HEINEKEN USA: Brewing a Better World in Westchester

Nearly eighty businesses gathered at the WGB Leaders in Sustainability Speaker Series to hear from presenter Dayna Adelman, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at HEINEKEN USA, who oversees the U.S. implementation of HEINEKEN's global sustainability platform, Brewing a Better World (BaBW). 

The event was kicked-off with opening remarks from WGB Program Director, Dani Glaser; WGB partners, John Ravitz, Executive Vice President and COO for The Business Council of Westchester and Kevin Plunkett, Deputy Westchester County Executive; and long-time WGB sponsor, Jane Solnick, Director of Public Affairs Westchester for Con Edison. 

Keynote speaker, Dayna Adelman, discussed her role leading the refinement of HEINEKEN USA’s sustainability, responsible consumption and alcohol policy strategies - in order to integrate and embed sustainability and responsibility programs into the business and throughout the industry.

With a global brand located in over 190 countries, HEINEKEN launched the Brewing a Better World platform, over a decade ago, as a comprehensive strategy focusing on six key areas of sustainability, including: protecting water resources, reducing CO2 emissions, sourcing sustainability, advancing responsible consumption, protecting health and safety and growing with communities.  Today, Brewing a Better World is one of the key business priorities in HEINEKEN’s global business strategy.  

Because there are no breweries in the U.S., HEINEKEN USA has taken the global mission platform and made it relevant locally by focusing sustainability efforts on finding a home for recycled glass and updating their transportation methods.  Today, 78% of HEINEKEN’s glass bottles are made from recycled materials and the company realized an overall reduction in carbon emissions after opting to ship product to the U.S. via waterways. 

HEINEKEN USA has also implemented their Building Better Cities program which focuses on educating consumers to be responsible citizens, creating inclusive communities and growing workplaces with sustainable green spaces.  With the large part of HEINEKEN USA’s national workforce right here in Westchester County, the company has created several purpose-driven local initiatives.  For 13 years, HEINEKEN USA has participated in a New Year’s Eve Safe Ride program in White Plains.  This year, over 200 employees will attend their annual Corporate Day of Giving and spend the work day volunteering on a community development project in Yonkers. 

According to HEINEKEN statistics, 75% of consumers will spend more with businesses that have sustainable practices.  “Today’s consumers are of a different mindset - where they care about this work and take it personally,” stated Dayna.  “In today’s world, not enough companies are doing this work yet, so it is a place of differentiation.  Not only are you doing the right thing, but you are setting yourself apart from competitors as well.  It is a competitive advantage.   It is a way of bringing your own brand personality to life.”

Westchester Green Business is a Business Council of Westchester program administered in partnership with Westchester County since 2009. The program provides businesses with a turnkey system to successfully integrate sustainable business practices into company operations. Business professionals learn exactly where resources are being wasted and identify opportunities to increase efficiency and save money. Proprietary performance tools are used to calculate the economic and environmental impacts of energy, travel, waste, water and refrigerants in an organization, while staff surveys gauge behavioral impacts. Westchester Green Business participants are recognized as green business leaders across diverse industry sectors.