Heineken UK has laid bare its green strategy in the second Climate Smart Food 2025 episode, explaining how the business is working to reintegrate and reuse production waste in a bid to boost its green credentials.
From field to cider, beer and lightbulb, three Heineken UK experts talk exclusively about the process from apple pip to end product and beyond.
Heineken UK will cover:
- Orchard-to-mill circularity: Heineken UK grows its own apple trees and offers 25+ year contracts to growers, ensuring long-term sustainability and consistent cider production
- Minimal waste harvesting: Apples are mechanically harvested and sorted, with nearly zero waste. Any leftover apples are left in the orchard to support local wildlife during winter
- Pomace-to-energy innovation: Apple pomace, once used as animal feed, is now sent to anaerobic digesters to produce biogas, which is converted into electricity and fed back into the grid
- Circularity across operations: From regenerative farming to reusing brewing heat and upcycling spent grains, Heineken UK embeds circular principles throughout its value chain to reduce carbon emissions and maximise resource efficiency
“Circularity helps us decarbonise, regenerate nature and maximise every resource,” said Emmaline Rogers, Heineken UK head of sustainability. “It’s not just strategy – it’s in our DNA.”
Airing on September 16, and focusing on circular processing, the Heineken UK team will also be joined by a host of other experts and industry movers and shakers.
Industry insiders are set to expose food and drink manufacture successes and shortcomings on topics including upcycling berry waste, how AI is driving greener and smarter food systems, and how circular ingredients can be unlocked at scale.
Climate Smart Food broadcast
Sign-up free to watch the industry-leading Climate Smart Food Broadcast series this September, with big name speakers from Nestlé, Kraft Heinz, Heineken, Mars and many more.
Taking place over three days as follows:
- Smart farming: Now available to view on-demand
- Circular processing: September 16
- Packaging & labelling: September 23
Sign-up for free to hear what some of the food and drink industry's most knowledgeable experts have to say on vital climate topics.
The Climate Smart Food broadcast series coincides with Sustainable September, one of the food and drink industry’s biggest global green initiatives forged by FoodNavigator publisher William Reed.
Dozens of international media titles across the business have joined forces under Sustainable September to raise the profile, positives and also the pressures of green thinking within the global food and drink sector.
As part of the month-long focus, we want to hear your views. Take part in a short survey to let us know whether you think the food and drink industry is failing the planet.
For every completed survey, William Reed will donate £1, up to the value of £1,000, to the Farm Africa charity which supports communities to build a more sustainable future.
