E-Malt.com News article: United Kingdom: Brewer Molson Coors commits fully to responsible packaging solutions

Molson Coors, United Kingdom’s second largest brewer, announced on July, 6 that it has become the nation’s first beer maker to commit fully to WRAP’s Courtauld Commitment.

The Courtauld Commitment is a voluntary agreement between WRAP and major UK grocery organisations that supports less packaging and food waste ending up in household bins. Retailers, brands and their suppliers are working in partnership with WRAP to develop new packaging solutions and technologies across the whole UK supply chain. This includes using innovative packaging formats; reducing the weight of packaging (e.g. bottles, cans and boxes); increasing the use of refill and self-dispensing systems and collaboration on packaging design guidance.

Molson Coors (UK) Chief Executive, Mark Hunter said: “As a global family brewer, Molson Coors puts Corporate Responsibility at the heart of its business. This is not only the right thing to do, but also makes great commercial sense. The environment is becoming ever more important to the retailers who are our customers – and also to UK beer drinkers.

“Working with WRAP we have seen how we can minimise waste the whole way through our supply chain – from when the British Barley arrives at our Maltings right up to the moment when the beer is poured into the glass.”

WRAP’s drinks category manager, Nicola Jenkin said: “Signing up to the Courtauld Agreement is a great opportunity to demonstrate leadership within the alcohol beverage sector. Molson Coors (UK) has worked closely with WRAP in the past on initiatives such as light weighting beer bottles. This initiative resulted in an initial 13% weight reduction, saving 4,500 tonnes of glass each year on their 300ml Grolsch bottles, before further light weighting on 300ml Grolsch and Coors Light bottles, saving an additional 4,000 tonnes each year.”

Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) is backed by government funding from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. WRAP helps individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change.


08 July, 2009