Heineken beer brewery
Description
Visit to Heineken beer brewery in Den Bosch:
Beer as a people's food, as a thirst quencher, as a stimulant and as an addictive drink: how sustainable is beer?
In the first half of the 19th century, beer became a luxury item in broad sections of the population. In working-class families, beer was hardly drunk, if at all; gin all the more so. In the 1840s to 1850s, gin consumption reached alarming levels and was seen as the cause of social misery, lack of work ethic, poverty and thus malnutrition.
Gin and brandy alcoholism was to be the main cause of the decline in the Netherlands' international position. How was this degradation to be countered?
In the 1950s, the House of Representatives stated: "Our country would be stronger and happier if the use of jenever were replaced by that of beer and the latter were once again the general popular drink throughout the entire empire".
"In the poorest provinces, Noord-Brabant and Limburg, beer is undeniably a basic necessity of life, a foodstuff. To a certain extent it replaces bread, potatoes and meat, and can be contrasted with meat fat as a decoction of grain."
So much for a few quotes and summaries from Part I (pages 172/173) of De Geschiedenis van de Techniek in Nederland.
How is the place and role of beer in society today, 150 years later?
Is brewing and selling beer socially responsible and what sustainability profile is attached to it?
The people at Heineken would like to share their vision with us and exchange views on this. They also want to explain and show us what is involved before a glass of beer is on the table.
The presentation and the visit to the brewery will address:
- Today's beer production process, garnished with a piece of the past and a glimpse of the future.
- Beer as a thirst-quencher, food, mood creator and stimulant. What role does the beer producer play in curbing alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
- Food safety of the entire chain, from raw materials to the beer on the table. Monitoring food safety.
- The environmental impact, including energy and water consumption, of production and logistics processes.
- Vision, policy, social responsibility and sustainability
The afternoon is divided as follows:
13.30 Reception
14.00-15.15 Presentation by Mr Kempers, Manager Sustainable Development
15.15-16.45 Getting ready for factory visit and tour in groups
16.45-17.00 After discussion
17.00 End of visit and departure
Location
Docterskampstraat 7, 5222 AM Den Bosch
Organiser
Dutch Process Technologists
Sustainable Technology
Name and contact details for information
André Dijkmans