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The UK’s biggest brewer has set a goal of zero production landfill waste by the end of next year, among its environmental objectives.
Molson Coors, a multinational whose products include Carling, Corona and Worthington’s in the UK, has to divert all its manufacturing waste from landfill in all its four large British breweries.
The company claims to have decreased landfill waste by about a quarter in recent years. It has kept more than 1300 tonnes out of landfill in the past year alone, saving tens of thousands of pounds in landfill tax.
The company says: ‘Increasing costs and the drive for a more sustainable business has led Molson Coors to focus on the efficiency of its resource usage and maximize the value extracted from its raw material supplies.’
The company recycles many by-products from the brewing process. Spent grain, for example, goes to farmers as animal feed, and Marmite buys excess yeast.
Lee Finney, Molson Coors’ supply chain director, said: ‘Achieving our goal will have commercial and environmental benefits both now and in the future. Reaching zero production waste to landfill across our breweries not only requires excellent inventory management but innovation and collaboration too.
‘In addition, many of the by-products of the brewing process are valuable resources for farmers and food producers, as well as being a potential energy source.’
The company’s most recent environmental report also shows that it has reduced its carbon emissions by five per cent, its energy efficiency by 11 per cent, and its water use by 650 million litres in recent years.
Coca-Cola Enterprises has reduced its overall carbon footprint by 35,600 tonnes (four per cent) from 2009, while growing business volume by four per cent.
The company invested $8.1 million in making cold drinks equipment more efficient and installed 2800 doors on open-fronted coolers. Its latest sustainaibility report shows that it also reduced its water use ratio to 1.42 litres of water per litre of product, down six per cent from 1.51 litres in 2009.
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