Ashley Greene x SoBe Life Water

Ashley Greene, gorgeous star of the super famous 'Twilight' TV series franchise recently posed naked for SoBe Lifewater, a spread that will feature in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. SoBe Lifewater boasts zero calories and now a semi-nude Ashley Greene to make their product all the more attractive. You gotta love celebrity endorsements.

Is Glass Packing Best for the Environment?

Beverage Daily today published an article titled 'Glass Packing is Best for the Environment'. While the article does contain some interesting facts, it is however based on a study conducted by the EU Association for Container Glass. 2 countries that have the most successful glass recycling systems in place are Belgium and Sweden with close to 100% of their glass jars and bottles that were put on the market, being collected for recycling.

Responsible beverage manufacturers do regularly ask the question, is glass better for the environment? Based on extensive studies, the answer is yes. But is it a practical solution for 3rd world or West African market place? The cost of manufacturing glass bottles is more expensive as is distribution. The recycling process is also costly and bottles have to be collected from various vendors. Transporting bottles to rural areas takes trucks over some rough roads which inevitably leads to breakages. Glass is also more heavy in areas where goods are transported over long distances by manual labor.

While both Sweden and France have some of the best drinking water available from their taps, they also boast the most sophisticated glass bottle and jar recycling systems. But in places like Africa where there is a greater demand for packaged food and beverages, there are few facilities to deal with the rubbish left over. It is still evident that the recycling technology available in the America's and Europe has not even begun to trickle down to Africa, while large beverage manufacturers can still take advantage of the loose carbon and waste emission laws. It seems to me that the question is not really weather PET or glass is better, but rather, what else have we got?

COCO Organic Coconut Water

“Brazilian scientist Dr Antonio Martins invented a revolutionary new way of extracting coco juice so that it is left as pure and untouched as it is in the coconut.

His brief to us was to craft a new identity that linked his coco juice, coco milks and indulgent coco cream, and to create packaging that also communicated the various health benefits and taste characteristics of the different products.

Our brand overhaul managed to pull off Dr Martins’ various demands and had a dramatic effect on sales, securing the brand an award at an international exhibition and a prestigious launch at Harvey Nichols.”

Green Coco Europe appears to have a great business model where they source only organic coconuts from local co-operatives. They also try to invest directly in education charities passing on Dr. Martins patented extraction technology. They got a pretty good assortment of products with mixed flavors including pineapple and banana. One of their goals is to expand their range using all parts of the coconut (water, flesh, and husk).

Source: Lovely Package

Recyled PET Bottle Dwellings

While PET beverage packaging is practical and cost effective, most manufacturers and consumers alike are aware of the environmental impact our addiction to PET has on this planet. While we can not eliminate the need for PET bottles, there are more solutions available to recycle PET.

Individual environmentalists and scientists have been working with impoverished communities in Latin America and Caribbean nations using waste PET bottles to build homes. They have demonstrated that by filling bottles with silted sand and with their method of construction, "PET bottles make a tougher, more durable construction material than common concrete blocks used in most Central American building."

PET bottles are either woven together and stacked with reinforcement to make walls or even poured in molds with cement to create modular panels.

Not only has this method proven to be practical and durable, some conversationalists are even making these homes look good!

With an island of PET the size of North America taking shape in the Pacific Ocean and our demand for packaged beverages on the rise, this is just another solution for 3rd world markets to consider.

Sources: Learning Site, Temasactuales, EcoPop

23/12 CIPHER Glasses

Check out these CIPHER glasses from RELOGIC design and innovation. These prints that look like splattered dots of paint actually reveal a message when the vessel is filled with colored liquid. This could be applied to PVC shrink labels for packaged beverages as well. VERY cool!

Minute Maid NEW Package Design

Coca-Cola sells over 1,200 juice products all over the world, with over about 120 brand names in their portfolio. Thier most poplar brand in the US is 'Minute Maid' and they have just enjoyed a long awaited design overhaul.

Duffy & Partners were contracted for the job, taking over what they set in motion back in 1995 with the initial Minute Maid package design. It seems Coca-Cola is taking a fresh approach to product packaging all across the board with design and raw material process. Check out the new Minute Maid designs ready for launch in the US December 2009!

NAYA Spring Water x 100% Reycled PET Bottles

Naya Spring Water said it is the first bottled water company to use 100 per cent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) in its containers, as it prepares to roll out the product in the United States.

The Canada-based company said it had overcome a number of challenges to bring the bottle to market after investing seven years in its development.

Finding a supplier to develop the technology to make a container of partial and then total recycled plastic had been the first hurdle, a Naya spokesman told FoodProductionDaily.com. Ensuring sufficient supply once the technology was in place and obtaining health certification from various Government agencies had been two more challenges. The final test had been to secure enough retail orders to make the product commercially viable, he added.

Daniel Cotte, president of Naya Waters, said: “We are proud to be the first major spring water brand to introduce 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, which is a win for the environment as well as for consumers who enjoy bottled water and want to reduce their impact. This innovation is another demonstration of our commitment to put the environment at the heart of Naya's company strategy."

While there is an ever growing need for packaged beverages, it is good to see that companies are finally taking the initiative to source more environmentally friendly packaging. The main problem is that there are few cost effective alternatives to PET.