Molson Coors Brewing Company Commits To Science-Based Targets

The Molson Coors Brewing Company published its annual sustainability report last week, in which it detailed its progress towards its sustainability targets and announced that it has committed to a science-based greenhouse gas emissions target.

Molson Coors — the brewery behind names such as Blue Moon, Carling, Coors, and Miller — published its annual sustainability report last week, Our Beer Print Report 2018 — a “beer print” being much like a footprint. Amidst the company’s report on its ambitious sustainability target — which it set out last year and included improving water efficiency by 22%, reducing carbon emissions from operations by 50%, and absolute carbon emissions reductions of 20% — Molson Coors also announced that it has set science-based targets.

Science-based targets are intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are in line with contributing to keeping global temperature increase below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. The company’s 2025 goal to lower absolute carbon emissions by 50% within its own operations and by 20% across its value chain has now been submitted for official review by the Science Based Targets initiative — an initiative which works with companies to create greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets that actually line up with the necessary science.

“Molson Coors is a company of dedicated people who strive to leave a positive imprint on our environment,” said Mark Hunter.

“We take our responsibility as one of the world’s largest brewers seriously and believe we have an important role to play in addressing climate change, which is why we have made it a specific element within our broader sustainability agenda. We are proud to join an elite group of nearly 430 companies in the world to commit to science-based targets. We hope that our action will inspire other companies to make the same bold commitment.”

Molson Coors’ 2025 goals are laid out across three main pillars that it believe matter most to the company and its stakeholders:

1. – Promoting Responsible Consumption
2. – Enabling Efficiency from Grain to Glass
3. – Supporting People and Communities

In addition to its commitment to a science-based target, Molson Coors also highlighted the savings it is hoping to make in water and energy. Specifically, the company is aiming to achieve a target of 2.8 water-to-beer ratio by 2025 — a move which the company believes will save 2.1 billion gallons of water, and result in energy savings of over 630,000,000 kWh. The largest contributor to Molson Coors’ impact on the environment is its agricultural supply chain. As such, the company is looking to improve the water-use efficiency of its agricultural supply chain and internal malting operations by 10% and is working closely with growers to reduce their overall water use.

As such, Molson Coors has launched a program that will offer $2 million in financial incentives over the first year to encourage farmers to incorporate sustainability practices into their own operations.

Since announcing its 2025 targets Molson Coors has also been able to make beginning strides towards its sustainability goals.

“Molson Coors has a long history in Sustainable Brewing, and we’ve had an exciting year of firsts,” explained Kim Marotta, MCBC Global Senior Director of  Corporate Responsibility, who spoke to me via email.

“We’ve committed to align our 2025 carbon reduction targets with the established standards for science-based targets, making us one of nearly 430 companies worldwide to do so. Today we have reached zero waste to landfill at 14 of our sites and intend to achieve this across all of our brewing and major manufacturing facilities by 2025. But our commitment to brewing sustainably doesn’t stop at our brewery doors. We’re offering $2 million in incentives to our growers who prioritize sustainability – and that only helps amplify the positive environmental impact we are making as a business.”

For the conscientious beer drinker, Molson Coors is also doing more than just making its business sustainable. “Our commitment to making great-tasting beers that are Responsibly Refreshing means going beyond just doing the right thing,” Kim Marotta continued.

“We believe sharing a beer with friends is one of life’s simple pleasures and we continuously work to help our consumers get the most out of their enjoyment by promoting responsible drinking, providing nutritional information and driving innovation in great-tasting low- and no-alcohol products. We’ve made a strong start on our journey with the launch of Coors Edge – our latest non-alcoholic brew in Canada – and we now offer low- and no-alcohol choices in 14 countries. Our plan is to expand this to all of our countries where we have brewing and selling operations by 2025, and we’re working to accelerate our efforts to achieve this ahead of schedule.”