Molson Coors Beverage has released its 2021 Environmental Social Governance report with a refreshed strategy that focuses on two key pillars: people and planet. Molson Coors’ new people pillar prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, while the refreshed planet pillar maintains the company’s focus on water, climate, and packaging.
The new people strategy guides how the company operates internally, as well as how it will continue to grow on its revitalization journey. In addition to ensuring stronger, more diverse representation within the enterprise, Molson Coors has programs in place to empower and support employees and partners throughout its value chain.
The refreshed strategy also focuses Molson Coors’ environmental efforts on the three areas where the business believes it can have the greatest impact: water, climate, and packaging.
Molson Coors continues to find ways to make beer with less water, as evidenced by year-over-year reductions in operational water use, as well as water used in its agricultural supply chain. In 2020, the Milwaukee brewery reduced its water use another 8.2% by further optimizing clean-in-place processes. Globally, the company reduced its water-to-beer ratio by 3% to just 3.23 hl/hl (compared to 3.41 hl/hl in 2019).
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Sustainable water use is only one half of Molson Coors’ commitment to water stewardship. The business also continues to demonstrate its leadership in Texas’ Trinity River Basin, where it has teamed with other businesses and local conservation organizations since 2012 to preserve the basin, which is the primary water source for its Fort Worth brewery. Earlier this year, Molson Coors participated in the launch of the Texas Water Action Collaborative, which brings public and private partners together to fund and execute water quality and quantity enhancement projects in the region.
“As one of the world’s largest brewers, we strive to leave a positive imprint on freshwater resources around the world. After all, water is our most important ingredient and the Earth’s most precious resource,” says Natalie Lau, Molson Coors’ corporate responsibility manager.
In March 2021, Molson Coors became the first major brewer in the U.K. to rely entirely on green electricity to power facility operations. The company is exploring renewable energy options for locations in North America as well as part of an ambitious goal to lower absolute emissions within direct operations by 50% by 2025. Molson Coors succeeded in driving down energy and use total greenhouse gas emissions across the global enterprise in 2020 by making capital investments to improve brewing sustainability, performance, and flexibility, as well as enhancing processes and oversight to ensure real-time adjustments and continuous improvement.
In addition, Molson Coors is working to deliver only 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging to market by 2025. The business is continuing its journey to landfill-free operations as well, with its Zagrab brewery in Croatia becoming its 19th facility to reach this milestone.
