Mexican beer brands are ditching the nasty plastic six-pack rings.
Corona introduced packaging made of barley straw and recycled wood fibers in 2021. In January, parent company Grupo Modelo announced a $4 million investment to replace the hard-to-recycle plastic packaging with fiber-based materials.
They are part of a larger trend in which more companies are switching to greener packaging. Discarded plastic rings have been deadly when entangled with sea turtles and other wildlife. The material is also difficult to recycle.
In March, Coors Light said it would stop using plastic six-pack rings in North America, replacing them with cardboard wrap carriers by the end of 2025 and eliminating 1.7 million pounds of plastic waste every year.
In its announcement, Coors Light said it would pivot to using material that is 100 percent sustainable, meaning it is plastic-free, fully recyclable, and reusable.
“Earth needs our help,” the company said in a statement. “Single-use plastic is polluting the environment. Water resources are limited, and global temperatures are rising faster than ever. We’re chill about a lot of things, but this is not one of them.”
Coca-Cola plans to make its packaging recyclable worldwide by 2025, according to its Business & Environmental, Social and Governance Report, published last year. PepsiCo also plans to design recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable packaging by 2025, its sustainability performance report said.
