MolsonCoors today (March 1) said it will eliminate plastic rings from Coors Light packaging globally and transition to fully recyclable and sustainably sourced cardboard-wrap carriers later this year. It will become the largest beer brand in North America to move away from plastic rings.
The company said it will spend nearly $85 million on the Coors Light transition -- at least where MolsonCoors owns the brewing operations. The upgrade in packaging machinery will also allow the company's entire North American portfolio of brands to advance to cardboard wrap carriers by the end of 2025.
MolsonCoors said the move will save 1.7 million pounds of plastic waste annually. In 2021, MolsonCoors removed plastic rings across all major brands sold in the United Kingdom, including Coors and Carling, and transitioned to recyclable cardboard sleeves.
MolsonCoors in Canada moved to more sustainable plastic rings in 2021 as an initial step, and as part of today's announcement commits to eliminate plastic rings entirely. In Canada, Coors Light's transition from plastic rings to its new cardboard packaging will begin in the next year and is planned to be completed by the end of 2023.
