Who is Molson Coors' New Sustainability Lead Craig Woodburn?
Molson Coors has long been a prominent name with a diverse portfolio including beers such as Coors Light and Blue Moon Belgian White.
Striving to uphold industry standards, the company is committed to leaving a positive impact across its workforce, communities and the environment.
Established in 1786, it stands as Canada's oldest brewery.
In this vein of tradition and innovation, Craig Woodburn has been appointed as the EMEA and APAC Sustainability Director.
Craig Woodburn brings valuable expertise in sustainability, having accumulated years of experience in circular economy practices, supply chain sustainability, carbon management and environmental governance.
His educational qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry, followed by a Master’s in Integrated Environmental Control from Nottingham Trent University.
Since joining Molson Coors in 2024, he has escalated from the position of Western Europe Sustainability Director to holding responsibilities over the EMEA and APAC regions.
Focus on sustainable manufacturing practices
Molson Coors' appointment of Woodburn falls within the company’s broader strategy initiated in 2019, which targets geographic expansion while retaining a focus on a global team ethos.
His appointment supports the company’s ambitious eco-friendly manufacturing goals, reflecting a drive towards reduced environmental impact through water conservation and carbon footprint reduction.
The historical roots of Molson Coors' sustainability efforts trace back to 1885, with its foundational recycling initiatives offering customers incentives for returning empty bottles.
Today, the company strives to decrease water consumption by 22% in its largest breweries and restore 3.5 billion gallons in water-stressed areas by 2025.
These targets are crucial, considering the beer production’s dependency on water resources.
Additionally, Molson Coors aims to halve its carbon emissions by 2025 and has currently achieved a 44.3% reduction, bolstered by investments in renewable energy like wind farms to cut back on fossil fuel reliance.
Furthermore, Molson Coors remains steadfast in its pledge to exclusively use 100% reusable or recycled materials in its packaging, reinforcing its sustainable manufacturing commitment.
Gavin Hattersley, CEO at Molson Coors Beverage Company, said on LinkedIn: “It is an important time to remember that beverage makers like Molson Coors depend on the Earth to create the products our consumers love.
“Barley, hops, yeast and of course, water are the backbone of our business.
“At Molson Coors, we are committed to reducing our impact on the planet.”
Setting the standard across the supply chain
The company establishes firm guidelines on environmental, social and economic conditions for its suppliers, pushing towards an ethical and sustainable supply chain.
It is determined to source all its barley and hops in alignment with these principles, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
Molson Coors aims to reduce water use in its agricultural supply chain and malting operations by 10% by 2025, proving its dedication to minimising environmental footprints across all production stages.
Signifying a modern approach to sustainable agriculture, Molson Coors developed its Grower Direct Portal in the US.
This digital platform enables practitioners to monitor sustainable farming practices, boosting efficiency and transparency across the industry.
Leadership in sustainable production
Craig Woodburn says: “As we accelerate our progress towards our whole value chain target, we are continuing to increase engagement with our suppliers to understand the challenges they face and collaboratively develop solutions, with the support and experience of our procurement teams.
“Data collection, accuracy and availability is a key priority for us and our suppliers and customers.
“It is essential for targeted reductions, as well as driving continuous improvement at pace.
“Data provided by our suppliers will improve visibility of the trajectory needed to ensure we achieve net zero across our value chain by 2050.”
His goal is spearheading data-driven approaches and fostering collaborations to achieve net-zero goals by 2050.
Both Molson Coors' leadership and its ongoing innovations in sustainable practices mark a significant shift in manufacturing principles, ensuring eco-friendly advancements are embedded across its entire production and supply chain processes.
Woodburn's participation in Sustainability LIVE London 2025, addressing sustainable procurement and supply chain management, underscores his commitment to promoting responsible manufacturing strategies.
