David XL Green, The World's Greenest Draught System, Named Environmental Leader Top Product Of The Year 2014

26 Mar 2014 --- Heineken announced that its David XL Green, the world's greenest draught system received the prestigious Top Product of the Year Award 2014 in the Environmental Leader Product & Project Award.

An expert panel of judges considered David XL Green as an exemplary innovation that provides bar owners with energy and environmental benefits.

David XL Green draught system stores and chills the kegs in a fridge directly below the counter so the beer does not have to travel far to the tapping point. This ensures that every beer is served at the right temperature and together with the green fridge this results in a 50% lower energy consumption versus conventional draught systems. Each 20 litre refillable stainless steel keg has a new disposable beer line to avoid potential contamination that may occur with a conventional installation if not cleaned properly. Together, these improvements result in a longer shelf life of 30 days for David kegs, ensuring that consumers always experience fresh draught beer. Since its launch in the summer of 2012, more than 2500 David XL Green draught systems have been supplied to 25 markets in Europe, Africa & Middle East, Asia and the Americas. David XL Green (double tap of beer) is the line extension of David Green (single tap of beer), the world's first 'green' draught beer system.

Commenting on the win, Commercial Manager Global Innovation, Erik van der Aa said, "Consumers these days are becoming increasingly knowledgeable and appreciative of how a perfect beer should look and taste. And they want their draught beer to be perfect every single time. David XL Green improves the overall beer quality served and guarantees that consumers always enjoy fresh draught beer, hence building consumer trust and loyalty benefitting both our brand as well as our customers".

Maarten ten Houten, Sustainability Manager Global Innovation stated: "Green Cooling is one of the main focal points of our sustainability strategy, as cooling represents about 29% of HEINEKEN's total carbon footprint. For 2020 we have the ambition to reduce our cooling footprint by 50% for fridges, David XL Green actively contributes to that goal."

In their report the judges commented: "David XL Green is a very creative product that solves customer problems, reduces costs, and delivers energy and greenhouse gas savings." Paul Nastu, publisher of Environmental Leader, which is the initiator of the award, added: "The caliber of the entries this year was even more impressive than last year, and showed the excitement and innovation taking place in the industry today. There was tough competition for those that entered, and the products that were awarded Top Product or Project of the Year are those that the judges say have viable attributes that set them apart from others in the field."