Published 01-22-09
Submitted by Molson Coors Brewing Company
- Jan. 22, 2009 - Today marks the 50th anniversary of the aluminum can, as introduced by Bill Coors and Coors Brewing Company in 1959, which changed the global industry standard for packaging beverages and started a recycling revolution.
The aluminum can offered a new way of packaging beer and other beverages that preserved the quality and taste of beer, as well as provided an alternative to the tin can "“ which was widely used at the time, but often leaked and changed the beer's taste.
This new way of packaging beverages also introduced an important sustainability practice in the beverage industry "“ recycling. On the heels of the introduction of the first aluminum can, Coors initiated the first aluminum can recycling program in the U.S. The aluminum can is 100 percent recyclable, can be recycled indefinitely and remains the most recyclable of all materials. Using recycled aluminum scrap to make new aluminum cans uses 95 percent less energy than making aluminum cans from raw materials1.
Molson Coors Packaging and Recycling
Innovation in packaging design continues to be an important part of environmental stewardship at Molson Coors and has led to substantial reductions in the use of raw materials. The majority of Molson Coors primary packaging materials are either recyclable, refillable, and/or light weighted, which reduces materials used for packaging and lowers transportation costs. Today, more than 95 percent of co-products and waste at Molson Coors breweries are reused or recycled.
Canada
Additional information about packaging, waste reduction and recycling at Molson Coors can be found at:
http://molsoncoors.com/responsibility/environmental-responsibility/waste/waste-reduction-and-recycling/312/
About Molson Coors Brewing Company:
Molson Coors Brewing Company is one of the world's largest brewers. It brews, markets and sells a portfolio of leading premium quality brands such as Coors Light, Molson Canadian, Molson Dry, Carling, Coors, and Keystone Light in North America, Europe and Asia. It operates in Canada, through Molson Canada; in the US, through the MillerCoors joint venture; in the U.K. and Ireland, through Coors Brewers, Ltd. For more information on Molson Coors Brewing Company, visit the company's Web site, www.molsoncoors.com. For more information about the company's commitments to corporate responsibility, visit www.molsoncoors.com/responsibility.
1U.S. Department of Energy web site
Molson Coors is one of the world's leading brewers. It brews, markets and sells a portfolio of premium quality brands such as Coors Light, Molson Canadian, Molson Dry, Carling, Coors, and Keystone Light. It operates in Canada, through Molson Canada; in the US, through Coors Brewing Company; and in the UK, Europe and Asia, through Coors Brewers Limited. For more information on Molson Coors Brewing Company, visit the company's Web site, www.molsoncoors.com.
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