Heineken Spain and the agricultural sector, the first link in its value chain and the key axis of its activity, work hand in hand to generate a positive impact and promote the sustainable cultivation of the ingredients with which brands such as Heineken, Cruzcampo are made beers. or Amstel.
This action is supported by innovation, caring for the natural environment and local supply to boost the competitiveness of the Spanish agricultural sector. Contributing to the progress of the community and caring for the environment and helping Heineken advance its ambition to be carbon neutral throughout its value chain by 2040.
The recent visit of more than 20 members of the Cooperativa Manzanilla Olive group to its factory in Seville and to Factoría Cruzcampo to see first-hand how beers are made, is an example of the close relationship between Heineken Spain and local farmers. The Manzanilla Olive S Coop And Group integrates more than 6,000 families and is one of the agricultural cooperatives with the largest volume of cultivated hectares in the province of Seville, as well as one of the suppliers of sustainable barley certified under the SAI (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative) protocol. from the brewery.
Sustainable and local commitment
The freshness of the raw materials with which Heineken makes its beers and the way in which they are grown, which must be respectful of the environment, are two key factors in ensuring their quality. As a result, 93% of the raw materials it uses are already of local origin and 74.7% come from sustainable crops, certified under the SAI protocol. And the brewery does not renounce to ensure that 100% of the natural ingredients it uses are locally and sustainably sourced.
To do this, it prioritizes sustainable proximity crops over others, and collaborates with local farmers to find ways to boost the competitiveness of the Spanish countryside. This alliance seeks, on the one hand, to reduce the emissions that are produced when growing raw materials, helping to combat climate change, take care of the natural environment and maximize water efficiency and circularity in agricultural activity. And, on the other, to support the local economy by promoting the cultivation of beer barley in Spain and sustainable innovation in the field.
In addition, the brewery has tools such as its pioneer ‘Malt-brewing quality barley cultivation protocol and healthy techniques’, approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and the Environment based on the SAI Platform (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative). Likewise, it works to achieve the certification of all the natural ingredients with which it makes its products (such as barley, corn, hops, apples for cider, fruit concentrates, sugar or wheat).
