Honoured by UNGCMYB for watershed management and progress on climate action

PETALING JAYA, 9 February 2026 – HEINEKEN Malaysia has been recognised in the Nature & Biodiversity category at the Forward Faster Sustainability Awards 2026 (FFSA 2026), organised by the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB), for its holistic water management approach that improves operational efficiency while advancing watershed protection. 

As part of its Towards Healthy Watersheds initiative, HEINEKEN Malaysia has improved water efficiency by 21% since 2014 at its Sungei Way Brewery, while treating wastewater to standards that exceed the requirements set by the Department of Environment. Beyond the brewery, the company has established long-term public–private partnerships through its corporate responsibility arm, SPARK Foundation, working in close collaboration with NGOs and local communities, and in support of government agencies, to implement watershed rehabilitation initiatives under its W.A.T.E.R Project (Working Actively Towards Education and Rehabilitation).

Since 2007, HEINEKEN Malaysia has invested RM16 million in protecting water resources, recognising that water is essential not only for environmental health but also for social well-being, community health, and resilience. Through awareness programmes and investments in nature-based solutions such as river rehabilitation and reforestation, the company aims to support long-term water security across Sungai Way, Sungai Penchala, and the Sungai Selangor basin.

A key success story under the W.A.T.E.R Project is the transformation of the Sungei Way River, which has improved from heavily polluted (Class IV–V) to Class III, enabling it to support aquatic life once again. Through SPARK Foundation, the company has also constructed a 305-metre clay dyke within a peat swamp forest and reforested three hectares of degraded peatland at the Sungai Selangor river basin to increase water storage capacity by raising the peatland water table, contributing to peatland stability and long-term ecosystem resilience. 

Additional efforts include installing 33 rainwater-harvesting systems that are linked to community gardens. These systems improve access to clean water, help mitigate water supply disruptions, reduce reliance on treated water for non-potable use, and alleviate pressure on shared water resources. By linking these water systems to community farming initiatives, HEINEKEN Malaysia also strengthens the water–food nexus, enabling small-scale agriculture, supporting local food production, and supplementing community livelihoods. These systems help communities manage water more reliably, ensuring crops can thrive and reducing vulnerability to water shortages. 

As a result of this integrated approach, HEINEKEN Malaysia has achieved over 200% water balancing since 2020, regenerating more than twice the volume of water used in its products. These outcomes are supported by independent verification using the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) framework developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI), reinforcing transparency and accountability in measuring watershed impacts.

Speaking on the recognition, Martijn van Keulen, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, said: “A healthy watershed is at the heart of our water strategy. By managing water both internally and externally, we integrate operational efficiency, watershed protection, and community engagement to support long-term water security for our business and the communities in which we operate.”

Commenting on the broader significance of the recognition, Renuka Indrarajah, Corporate Affairs & Legal Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, added: “Our W.A.T.E.R Project under the SPARK Foundation, launched in 2007, reflects a long-term approach that invests in nature-based solutions such as reforestation and rainwater harvesting to replenish more water than we use in our products. We are grateful to our partners, communities, and stakeholders whose collaboration has enabled us to drive meaningful impact both within our operations and far beyond our production site. Their continued support inspires us to keep pushing forward in our shared mission to protect and restore our watersheds.”

In addition to the FFSA 2026 recognition, HEINEKEN Malaysia was also named a 3-Star Lister on UNGCMYB’s ESG Select List 2025, reflecting continued progress across key environmental priorities, including water stewardship, climate action, and circular resource management.

Together, these recognitions highlight HEINEKEN Malaysia’s sustainability progress under its Brew a Better World (BaBW) strategy. Guided by practical, science-based action, the company continues to focus on delivering measurable environmental outcomes while supporting resilient ecosystems and communities.

To read HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Towards Healthy Watersheds impact case study published by UNGCMYB, visit: https://www.ungcmyb.org/sustainability-impact-case-studies-directory.