Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has reported that its new technologies for the self-manufacture of lighter PET plastic beverage bottles delivered a reduction in the carbon footprint of each bottle by 22%. This is said to be equivalent to 1700 cars being removed from Sydney roads per year. CCA’s claims are set out in a detailed Corporate Responsibility Report issued this week by the company. The Corporate Responsibility Report ironically coincides with recent financial reporting by CCA that  featured its... ...Read more »

The European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) has responded to criticism over its ruling that bottled water manufacturers are banned from claiming that water can prevent dehydration. The EFSA is responsible for scientific assessment of food and composition and food marketing claims in Europe. On 16 November 2011 the European Commission published a list of health claims made on foods that refer to the reduction of disease risk (EU No 1170/​2011) that had been rejected in previous months by the... ...Read more »

According to a report from Australian food law specialists FoodLegal, Australian beverage and food companies will need to watch closely what emerges from a recent American lawsuit. Foodlegal has reported that parents of a 13-year-old girl from Maryland, USA, have filed a lawsuit against Nestle USA, manufacturer of ‘Deer Park’ and ‘Poland Spring’ bottled waters with added fluoride, and also against Gerber Products Company, which manufactures baby food and infant formula products containing... ...Read more »

The Coca-Cola Company has launched new plant-based recyclable plastic bottles for its Dasani bottled water and Odawalla juices, juice drinks, smoothies and protein drinks across the US. The new PlantBottle packaging is made from sugarcane ethanol instead of fossil fuels. Single-serve Odwalla packages are made from “up to 100 percent” plant-based materials with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. PET bottles for Dasani are made with “up to 30 percent” plant-based materials. The... ...Read more »

A global recession and concerns about the environmental impact of bottled water were expected to drag the previously high flying industry down last year but, thanks to the developing Asian market, the sector was able to hold its own. Research from Canadean, Global Bottled Water Report, suggests that final year figures for 2009 may see the worldwide market for bottled water increase by around 2%. Although this does represent a slowdown, it is encouraging for the industry that the category can maintain... ...Read more »

Global bottled water consumption advanced 4.5 per cent to 218 billion litres in 2008, according to a new report from drinks consultancy Zenith International. Growth of relatively low per person consumption in less developed bottled water markets helped to counteract the combined pressures of the economic downturn alongside public concerns over the environment, the 2009 Global Bottled Water report highlighted. Asia/Australasia reinforced its position as the biggest volume regional market, achieving... ...Read more »

The bottled water industry is expected to come under heightened scrutiny following the decision by the NSW Government to place a ban on all agencies and departments buying bottled water. And Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, has shown support for the move. Mr Garrett told ABC radio today that other states should consider following the lead of New South Wales. “I think it’s worth looking at,” he said. “Quite clearly we’re having a really important, pretty healthy... ...Read more »

Bottled water has been a victim of the recession in some of the world’s hardest hit developed economies and the outlook for the product is clearly not as bright as it was just one year ago. Black tea sales have also taken a hit, as consumers change their consumption behaviour. Bottled water According to Simon Maddrell, Euromonitor’s industry manager of hot and soft drinks, the credit crunch is squeezing the still bottled water category in two ways, firstly, by encouraging a shift into... ...Read more »

The ever lucrative seniors market is growing, presenting food and beverage marketers with a major opportunity. Access to significant liquid capital ensures seniors are likely to ‘upgrade’ and choose premium products, according to research group Datamonitor, particularly amongst ‘empty nesters’ who have no dependent children to support. And, in the non-alcoholic drinks sector, this means opportunities for bottled water, functional products and fruit juice. Consumers over the... ...Read more »

A new report from market researcher Mintel shows today’s adults rapidly switching from calorie-laden soft drinks to other, often lighter, beverages. From 2003 to 2008, Mintel estimates that the regular carbonated soft drink market lost 15.6 million adult drinkers. Just 68% of respondents to Mintel’s November 2008 survey in the US said they drank regular soft drinks in 2008, down from 76% in 2003. During the same period, the number of diet soft drink drinkers grew: 7.8 million more adults... ...Read more »