Molson Coors launches low-carbon beer bottle

Molson Coors Beverage Company has launched a new glass beer bottle following a trial that cut the carbon impact of its bottle production by up to 90%.

The trial saw Molson Coors join forces with bottling partner Encirc to produce 2 million low-carbon glass bottles for its Staropramen brand, which are now available in stores across the UK.

The initiative has combined use of renewable and sustainable biofuels in the glass production process with a significant increase in the recycled content of the brewer’s green glass bottles.

The new bottles are manufactured using up to 100% cullet – recycled or waste glass – up from the 75% previously used.

The packaging initiative aims to support Molson Coors’ sustainability targets, which include a 50% reduction in the company’s carbon emissions across its global operations by 2025.

Fraser Thomson, operations director at Molson Coors Beverage Company, said: “Sustainable packaging solutions form a core part of Our Imprint sustainability goals and our global aim to reduce carbon emissions from our direct operations by 50% by 2025.

“This trial is a major step for us in reducing the carbon footprint of our much-loved products, and we look forward to continuing to explore how we can implement this across our wider portfolio on a larger scale in the future.”

Rob Turvey, sales and marketing director at Encirc, added: “This is a massively exciting innovation opportunity for us at Encirc, Molson Coors and, of course, their consumers.

“This ground-breaking biofuel trial has shown the world the fundamental role that glass can play in supporting food and beverage organisations in their ambitions to decarbonise supply chains. It further demonstrates why we believe that glass is a key environmentally beneficial packaging format for all forward-thinking beverage companies.”

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company recently announced a similar trial for low-carbon glass beer bottles with Encirc.