The Corona Plastic-Free Challenge has launched within the 100+ Accelerator, a global program founded in 2018 by Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) accelerating sustainable solutions from start-ups in Fortune 500 CPG companies. As part of the brand’s long-standing dedication to protecting the environment, the initiative will identify, fund and pilot sustainable innovations for plastic reduction across supply chains.
As a brand that aspires to eliminate plastic from the Oceans, Corona took on an extensive assessment of its operations to identify any remaining plastic usage throughout its global supply chain, including its logistics process. This report identified two areas that require further innovation and new thinking to reduce or eliminate plastic. These two areas form the foundation of the Corona Plastic-Free Challenge: 1) replacements or alternatives for plastic liners in bottle caps, 2) improvements to palletization that removes plastic stretch film, while maintaining transportation quality.
The Corona Plastic-Free Challenge invites start-up founders with a passion for building a more sustainable future to help create new methods and technologies to reduce or eliminate plastic from all parts of the supply chain. Successful applicants will receive up to 100,000 USD to fund and pilot their innovation, as well as six months of training from experts and mentors to help accelerate their growth. Corona is accepting applications from start-ups between Seed and Series C at https://www.100accelerator.com/en/challenge/corona from May 4 to May 31.
Felipe Ambra, Global Vice President of Marketing, Corona, said: “Corona is a brand born at the beach. We are deeply connected with nature and appreciate all that it has to offer, so we feel we have a responsibility to set the bar even higher for sustainability.
The Corona Plastic-Free Challenge is an opportunity for passionate entrepreneurs from across the globe to help us find new ideas or technologies that we hope can become new standards for reducing or eliminating plastic from the consumer goods industry. No one company or person can solve this kind of challenge alone, so we’re looking for partners who are inspired by our vision and want to work together toward a more sustainable future.”
Maisie Devine, Global Director, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Managing Partner, 100+ Accelerator, said: “We are proud that Corona is the first global brand to host a challenge with the 100+ Accelerator. Corona has demonstrated its deep commitment to respecting nature andwe couldn’t be prouder to host this ambitious challenge to find tomorrow’s solutions that can reduce the world’s reliance on plastic.”
This is just the latest effort for Corona to fund and scale sustainable innovations. In March, the brand launched a new, circular form of packaging for six-packs that harnesses surplus barley straw to create a truly sustainable paper packaging solution. Corona has a longstanding commitment to help protect the world’s oceans and beaches from marine plastic pollution, raising awareness through the launch of the “Protect Paradise” Campaign in 2019. Launching an upcycled plastic apparel line, and funding beach clean ups around the world since 2017. For further information see https://protectparadise.com.
For more information about the program and to apply, visit the 100+ Accelerator website at https://100accelerator.com/.
