Mahou San Miguel begins to eliminate plastic in its main beer brands

Mahou San Miguel, a 100% Spanish company and leader in the beer sector in our country, has begun to produce the first plastic-free packaging and groupings for its main beer brands, as part of its firm commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment. The initiative has been approached from an integral and multi-brand perspective and will allow, over the next few months, the replacement of plastic elements in up to 12 references from the Mahou, San Miguel and Cervezas Alhambra ranges, such as Mahou Cinco Estrellas Sin Gluten, Mahou Cinco Estrellas Radler, Mahou Maestra Doble Lúpulo, Magna de San Miguel, San Miguel Radler, Selecta de San Miguel and Alhambra Especial. The replacement of plastic in all of them will result in a saving of 90,000 kilos of plastic per year, a figure that will increase progressively, as the company plans to add more and more brands to this process.

Thus, Mahou San Miguel has proposed the elimination of both the plastic rings and the plastic shrink-wraps that wrap its products with alternatives made of biodegradable cardboard, making a new step forward in its Sustainability strategy which includes, among other objectives, highlighting alternative and less polluting materials. In fact, in order to raise awareness on this matter, the new packaging incorporates the legend “100% biodegradable cardboard” and “From sustainable forests”, two messages that will start to be seen on the surfaces of the packaging in the coming weeks.

To carry out this initiative, Mahou San Miguel has adapted part of the production process at its factory in Burgos, where it has installed one of the first industrial machines in our country capable of fully managing the replacement of plastic with cardboard in the packaging process.

“We want to be a benchmark for the Food and Beverage sector in terms of Sustainability and we have focused our business strategy to make this happen”, says Eduardo Petrossi, CEO of Mahou San Miguel. “Our aim is to continue to make progress along these lines and incorporate increasingly sustainable materials in all our formats, as respect and care for the environment is one of the main pillars on which our company is based, as we want to play an active role in improving our society”, he adds.

Sustainability, a long-term commitment

The replacement of packaging is a further step in Mahou San Miguel’s “Somos 2020” Strategic Sustainability Framework, which summarises the company’s strategy in this field in 20 commitments.

In environmental matters, the Plan includes a 10% reduction in its carbon footprint, the promotion of energy self-generation projects and the protection of water sources, among others.

Specifically, in the area of packaging, the brewery has proposed that all its packaging and promotional materials be made on the basis of environmentally responsible criteria, giving priority to recycled, recyclable and lighter components, as well as the incorporation of 50% recycled PET in all its references, 70% recycled glass and 100% sustainable cardboard. Currently, around 50% of its sales are made in keg format, the glass formats are returnable and the aluminium cans are recyclable.

Mahou San Miguel’s progress in this field has been recognised by various institutions. The latest report of the European BREF, the reference document that compiles the best practices in environmental matters in the industrial sector, places the brewery among the 25% of the most advanced Food and Beverage companies in this field.

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