While Australian environment ministers reported on December 15, 2011 the substantial costs of a national Container Depositing Scheme (CDS), Australia’s leading recycling company Visy is advocating against a similar scheme for Victoria. As previously reported by Australian Food News, the Northern Territory (NT) has now implemented its own “Cash for Containers” recycling scheme, modelled on South Australia (SA)’s Container Deposit scheme, which has been operating since 1977. Although there... ...Read more »

EU researchers believe that whey protein’s future potential as a packaging material could reduce or replace the use of petrochemicals in food packaging. Researchers working on the EU’s “Wheylayer” project have developed a whey protein layer to replace a petrochemical-based polymer layer in packaging. The natural ingredients in the whey extend the shelf life of food products, and the whey protein layer is biodegradable. Currently, transparent multilayer films, in which each... ...Read more »

Australia’s leading supermarket chains have been accused of using “copycat” packaging of leading Australian food brands to mislead consumers into buying the supermarket’s own private label products. The Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Chief Executive, Kate Carnell, said today that supermarkets are targeting brands with a strong market share and copying their designs as closely as possible without infringing trademark laws. Private label products are forecast to grow strongly and could... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola has announced today its decision to extend its much talked about ‘Share A Coke’ campaign into 2012. The multinational beverage manufacturer is now asking Australians to nominate 50 new names to feature on bottles of Coke. In October 2011, Coca-Cola started introduced 150 names to bottles and cans of Coke as part of its ‘Share A Coke’ campaign. Coca-Cola South Pacific’s Marketing Director, Lucie Austin said, “The response from consumers and their interactions with the campaign... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s key industrialists, Anthony Pratt, who is chairman of the leading Australian packaging business Visy Industries, has called upon the Australian government to work with Australia’s food industry to boost production. Speaking at a conference on food security yesterday in Shepparton, Victoria, Mr Pratt offered five ways he believes Australia can quadruple its food production: Accelerated depreciation should be introduced to encourage new manufacturing investments in food. Mr... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has reacted to consumer advocacy group CHOICE’s criticisms of “low-fat” claims on foods. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said, “If misleading claims are being made, industry would urge the regulators to enforce consumer protection laws. It is also important to remember there are people who need low-fat but not low-kilojoule diets, for example people with high cholesterol.” Responding to CHOICE’s argument that nutrient profiling is in place... ...Read more »

A survey conducted by market research company Ipsos Australia suggests that most Australian consumers prefer glass packaging for food and beverages over other packaging types. More than 600 people including 565 main grocery buyers were surveyed as part of the research which was commissioned by glass packaging supplier O-I Australia. Of the survey’s participants, 88 per cent said they believed glass packaging best demonstrated high quality food products and 76 per cent of participants said they... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest dairy processor, Parmalat, in conjunction with packaging giant Tetra, has launched a new white milk carton. Parmalat, which fields fresh white milk brands Pauls Full Cream, Rev and Skinny Milk in Victoria, claims the new packaging is the “first significant innovation in fresh white milk packaging for 10 years”. Parmalat’s Rowville processing plant, in Victoria, has been undergone a A$2.2 million refit to allow a shift from existing gable top cartons to the... ...Read more »

Kellogg’s has modernised the packaging of one of its leading cereal brands, All-Bran. To help customers recognise the brand, the company has adopted wraparound packaging that features the original All-Bran design. Customers tear off the packaging to reveal the new look box. According to Kellogg’s, the use of wraparound packaging is a first for the cereal category. The new design targets women who are concerned about everyday digestive health, with a particular focus on younger females. The wraparound... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil has launched its new bottle preform and closure facility at Eastern Creek in Victoria, a $57 million investment in its beverage manufacturing capability. The new plant, which uses injection moulding technology, will manufacture plastic bottle caps and PET resin “preforms”, which are test-tube shaped moulds used to manufacture CCA’s PET plastic beverage bottles. CCA said the Eastern Creek facility is the final stage in CCA’s vertical integration of its manufacturing facilities... ...Read more »