In partnership with sustainability consultancy Best Foot Forward, work has just started on an ambitious research programme which will look at impacts in all parts of the industry and suppliers, to identify hotspots and where action is most needed.
Wrap research shows that households are wasting around half-a-billion litres of soft drinks a year, and that a large proportion of the associated packaging ends up in landfill. At the same time, there is additional waste generated in the production and supply of soft drinks.
The industry is affected by water scarcity which affects the supply of fruit and rising prices for key ingredients like sugar and PET (plastic) packaging.
Richard Laming, BSDA media director said: “The soft drinks industry is determined to reduce its environmental impact and we want to work with the best experts available in order to do so.
“The results of this research will help every soft drinks company, whether a member of BSDA or not, to shrink its environmental footprint.”
Best Foot Forward will research soft drinks production and consumption, looking at carbon emissions, resource efficiency and socio-economic issues.
The consultancy will research the entire soft drinks supply chain, from raw material production to end of life. Defra will then work with the industry, with both the partners taking recommendations on board and developing a ‘sustainability roadmap’ for the future.
Source: Best Foot Forward
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