Being green is cool: This Kronenbourg 1664 six-pack carton receives impressive Cradle to Cradle certification

WestRock Co., a provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, and global brewer Carlsberg Group, have collaborated on the first combination of primary and secondary beverage packaging to receive Cradle to Cradle certification, the two companies recently announced.

The Cradle to Cradle certification program is administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Certification involves review of the packaging in five categories: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship and social fairness. For each category, products are awarded an achievement level of either Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The lowest achievement level represents the product’s overall mark.

WestRock has received Cradle to Cradle Bronze certification for the Kronenbourg 1664 six-pack carton, made from WestRock’s Carrier Kote Coated Natural Kraft paperboard. This material provides excellent print quality with sharp, clear graphics capturing attention on the shelf, and it gives optimal protection to the glass bottles, remaining strong even when wet.

This achievement is the result of deep collaboration between WestRock and Carlsberg and a shared commitment to sustainability. WestRock joined the Carlsberg Circular Community (CCC) in 2014, and continues to collaborate through ideation, efficient design and material reduction, among other initiatives. The CCC is a partnership between Carlsberg and key supplier partners that was created to rethink product packaging to ensure quality, optimize raw material inputs, eliminate waste and improve end-of-life environmental impact.

“Sustainable development is only possible with strong partnerships and a true commitment to innovation. We are proud to partner with WestRock to continue to drive new ideas that increase our customers’ enjoyment of our products and protect the environment,” said Michael Hinrichs, chief procurement officer, Carlsberg Group. “We appreciate WestRock’s active contribution to the CCC and look forward to continued partnership in the coming years to achieve the ambitious targets in our new sustainability program, Together Towards ZERO.”

“Sustainability is a key part of our value proposition for customers,” said Nina Butler, chief sustainability officer, WestRock. “We value the trust that Carlsberg has put in us, and we look forward to continuing to deliver winning solutions that enhance sustainability.”