Brew a Better World
We are focused on embedding sustainability at the core of our business. Our Brew a Better World 2030 strategy directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and is woven into the fabric of our balanced growth strategy.
HEINEKEN Malaysia is guided by our purpose to Brew the Joy of True Togetherness to Inspire a Better World, embedding sustainability into our core business as a long-term approach to doing business the right way, ensuring we are fit for the future while supporting sustainable growth and productivity.
We have adopted the Brew a Better World 2030 strategy, which sets out clear, measurable, and ambitious goals across our value chain. Our Brew a Better World strategy is structured around three pillars: Responsible, Social, and Environmental. Within these pillars, we have seven ambition areas and 16 goals. Each goal is concrete, measurable, and designed to drive real impact. Some of our previous BaBW goals have been integrated into our Fundamentals; these are the responsible business practices we seek to uphold to run the business in the right way.
These priorities are united by our rallying cry, “Together We Can,” reflecting our belief that collaboration across our value chain, communities, and partners is essential to driving lasting progress for people, the planet, and our business.
“True ESG progress begins with ambition, but it is realised through action. Through our Brew a Better World 2030 strategy, we are translating bold ambitions into measurable outcomes: championing responsible consumption, driving meaningful social impact, advancing holistic water stewardship beyond our brewery walls and accelerating renewable energy adoption. At HEINEKEN Malaysia, we believe lasting change is only possible through collective effort. Together with our employees, partners, suppliers, communities, and stakeholders, we are building a more resilient ecosystem, one that creates sustainable value for both society and the environment, today and for generations to come.”
Martijn van Keulen, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia
RESPONSIBLE
As a responsible brewer, we lead by example. We use the strength of our brands to make moderation cool, forge partnerships to address harmful use, empower consumers with clear and transparent information, and expand our range of low and no-alcohol drinks, ensuring there is always a choice
SOCIAL
Our social sustainability efforts prioritise fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, and safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of our employees to create a workplace where our people thrive in an inclusive and fair environment. Beyond our organisation, we extend this impact by supporting local communities and driving positive change across our value chain through responsible practices and partnerships.
ENVIRONMENT
As a company that relies on natural resources, we act to use them responsibly. Brewing togetherness for generations to come means caring for water and nature, maximising circularity, and minimising carbon emissions
Our Impact from Barley to Bar
Sustainability is integral to the way we operate at HEINEKEN Malaysia, shaping decisions across our entire value chain. Our core ingredients, though sourced from regions beyond Malaysia, are procured with stringent standards. This ethos extends to how we brew, package, distribute and market our products, as well as how we support our employees, customers, consumers and communities. Guided by our Brew a Better World (BaBW) 2030 sustainability strategy, we align our efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), ensuring sustainability remains a central pillar of our balanced and future-ready growth strategy. These collective efforts enable us to create moments of true togetherness that inspire a better world.
Brew a Better World 2030 supports the following UNSDGs:
Moderation and no harmful use
Path to an inclusive, fair, and equitable world
Path to zero impact
on the environment
Agriculture
Packaging
Our beers and cider are primarily packaged in bottles, cans and kegs. We design our packaging to stand out while reducing its environmental footprint through material innovation and improved recyclability. We work closely with suppliers to scale efficient packaging solutions to minimise waste and increase the returnability of our glass bottles.
In 2024, we transitioned from single-use plastic to paper-based secondary packaging for our locally manufactured products, further reducing plastic use within our operations.
Brewing
We apply Total Productive Maintenance at our Sungei Way Brewery in Petaling Jaya to streamline performance reporting, enhance equipment reliability and reinforce safety across our operations. On the environmental management front, we have achieved zero waste to landfill since 2017 by recycling and upcycling 100% of our production waste, and improved water efficiency by 36% since 2014. We continue strengthening water stewardship by supporting the restoration and resilience of local watersheds.
Employees
We employ over 500 full-time professionals and uphold a strong focus on developing our people. We encourage our team to be One Step Ahead and boldly pioneer new ideas, guided by our purpose to Brew the Joy of True Togetherness to Inspire a Better World, and our values: Passion for consumers & customers, Courage to dream & pioneer, Care for people & planet, and Enjoyment of life
Distribution
We continuously optimise efficiency across our distribution network nationwide, strengthening reliability, agility and service excellence. Safety remains our utmost priority; we actively engage our distributors and logistics partners to uphold the highest road safety standards, foster a strong safety culture and ensure that every journey is
Customers
Thousands of businesses — from retailers and wholesalers to bars and restaurants — rely on our portfolio to drive revenue and create moments of connection. Through our eB2B platform, Eazle, we equip sales teams with data-driven insights and help customers optimise inventory. Our Star Academy Programme elevate product knowledge and service excellence, having trained more than 11,000 bartenders nationwide, reinforcing responsible serving standards and raising service professionalism across the industry.
Consumers
Millions of consumers enjoy our beers and ciders nationwide. We market exclusively to non-Muslim consumers aged 21 and above, upholding high standards of responsible consumption. This approach is further reinforced through dedicating 10% of Heineken® media spend annually and partnering with e-hailing service provider to discourage drinking and driving. Our portfolio also includes Heineken® 0.0, providing consumers with a non-alcoholic malt beverage option.
Communities
We advance progress hand-in-hand with our communities through our HEINEKEN Cares programme and Tiger Sin Chew Chinese Education Charity Concert initiatives. These efforts strengthen local livelihoods, enhance community resilience and address pressing needs, from clean water access to food security. SPARK Foundation, HEINEKEN Malaysia’s corporate responsibility arm, drives long-term impact through environmental conservation, sustainable development and targeted community upliftment. Together, these programmes create shared value, building a sustainable future where both people and planet thrive.
Established in 2007, SPARK Foundation is the corporate responsibility arm of HEINEKEN Malaysia, dedicated to enriching the lives of local communities across the country. Our mission is to make a meaningful difference through targeted conservation outreach, impactful education programmes, and strong collaborative partnerships, with a focus on creating sustainable, long-term impact in the areas that matter most to the communities we serve and us.
Over the years, SPARK Foundation has invested almost RM25 million in river rehabilitation, watershed health protection initiatives, social sustainability, education, and partnership programmes. We have engaged 180 local communities through public outreach and awareness activities, and fostered over 56 partnerships with local communities, government agencies, educational institutions, and non-profit organisations to scale and sustain our impact.
Our vision is to grow together with local communities by championing water and river conservation and creating learning opportunities for future generations through strategic collaborations—working together for a more sustainable and inclusive tomorrow.
OUR IMPACT
INVESTED ALMOST RM24 MILLION
in river rehabilitation, watershed health protection initiatives, social sustainability, education and partnership programmes
ENGAGED 54,000 MALAYSIANS AND 180 LOCAL
COMMUNITIES through public outreach programmes
FOSTERED MORE THAN 56
MALAYSIAN PARTNERSHIPS
from local communities, government
agencies, educational institutions &
non-profit organisations