MillerCoors 2009 Sustainable Development Report
Merged Brewer’s CSR Identity “Great Beer Great Responsibility”
Jul 18, 2009
SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company’s joint venture, MillerCoors, has a 30% market share of the United States beer market. MillerCoors, a United Nations Global Compact member has positioned itself as “Great Beer Great Responsibility”.
The joint venture’s 2009 Sustainable Development Report provides information on the brand’s corporate social responsibility activities under the banners of responsible consumption, environmental sustainability, supply chain sustainability, people and communities and ethical practices and transparent reporting.
Responsible Consumption of Alcohol Products
As a brewer, MillerCoors, provides a product to consumers which although legal may have detrimental societal and health effects if used irresponsibly. MillerCoors has chosen to address irresponsible consumption of its products through responsible consumption projects including:
- preventing drunk driving by providing accessing to free ride programs. Over 2008 holiday periods, 1.8 million people participated in this project.
- education and awareness campaigns to address underage drinking and drinking issues on college campuses.
Environmental Sustainability
The United Nations recommends a water usage ratio per barrel of 5.00 water to 1.00 beer. In 2008, MillerCoors’ water usage ratio per barrel was 4.10 water to 1.00 beer and the joint venture plans to decrease this ratio further in 2009 and 2010.
Other environmental sustainability activities undertaken in 2008 include the recycling of 98% of all brewery waste and a reduction in North Carolina plant electrical use of 6.8% compared to 2007.
Supply Chain Sustainability
In 2008, MillerCoors focused efforts on finding local suppliers and encouraging diversity within the joint venture’s supply network. Distributors and other participants within the supply chain were encouraged to improve environmental sustainability outcomes. Significantly, the brewer’s major distribution partner, Powers’ Distributing Company added bio-fuel electric trucks to its fleet and have supplied all of its sales team with hybrid engined vehicles.
Investment in People and Communities
MillerCoors has invested both time and money into the communities it is a part of, employees of the joint venture have logged over 60,000 volunteer hours providing direct support to community groups and initiatives.
Support has also been provided in the areas of emergency aid, environmental management and diversity, including continued and expanded support of the MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series providing assistance to African American aspiring entrepreneurs. In 2008, Hispanic aspiring entrepreneurs were invited to take part
Investment in the MillerCoors workforce has seen the creation of MillerCoors University for employee education and a focus on a world class safety culture.
Ethical Practices and Transparency in Reporting
The final area of MillerCoors sustainable development strategy relates to ethical practice and transparency in reporting. Projects under this banner have included the creation of the position of Chief Responsibility and Ethics Officer, implementation of a code of business conduct which is to be affirmed by employees on an annual basis. MillerCoors has also instigated an ethical helpline for employees.
“From Grain to the Glass”, MillerCoors 2009 Sustainable Development Report had an external commentary provided by Corporate Citizenship. The external commentary suggested points for improvement in the joint venture’s corporate social responsibility activities including revisiting 2010 goals due to the ending of the initial merger of the two companies. Corporate Citizenship’s external commentary was not an audit of the company’s corporate social responsibility activities and MillerCoors did not provide a self-assessed rating under the GRI G3 Guidelines.
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