All the world wanted for Christmas this year was an enviromentally friendly feast and Aussie exporters were showing the way, according to Austrade Chief Economist Tim Harcourt. “Two of the staple Christmas feast items that (graced) the world’s tables this festive season (were) sustainable Aussie foods,” said Mr Harcourt. “Rainbow Valley Turkeys and Pudding Lane’s Macadamia and Brandy Pudding will be a big hit at Christmas feasts around the world. The great thing about... ...Read more »

New findings suggest that many customers concerned with the environment are not following through by purchasing environmentally friendly products. Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), a leading global provider of consumer, shopper, and market insights for consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, and healthcare industries, has revealed new findings from a study based on TNS’ Shades of Green Segmentation, which highlight distinct variations in buying behaviors even among those consumers who claim... ...Read more »

ASDA has launched a new resealable and recyclable packaging for its cooked meat range, in what they believe to be a market first. Not only will it be both resealable and the main part of the pack recyclable, but the innovative change to the packaging has reduced its overall weight by 25% – resulting in less waste, according to Asda. The new packaging was devised by ASDA and Yorkshire-based supplier Parkam Foods and the majority of the pack, with the exception of the film sleeve covering the... ...Read more »

Australians are unwilling to trade their lifestyle for the environment, a study by market intelligence research group TNS has discovered. A 17-country green study found that cost is one of our greatest barriers to adopting ‘green’ behaviours. The ‘Our Green World’ study revealed that, when asked to rate the condition of their own natural environment, globally six in ten think their local environment is ‘poor’ or ‘fair’, while only four in ten Australians share the... ...Read more »

Cost-conscious grocery store habits US consumers developed during the faltering economy in the first six months of 2008 are destined to have a long-term impact on national shopping behavior, according to research results issued by retail analytics firm Precima. Eighty-four per cent said they’ll keep looking for specials in store flyers; 80 per cent outlined plans to use coupons as much as possible and 78 per cent said they were determined to make fewer trips to the store in order to save on... ...Read more »

Diageo, the world leading premium alcoholic drinks business, has announced plans for a pioneering bioenergy facility at Scotland’s largest distillery, Cameronbridge in Fife, as the alcohol industry heightens their focus on sustainability. Following two years of rigorous research, Diageo, which makes leading global brands including Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Baileys and Smirnoff, has signed a formal partnership agreement with energy management company, Dalkia, to create the new facility. The... ...Read more »

UK retailer, ASDA, has launched an innovative recycled cardboard milk container: the first milk bottle in the UK to be 91 per cent recycled (from waste office paper) and 99 per cent recyclable. The two litre milk bottle, created by GreenBottle, has a carbon footprint that is 48 per cent lower than plastic. GreenBottles have an outer shell which is made from recycled paper, which can then be further recycled. The low density inner liner, which takes up less than 0.5 per cent of the space of a traditional... ...Read more »

Coles is among the first retailers in Australia to implement a natural refrigerant system in its new Ropes Crossing store, opening this September. The system will eliminate up to 700 tonnes from the store’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. The Ropes Crossing development was completed with the assistance of the Green Cooling Council, a not-for-profit organisation founded by members and suppliers of the refrigeration industry. The Green Cooling Council (formerly the NRTB) has been working with... ...Read more »

The UK’s leading supermarket operator, Tesco, is planning to cut its carbon footprint by using straw to power its business.Tesco has been given the go ahead to build Britain’s first ever straw-powered Combined Heat and Power plant to meet the electricity and heating needs of its Goole Distribution Centre. The new plant will generate 5MW of electrical power – enough energy to run eight Tesco Superstores. “We’ve set ourselves stretching targets to reduce the carbon intensity... ...Read more »

The introduction of more environmentally-friendly packaging is beginning to lead to changes in the beverage industry, particularly within the bottled water sector. Traditionally plastic bottles have been made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a petroleum-based plastic,  but new options are beginning to crop up. One such example is made from Ingeo, a plant based natural plastic. NatureWorks LLC, the makers of Ingeo, claim that if all plastic PET beverage bottles made from crude oil sold today... ...Read more »