The move will help Coors Light save 1.7 million pounds of plastic waste annually
Coors Light aims to become 100% plastic free by 2025 (Credit: Business Wire)
Light beer producer Coors Light has decided to remove plastic rings from its six-packs around the world and replace them with recyclable and sustainable cardboard wrap carriers.
Molson Coors, which owns Coors Light, said that it will invest $85m to support the transition to sustainable packaging.
The investment will be used to upgrade the existing packaging machinery, which will allow the company’s entire North American portfolio of brands to shift to cardboard wrap carriers by the end of 2025.
The new range with fully recyclable and sustainably sourced cardboard-wrap carriers will arrive in the market later this year.
With the latest move, Coors Light is expected to become the largest beer brand in North America to ditch plastic rings.
The move will help the company save 1.7 million pounds of plastic waste annually.
Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley said: “Our business, and Coors in particular, has a long history of using packaging innovation to protect our environment, and today we are building on that rich legacy.
“Just as Coors led the way by pioneering the recyclable aluminium can, Coors Light will lead the way by moving out of single-use plastic rings in North America.”
Last year, Molson Coors phased off plastic rings from all main brands sold in the UK, including Coors and Carling and replaced them with recyclable cardboard sleeves.
Molson Coors in Canada followed the path and shifted towards sustainable plastic rings.
The latest announcement will take Molson Coors closer to its aim to ensure packaging is 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable, and consumer-facing plastic packaging is produced from at least 30% recycled content by the end of 2025.
Coors marketing vice president Marcelo Pascoa said: “We believe that buying beer shouldn’t mean buying plastic
“That’s why we’re taking a step toward making packaging even more sustainable, and with this achievement Coors Light will save 400,000 pounds of single-use plastic from becoming waste every year.”
In 2017, Molson Coors set a target of 2025 to make every package 100% reusable, recyclable and biodegradable.
In 2020, Molson Coors partnered with Ball to provide Coors Light beer in recyclable aluminium cups.