Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Heineken score?

Heineken reports FY2024 Scope 1 (974,000 tCO₂e) and Scope 2 market-based (117,000 tCO₂e) and location-based (863,000 tCO₂e) in its combined Financial and Sustainability Annual Report 2024, prepared under CSRD/ESRS standards. GHG Protocol methodology applied with BIER sector guidance. Multi-year tracking since 2018 with granular breakdown by category. Third-party assurance is in place. Scope 1 decreased 3.94% year-on-year and 34% since the 2022 baseline.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Heineken score?

Heineken reported 14,815,000 tCO₂e of Scope 3 emissions in 2024 across 13 of 15 GHG Protocol categories (up from 9 in 2023). Value chain emissions account for ~89% of total footprint. Supplier engagement is active: 56 suppliers have set SBTi targets via the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition programme, and packaging suppliers representing 80% of packaging footprint have committed to SBTi. The REfresh Alliance was launched in 2024 with 10 beverage companies to scale supplier renewable elec

Emissions Trajectory: How does Heineken score?

Scope 1 and 2 absolute emissions fell 34% since the 2022 baseline — a genuine, significant absolute reduction. Scope 3 emissions fell 14% vs 2022 baseline (FLAG -23%, non-FLAG -11%). However, the 2024 total reported emissions of 16.65Mt appear slightly above the 2022 baseline of ~16.5Mt, partly explained by expanded Scope 3 reporting from 9 to 13 categories. The trajectory on Scope 1&2 is clearly downward and on track for the 2030 net-zero target. Scope 3 trajectory is positive but the apparent

Energy Source: How does Heineken score?

In 2024, 84% of global electricity was from renewable sources. 50% of total energy consumption (including thermal) came from renewable sources. Heineken is an RE100 member committed to 100% renewable electricity. It uses PPAs (e.g. Nigeria, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal), on-site solar, and is investing in renewable thermal solutions (heat pumps in Hungary, electric boiler in Ethiopia, solar thermal in Spain, heat battery in Portugal). The company explicitly does not rely on unbundled RECs as per

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Heineken score?

Heineken has SBTi-validated FLAG targets (first global brewer to achieve this), targeting a 30% reduction in agriculture-related emissions by 2030, including deforestation from barley, maize, and sugarcane. The company participates in the SBTN corporate pilot for science-based targets for nature and is a TNFD forum member. It launched the TRANSITIONS regenerative agriculture programme with VIVESCIA in France, involving 200 farmers on 25,000 hectares in 2024, scaling to 1,000 farmers by 2026. Ref

Resource Use & Waste: How does Heineken score?

Heineken launched a global circularity strategy in 2024. 39% of volumes sold in reusable packaging; recycled content in bottles and cans reached 44%; 98% of packaging recyclable by design. Targets include 43% reusable volumes and 50% recycled content by 2030 with 99% recyclable packaging. The company works with suppliers to create closed-loop recycling streams. These are measurable circular targets with public reporting. However, the company is still heavily reliant on single-use packaging (61%

Water Impact: How does Heineken score?

Water is a core focus for Heineken given beer is 95% water. Average water usage improved to 3.1 hl/hl in 2024 from 3.2 hl/hl in 2023, with a target of 2.6 hl/hl globally and 2.4 hl/hl in water-stressed areas. The 'Every Drop' strategy aims to balance water use in water-stressed areas through watershed restoration. 36 active water replenishment projects in 2024 (up from 28 in 2023), including reforestation in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Malaysia. However, the number of water-stressed sites increased fr

Targets & Commitments: How does Heineken score?

Heineken has SBTi-validated near-term and long-term net-zero targets, plus FLAG targets — the first global brewer to achieve this (approved 2023). Net zero Scope 1&2 by 2030 (90% absolute reduction), net zero value chain by 2040. Scope 3 targets: FLAG -30% and non-FLAG -25% by 2030 vs 2022 baseline. The company follows SBTi guidance to neutralise max 10% of residual emissions with high-quality removal credits only. These are absolute, science-aligned targets with clear timelines and a reduction-

Transparency & Accountability: How does Heineken score?

Heineken published its first CSRD/ESRS-aligned Annual Report in 2024, integrating financial and sustainability reporting. The report includes expanded Scope 3 disclosure (13 of 15 GHG Protocol categories), TCFD alignment, and a dedicated Senior Director of Global Sustainability. Board oversight is in place. The company reports to CDP and has publicly available carbon footprint documents. Third-party assurance exists for ESG data. However, there is no evidence of executive compensation directly l

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Heineken score?

Starting at 8. Deduction of 1 for the Brazil CONAR ruling (2022) where Heineken's campaign claiming '100% green energy' and 'zero carbon dioxide emissions' was found to require amendment — CONAR recommended replacing misleading claims. This was a regulatory correction for overstated environmental marketing, resolved. InfluenceMap rates Heineken as 'highly and positively engaged on climate change policy' with supportive top-line messaging on Paris Agreement and EU Fit for 55. However, Heineken is

Heineken Sustainability Score: 45/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Heineken·Food & Beverage (non-meat)·Amsterdam, Netherlands·Founded 1874·Last verified 25 April 2026

out of 100

Below expectationsPending Review

Heineken has credible science-based targets and verified emissions reductions in operations, but relies heavily on single-use packaging and fossil fuels in thermal energy. Supply chain engagement is real but still unverified for full deforestation-free status. A trade association member with mixed climate policy positions and a past greenwashing correction.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Food & Beverage (non-meat) sector ceiling.

50 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

71 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 50) + (0.7 × 71) = 64.7

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.7

Final score

Rounded. Below expectations.

45 / 100

The ten questions

Where Heineken is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Targets & Commitments and Carbon Footprint — Operations (9/10, 8/10). Weakest on Resource Use & Waste and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (6/10, 6/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

21 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Third-party verified

Tracenable: Heineken GHG Emissions

Ongoing

Q1Q2Q3

Every score shows its working.

Where Heineken is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where Heineken sits among food & beverage (non-meat) peers.

Heineken's score over time.

This score is not currently being contested.

Related companies worth a look.

We'll let you know when the score moves.

Which companies moved this week, and why.