Corona has become the first global beverage brand with a net zero plastic footprint, meaning the brand recovers more plastic from the environment than it releases into the world.
Corona’s net zero plastic achievement is another step in the brand’s long-term journey to eliminate its plastic footprint entirely. The Corona Plastic-Free Challenge looks for entrepreneurs from across the globe to help Corona find new ideas or technologies that can reduce or eliminate more plastic from the supply chain.
Corona is also investing in the redesign of key products, 100 per cent of Corona export volume for cans to be free of plastic rings by the end of the year.
Felipe Ambra, Corona’s Global Vice President of Marketing, said: “As a brand born at the beach and deeply connected with nature, Corona has a responsibility to do all it can to be an ally to our environment and our oceans.
“Becoming the first global beverage brand with a net zero plastic footprint is the latest in Corona’s broader ambition to help protect the world’s oceans and beaches from plastic pollution. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why Corona created Plastic Reality, an augmented reality experience that allows people to see their annual plastic footprint in their own home.
“Seeing your full years’ worth of plastic in your living room is truly eye-opening, and hopefully will inspire people to reduce their personal plastic use and their impact on the environment.”
Achieving this milestone comes after an extensive external assessment of Corona’s global operations against the 3RI Corporate Plastic Stewardship Guidelines by South Pole, a leading climate solutions provider. The assessment measured Corona’s remaining plastic usage throughout the brand’s products and distribution logistics processes.
Irene Hofmeijer, Senior Managing Consultant for Plastics at South Pole, said: “Corona is setting a high bar for the industry. Their ongoing product redesign efforts will progressively eliminate the plastic they don’t need, and their investment in Mexico Recicla goes well beyond what is required to address their current plastic footprint, the plastic lost to nature.
“We congratulate Corona for reducing plastic usage, and strengthening collection and recycling infrastructure in Mexico, without which the vision of a circular economy would not be possible.”
These efforts build on Corona’s longstanding commitment to help protect the world’s oceans and beaches from plastic pollution. So far, Corona has conducted over 1400 clean-ups, engaging over 68,000 volunteers and collecting plastic waste from more than 44 million square metres of beach.