030.

Dedicated to becoming a champion of environmental sustainability by also focusing on minimising waste, the group has continued to fulfil its zero-waste-to-landfill promise, which it first realised in 2017. This is accomplished by diligently recycling and upcycling all its production waste, and reinvesting the generated revenue into its environmental programmes.

The group also made significant strides in sustainable packaging in 2024 by eliminating 108 tonnes of single-use plastic in favour of paper-based secondary packaging.

It has also worked on expanding this sustainability focus to its suppliers by collaborating with the United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei on a supplier engagement programme to enhance awareness and capabilities in environmental, social and governance issues, as part of its journey to achieving net zero in its entire value chain by 2040.

Water management is a key pillar of Heineken Malaysia’s environmental strategy. Aiming to replenish 1.5 litres of water for every litre used in its products, the group has exceeded this target by more than 200% since 2020 through partnerships with organisations such as the Global Environment Centre. Established in 1998, GEC is a local non-governmental organisation focused on environmental protection.

Heineken Malaysia has also improved water use efficiency by more than 29% since 2014 and treats 100% of its wastewater before discharging it into the environment.

The group is equally dedicated to its social responsibility programme, as evidenced by its long-standing initiatives that empower communities, support education and create a fair workplace. A standout programme is the HEINEKEN Cares initiative, launched during the pandemic to provide food aid to vulnerable communities. It has since evolved to focus on long-term resilience, supporting sustainable food sources and programmes for people with disabilities.

The group’s well-established partnership with the Tiger Sin Chew Chinese Education Charity Concert is testament to its support for education, with RM19 million raised for nine educational institutions in 2024.

“Our role in facilitating this platform is to bring communities together by showcasing the talents of local performing artists. These concerts are specially organised to honour and appreciate our generous donors. We are proud to share that, since 1994, more than RM427 million has been raised for this cause,” says group chairman Datuk Seri Idris Jala in its 2024 annual report, released in April this year.

At the core of its operations is a strong emphasis on a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. The group now has 43% female representation on its board — surpassing the recommendation by the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance for 30% representation — and 38% of its management team is composed of women. This focus on a fair, diverse and safe environment has earned it the “Great Place to Work” certification from the Great Place to Work Institute, a global authority on workplace culture. This recognition is particularly meaningful, as it is based on an independent survey of the group’s own employees.

Meanwhile, Heineken Malaysia has continued to promote responsible consumption, including through its partnership with Formula One since 2016, which advocates the “When You Drive, Never Drink” message. Over the years, the group has been allocating more than 10% of its media spend to increase awareness of the importance of responsible consumption.

“We remain dedicated to creating long-term value for all and continue to be driven by our purpose — to Brew the Joy of True Togetherness to Inspire a Better World,” Idris says.

Last year, Heineken Malaysia contributed RM1.45 billion in taxes, accounting for 52% of its annual revenue.

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