We are proud to mark 10 years of transformative progress in our sustainability journey, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to brewing a better world through social, environmental, and responsible consumption initiatives. Over the years, we’ve made significant strides, such as achieving 100% use of Ethiopian barley in 2023, up from just 3% when we started, benefiting 90,000 farmers by doubling their yields and increasing their income by 150%.
We’ve also reduced water consumption by 230,000 m³ over the last five years and restored water balance in the areas surrounding our Bedele and Harar breweries through the Burqa initiative, planting 2.5 million trees and educating 55,000 community members. As a result, we’ve created a water surplus of 137,000 m³ in 2023, some of which is now being distributed to hospitals and elderly homes. Additionally, we’ve cut our carbon emissions by 21% over the past five years, even as our volumes grew, and reduced our reliance on imported heavy fuel oils. Our community projects have focused on creating over 650 jobs and transforming 157 shelters for vulnerable communities around our breweries.
These achievements would not have been possible without the dedication of our HEINEKEN Ethiopia team and the invaluable support from development partners, government officials, community leaders, and media representatives. To celebrate this milestone, we hosted a Sustainability Conference on November 22, 2024, where more than 100 like-minded stakeholders gathered for insightful panel discussions on our ongoing projects and future ambitions in environmental stewardship, responsible consumption, and social impact. While we celebrate these accomplishments, we remain focused on the future. Our next bold goal is to transform Kilinto brewery into the first carbon-neutral brewery of its size in Africa by the end of next year.
Watch the full event experience by clicking the below link: