)Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL), a subsidiary of Heineken Beverages International, has today announced that its Tatu City plant has earned the globally recognised Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification.
EDGE is an international green building certification system that provides a prestigious global standard for green building in over 170 countries and resource efficiency developed and backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
An innovation of IFC, who is a member of the World Bank Group, EDGE is a green building standard and a certification system that has been adopted in over 170 countries. EDGE was created in response to the need for a measurable solution to prove the financial case for building green buildings.
“KWAL’s achievement of EDGE Advanced certification is a remarkable demonstration that economic growth and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Through practical, commercially viable solutions, KWAL has delivered a 44% reduction in energy use, a 28% reduction in water consumption, and a 53% reduction in embodied energy in materials — results that represent real resources conserved every single day,” said Gill Rogers, IFC Head of Country Office, Kenya.
The certification distinguishes KWAL as a leader in sustainable manufacturing, recognising the company’s significant achievements in energy savings, water savings, and reduced energy use. This accomplishment is the result of KWAL’s long-term strategic vision to embed sustainability into the company’s core operations.
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A key cornerstone of the certification is KWAL’s recent commissioning of a 700-kilowatt (KW) rooftop solar power plant. The plant, which was completed in just eight months, currently fulfils 20% of the KWAL’s annual power consumption needs and which has reduced the company’s annual energy costs by an estimated 10%. This investment directly addresses Kenya’s high energy costs and enhances operational resilience against grid instability.
“KWAL continues on its journey to lead the way in responsible manufacturing. We are deepening the synergies between our transformative growth and expansion ambitions to create a future-proof, sustainable business. This certification is a strong testament to our team’s commitment to our purpose to Craft a Better World,” said Lina Githuka, Managing Director, KWAL.
The EDGE certification process provides a clear and measurable framework for sustainability. KWAL’s achievement was made possible through innovative solutions, including the adoption of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model for the solar plant, and our innovative water recycling initiative and motion sensor lighting in our offices.
Building on this momentum, KWAL has confirmed ambitious plans to more than double its solar capacity to 1,500KW. This demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the principles of resource efficiency and a long-term vision for achieving greater energy independence and green manufacturing.
KWAL has adopted Heineken’s global Brew a Better World ambition to ensure it meets select sustainability goals by focusing on the areas where it can make the greatest positive impact while creating long-term value for the business.
Under its healthy watersheds and nature ambition, Heineken has committed to focus on improving water efficiency and replenishing the water used in water-stressed areas, while the company has also committed to decarbonise our operations through energy-efficiency initiatives and increased use of renewable energy.
