Clearly recognisable standards and values are not a luxury: they are essential to our business at every level. Heineken is committed to sustainable development and as such, to optimising our financial results with minimal impact to our business environment.
To do this, we abide by a number of governing business principles and three core values - respect and enjoyment and passion for quality - that reflect our passion for beer and our respect for our employees, business partners, customers, shareholders and all others who are connected to our company.
Respect
Respect for individuals, society and the environment is essential for sustainable business growth. As a brewer, we advocate a policy of responsible alcohol consumption, both for our customers and our employees. As part of local communities around the world, we cherish a corporate culture that embraces diversity and a business approach that honours local laws and regulations. Recognising that rigorous environmental accountability is essential to our future success, we have implemented programmes to address three key areas of environmental concern: water, waste and energy management.
Enjoyment
Beer is all about enjoyment and for us, the social experience is inseparable from the beer. We sponsor music, sport, art and other commercial events because we think they are great ways for people to come together and enjoy themselves. We also try to positively express our values in the media, workplace, and in public life.
Passion for quality
Our business only works if we make great beer, but quality at Heineken goes beyond the products. It touches everything we do, extending, for example, to our social policy and to the significant investment we make in our employees.
Business principles
We try to impose trends rather than passively accepting, and suffering, from them. We have identified fifteen themes in a worldwide programme on social accountability including anti-corruption, child labour, employee representation, sexual harassment and non-discrimination. We also have special programs on HIV/AIDS and responsible alcohol consumption. Since 1999, we have required all of our operating companies to develop these programmes in phases as an integral part of their activities.
| 
