The HEINEKEN Group is advancing its decarbonization journey in Brazil with the implementation of a bioenergy supply model for its brewery in Jacareí, in the interior of São Paulo. The implementation, which could total up to R$ 460 million in fuel supply investment by 2037, foresees the use of a hybrid energy model that combines certified biomethane and biomass, contributing to the reduction of emissions associated with the company's industrial operation.

The initiative, developed in partnership with Veolia, a global leader in environmental services, complements other approaches already adopted by the HEINEKEN Group for the use of renewable sources in its industrial energy matrix – such as electricity, already present in all its breweries. Now, the company is also evolving in the thermal generation stage used in the unit's production process. The energy solution will be responsible for supplying the boilers at the Jacareí brewery and represents progress in expanding the use of renewable sources in steam generation for the operation, reducing the carbon intensity in this process. The expectation is that, by 2030, the initiative will contribute to avoiding emissions associated with thermal generation by more than 97.5% compared to the unit's current baseline scenario, resulting in approximately 67,000 tons of emissions avoided by 2030 — equivalent to the annual energy consumption of approximately 740,000 Brazilian homes.

The project integrates two complementary sources – biomethane and biomass – both certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), an international benchmark in sustainability criteria. By adopting a hybrid model, the HEINEKEN Group increases the resilience of its industrial energy matrix, combining operational efficiency, security of supply, and rigorous responsible sourcing criteria.

Ligia Camargo, Sustainability Director of the HEINEKEN Group, reinforces the relevance of this project for the consumer as well. “This initiative goes beyond operational improvement. It means that Brazilian consumers will increasingly be able to enjoy HEINEKEN products produced with renewable energy and a smaller carbon footprint, while maintaining the same quality, flavor, and consistency they already know and expect from our portfolio. This is another step towards making more sustainable choices part of everyday consumption, with a real impact behind every bottle and every glass.”

The energy transition is one of the main pillars of HEINEKEN's global sustainability strategy, Brew a Better World, which guides the company in building a more efficient operation with a lower environmental impact. This strategy is part of the company's global EverGreen business agenda, which combines sustainable growth, productivity gains and a focus on the future, integrating the climate agenda with value creation and long-term competitiveness.

To make the project viable, the HEINEKEN Group will partner with Veolia, responsible for the engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance of the boiler infrastructure. The project has already begun, and the new solution is expected to gradually come online, reaching full operation in 2027.

José Renato Bruzadin, Executive Director of Business Development at Veolia, highlights the importance of the initiative: "This project is a concrete example of two companies joining forces to lead, through actions, industrial decarbonization and a CO2 emissions reduction model that proves it is possible to combine productive efficiency with sustainable performance. By strengthening the environmental safety of industries in Brazil and responding to critical operational and sustainability challenges, such as a true evolution in how industry consumes energy, the project demonstrates an innovative approach to industrial collaboration."

The projection is that the new infrastructure will be able to deliver 110,000 tons of steam annually, demonstrating that it is possible to meet the operational demands of a high-performance industry while addressing critical production sustainability challenges, combining uninterrupted operation with reduced emissions.