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. This achievement is part of Corona's vision to be a sustainability leader in consumer packaged goods and is the latest in the brand's longtime efforts to help protect the world's oceans and beaches from marine plastic pollution.
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. It also followed the Verra Plastic Waste Reduction Standard to calculate the impact of Corona's mitigation activities, including a major investment in Mexico Recicla, a recycling facility in Mexico. Thanks to these mitigation efforts, Corona now recovers more plastic than its plastic footprint.
"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," said Felipe Ambra, Global Vice President of Marketing, Corona. "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."
Plastic Reality users get an estimate of their annual plastic footprint after answering some basic questions about their consumption habits. That footprint is then visualized through colorful AR pieces of plastic that splash across the user's physical world like seawater washing ashore. From there Plastic Reality opens a virtual portal to a polluted beach paradise that shows how plastic affects nature while prompting users to take action to reduce their plastic footprint.
"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," said Irene Hofmeijer, Senior Managing Consultant for Plastics at South Pole.
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 passionate entrepreneurs from across the globe to help Corona find new ideas or technologies that can reduce or eliminate more plastic from the supply chain. Additionally, Corona is investing in the redesign of key products. For example, 100% of Corona export volume for cans will be free of plastic rings by the end of the year.
"We welcome this first important step by Corona towards the complete removal of plastic from their supply chain," said Richard Hill, CEO of Ocean Generation. "This net zero plastic footprint accreditation demonstrates Corona's recognition of the plastic footprint their products leave on the planet and the series of practical steps they are starting to take in mitigation. We look forward to working with Corona to achieve their ultimate aim of leaving no plastic in nature."
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 1,400 clean-ups, engaging over 68,000 volunteers, and collecting plastic waste from more than 44 million square meters of beach.
