Coors Light Eliminates Plastic Beer Rings in Landmark Sustainability Push

Coors Light sets new standards in sustainable beer packaging by phasing out plastic rings worldwide.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

Coors Light sets new standards in sustainable beer packaging by phasing out plastic rings worldwide.

Coors Light Eliminates Plastic Beer Rings: A Milestone for Sustainable Packaging

Coors Light, one of North America’s largest and most iconic beer brands, has announced a major shift in its packaging strategy by eliminating plastic rings on its multipacks worldwide. This bold initiative, led by parent company Molson Coors Beverage Company, marks a watershed moment in the beer industry’s approach to single-use plastics and sustainable consumer goods.

The End of Plastic Rings: A Monumental Shift

Plastic six-pack rings have long been a familiar, but environmentally problematic, feature of beer packaging. Coors Light’s commitment to phase out these rings and replace them with fully recyclable, sustainably sourced cardboard-wrap carriers is a significant move towards environmentally friendly packaging. This change is expected to remove over 400,000 pounds of plastic waste per year from Coors Light packaging alone, and an estimated 1.7 million pounds annually when extended across all Molson Coors’ North American brands.

The transition began in 2022 and is expected to cover all North American brands by the end of 2025, positioning Coors Light as the largest beer brand in North America to eliminate plastic rings entirely.

Molson Coors’ $85 Million Investment in a Greener Future

This sustainability drive is powered by an $85 million investment from Molson Coors. The funding is earmarked for upgrading packaging machinery across its breweries, ensuring a smooth shift from plastic rings to cardboard carriers. This investment doesn’t only benefit Coors Light, but also paves the way for over 30 other brands in the Molson Coors portfolio to make the switch by 2025.

The packaging upgrade is part of a wider company goal: to achieve 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025.
Consumer-facing plastic packaging will contain at least 30% recycled content, in line with global sustainability commitments.
Innovations are being implemented across U.S., Canadian, and U.K. operations.

Why Ditch Plastic Rings? The Environmental Impact

Plastic pollution is one of the world’s most significant environmental challenges. Traditional plastic beer rings pose a well-documented risk to marine and terrestrial life. Animals may become entangled or ingest the plastic, with devastating effects. Even when properly disposed of, plastic rings often end up in waterways, adding to the microplastic crisis.

By replacing plastic rings with cardboard carriers that are fully recyclable and certified by sustainable supply chains, Coors Light is helping tackle:

Marine pollution and threats to wildlife
Landfill and microplastic accumulation
Resource-intensive plastic manufacturing

Innovative Sustainable Packaging: What’s New?

The new packaging solution for Coors Light multipacks is more than just an alternative; it is meticulously designed with both environmental footprint and user experience in mind. The cardboard wrap carriers are:

Made from recycled materials
Fully recyclable through municipal and curbside systems
Engineered for strength and durability to keep cans secure
Sourced from responsibly managed forests

Previous sustainability trials in the U.K., where Molson Coors owns both the Coors and Carling brands, saw successful adoption of recyclable cardboard sleeves, setting a practical precedent for the U.S. market.

Plastic-Free Future Mart: Engaging Consumers

To mark the launch of its new packaging and promote awareness, Coors Light opened a limited-time, sustainability-focused retail experience in Brooklyn, New York, called the ‘Plastic-Free Future Mart‘.

The pop-up was open from March 2 to March 6 and was designed as both a showcase for the new carriers and an educational space.
Attendees could experience what a fully plastic-free shopping environment might look like, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to sustainability in a tangible, customer-facing way.

The Broader Industry Context and Consumer Demand

Coors Light’s move arrives amid intensifying pressure for consumer goods companies to reduce plastic use. Plastic waste regulation and shifting consumer sentiment are accelerating changes in packaging standards:

Surveys show over 60% of consumers consider plastic-free packaging important.
Nearly 70% value sustainably sourced packaging materials, underscoring rising demand for eco-friendly options.
Competitors and other major beverage brands are increasingly piloting compostable, paper-based, or recyclable alternatives to traditional plastics.

Molson Coors’ Broader Sustainability Roadmap

The new Coors Light packaging project is just one component of Molson Coors Beverage Company’s decade-long sustainability agenda, which covers:

Key Focus Area	2025 Goal	Recent Actions
Packaging	100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable; 30% recycled content in plastics	Cardboard wraps, sustainable plastics in Canada, U.K. trials
Climate	Lower carbon emissions	Renewable energy investment, brewery upgrades
Water Stewardship	Reduce water usage, replenish resources	Conservation in brewing, local initiatives
Community Impact	Support local causes, educational events	Future Mart, local recycling programs

Timeline for Change: Rolling Out Cardboard Carriers

The journey toward plastic-free packaging for Coors Light and sibling brands unfolds in several stages:

2021: U.K. brands, including Coors and Carling, switched to cardboard sleeves.
2021: Canadian operations tested more sustainable plastic rings.
2022: Coors Light began introducing cardboard wrap carriers in U.S. stores, debuting at the Plastic-Free Future Mart in New York.
By 2025: All Molson Coors brands in North America will use eco-friendly multipack carriers.

Leadership Commentary and Vision

Executives at both Coors Light and Molson Coors emphasize that sustainability is a core value for the company. Key leaders have stated:

Marcelo Pascoa, Vice President of Marketing for Coors, said: “We believe that buying beer shouldn’t mean buying plastic.” He expressed pride in saving hundreds of thousands of pounds of single-use plastic annually.
Gavin Hattersley, CEO of Molson Coors, highlighted the brand’s legacy, referencing the company’s pioneering work introducing recyclable aluminum cans and now taking another audacious step in sustainable innovation.

Internal feedback and consumer responses have been overwhelmingly positive, with the company hopeful that its actions will inspire others in the beverage industry to rapidly adopt sustainable, recyclable packaging.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Transitioning away from plastic rings is not without challenges. Upgrading packaging lines involves complex engineering, significant capital investment, and a need to maintain both cost-effectiveness and product quality. There’s also an ongoing responsibility to educate both retailers and consumers about how to properly recycle the new cardboard carriers to maximize their environmental benefits.

Nevertheless, Molson Coors is confident in its long-term vision, which aligns with global efforts to ban or severely restrict single-use plastics in consumer packaging. Ongoing innovation will address evolving regulatory standards, technical compatibility, and end-of-life solutions beyond 2025.

What Does This Mean for Consumers?

For beer drinkers, the change is designed to be seamless. The new cardboard carriers are sturdy, easy to use, and recyclable in household systems. The switch supports growing consumer interest in making environmentally conscious purchases without sacrificing convenience or quality.

Retailers are receiving training and resources to stock and display the updated Coors Light multipacks.
Packaging graphics highlight sustainability features, helping customers easily identify the new design.
Customers can recycle the new carriers with standard paper and cardboard waste at curbside bins.

How Coors Light’s Move Sets an Industry Example

Coors Light’s elimination of plastic rings positions it as a leader in sustainable beverage packaging. The approach is notable for its scope and speed, making an immediate environmental impact and raising the bar for competitors and other consumer packaged goods brands. Many industry watchers predict similar moves from major beer brands and beverage companies worldwide to keep pace with eco-minded consumers and regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why are plastic rings considered so harmful?

A: Plastic rings often escape from waste streams and enter the environment, where they pose a severe risk to marine and terrestrial wildlife through entanglement or ingestion. They also contribute to long-term microplastic pollution.

Q: Are cardboard carriers really better for the environment?

A: Yes. Cardboard carriers are fully recyclable, biodegradable, and made from renewable materials, with a much lower chance of persisting in nature if accidentally littered.

Q: Will I notice a difference in how beer multipacks are carried or stored?

A: The new carriers are designed for comparable strength and usability. They keep cans secure, are easy to carry, and provide adequate moisture resistance typical of standard cardboard packaging.

Q: Is this packaging change unique to Coors Light?

A: While Coors Light is the largest U.S. beer brand to make this change, other brands—especially in Europe—are also experimenting with paper alternatives. Molson Coors is extending the initiative across all its North American beverage portfolio.

Q: How can I be sure my cardboard carrier is truly recycled?

A: Disposing of the carrier with household cardboard and paper recyclables ensures the material enters the recycling system. Look for recycling labels and local guidelines if unsure.

Conclusion: Raising Sustainability Standards in Brewing

Coors Light’s global phase-out of plastic beer rings sets a new benchmark for sustainability in the beverage sector. Backed by major investment and a bold vision, it demonstrates that leading brands can and should act decisively to reduce plastic waste. As more companies emulate this model, consumers can expect more sustainable products—and a cleaner planet for future generations.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

Read full bio of medha deb