Molson Coors removing plastic from Carling & Coors
By the end of March 2021, Molson Coors will have removed plastic rings from Carling and Coors Light cans, switching to 100% recyclable cardboard sleeves.
Molson Coors is removing plastic packaging from its Carling and Coors Light brands in Ireland and the UK as part of its new global packaging goals announced recently.
The international brewer is investing around €8.1 million (£7.5m) over the next two years to implement the changes.
The brewer will remove the plastic film wrap from large multipacks by the end of March 2020, replacing the plastic wrap with 100% recyclable fully-enclosed carton board.
By the end of March 2021, it will have removed plastic rings from Carling and Coors Light cans, switching to 100% recyclable cardboard sleeves.
The global brewer aims to have 100% of its packaging in reusable, recyclable, compostable or biodegradable format by 2025 and is also strengthening its goals to drive down packaging emissions, using more recycled materials in its packaging and improving recycling solutions in its key markets.
The new packaging goals were announced as part of Molson Coors’ annual sustainability report, Our Beer Print Report 2019, which also details its latest performance against its 2025 ‘Our Beer Print’ sustainability goals and its recently-approved science-based emission reduction targets which align with the Paris Climate Agreement and have been verified by the Science Based Targets initiative.
Molson Coors’ 2025 goal to lower absolute emissions by 50% within its direct operations was determined as ambitious enough to meet the requirements of the 1.5°C pathway – the latest and most aggressive recommendations set forth by the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
“As a global brewer with a strong family heritage, we’ve always taken seriously our responsibility to brew a more sustainable future,” said Molson Coors’ Chief Executive Mark Hunter, “Plastic waste poses a clear environmental challenge and as a consumer-packaged goods company, we play an important role in helping to solve the global waste crisis.”
Commenting on the steps the UK and Ireland business is taking towards achieving the new packaging goals, Kristin Wolfe, Legal and Corporate Affairs Director for Molson Coors UK & Ireland, said, “The pledge we’ve made today, both globally and with the local actions we’re taking in the UK & Ireland, will significantly reduce single-use plastics in our packaging, reinforcing our long-term commitment to brewing greener and working towards our 2025 sustainability goals.”
Alongside the decision to remove plastic rings and film wrap from its Carling and Coors Light brands, globally, the company is aiming to achieve at least 30% recycled content in its PET bottles, plastic film wrap and plastic rings.
It also aims to reduce carbon emissions from packaging by 26% based on a 2016 baseline.
Molson Coors, one of the largest brewers in the world, has five breweries across Ireland and the UK including the Franciscan Well Brewery and Brewpub in Cork.
