Victorian-based Cool Change Natural Spring Water has launched Australia’s first beverage (spring water) packaged in a bottle made from plants, as they seek to “go green” in an industry often criticised for a lack of sustainability. Rather than packaging a drink in PET, a polymer (plastic) derived from crude oil, Cool Change Natural Spring Water bottles are made using Ingeo PLA, derived from annually renewable sources - plants. This new material is derived from plant sugars and requires... ...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 top,... ...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 »

Sainsbury’s has opened its flagship “green” store, built with consideration for the use of energy, water, waste, timber and land. The store is aiming to be one of the first supermarkets to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for its commitment to sustainable construction, and has been specifically designed to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. The pioneering store will save 40% of its overall CO2 emissions. This will be achieved by using cutting edge technology... ...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 »

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 »

Woolworths, Australia’s largest supermarket operator, has today announced full year sales of $47b, representing a 10.7% increase on last year. Woolworths advised that their food and liquor operations had a 7.9%* sales increase for the year, with inflation for the year of 2.9%. Fourth quarter inflation (2.9%) was seen to drop on the back of a deflation in fruit and vegetable prices, and was markedly lower than the figure of 4.5% registered during the third quarter. Woolworths CEO Michael... ...Read more »

Even though agriculture cannot be covered by an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the Australian Government must take steps to ensure consumers can still afford basic food items, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) warned today. “Any ETS will cause pain to businesses and households… people are slowly coming to grips with that reality,” NFF President David Crombie said. “But it could be crippling for Australia’s food production, threatening to damage our... ...Read more »

A new campaign has been launched in the UK challenging businesses and the public sector to end so-called ‘greenwash’ by achieving the new “Carbon Trust Standard” certificate - the only way for organisations to prove they are tackling climate change and have made genuine reductions in their carbon emissions. The ‘UK Carbon Trust’ has come up with the initiative as the global environmental movement gathers pace. In Australia the ACCC has become concerned over ‘greenwashing’... ...Read more »