Issue 56 | Water Innovation by FoodBev Media Ltd

WATER innovation

foodbev com A world of food and drink

DIGITAL SAMPLE COPY

Legendary win Water steeped in Nordic symbolism triumphs at beverage innovation awards

Read about water winners in full awards review Special report

FOCUS

Packaging: beyond plastic

PLA and bioplastics

REGIONAL REVIEW

Turning Japanese

漏 water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

www.foodbev.com/water

Issue 56 - September 路 October 2009

Inside this issue 5 6 7 8

42 44 46 47

Springboard

New Editor Medina Bailey and FoodBev Media say hello.

COVER STORY

Everyone’s a winner

wi interactive Readers’ reactions and fun facts.

A roundup of the water related winners, finalists and highly commended entrants at the 2009 beverage innovation awards.

Bubbles A selection of lighter (and occasionally bizarre) news.

Innovations Coconut water and more.

Newsreel

SPECIAL

27 REPORT

Even more news. For regular industry news updates, visit www.foodbev.com/water

Alternatives to plastic

Aqua-tech The latest technical advances.

From glass and cartons, to aluminium and BIB, we explore other packaging forms.

Trading places Review of World Water Week.

Marketplace

water innovation products and services guide. Advertiser index.

One to watch Nayl D’Souza looks at Nestlé Waters‘ renewed sponsorship of the Tour de France.

Click here to subscribe

FOCUS

PLA and bioplastics water innovation examines the case for and against.

REGIONAL REVIEW

Cover stars: Brian Tholstrup Nybo, Managing Director of the Danish Bottling Company, receiving an award from Claire Phoenix, Managing Editor of beverage innovation magazine, for Nornir water.

Japan Steve Galloway and Yoshihiko Hani present an overview of the bottled water market in Japan.

FoodBev com A world of food and drink

Images: screen © Irochka, bottle © Filipe Varela, tomato © Mailthepic, carton © Photoeuphoria, cheese © Edyta Pawlowska, glass © Konstantin Tavrov, orange © Les Cunliffe, bean © Monika3stepsahead, biscuit © Picsfive, strawberry © Braendan Yong | Dreamstime.com

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

CONTENTS 3

Springboard

Click here to subscribe

These bottles are made for walking (and running)

an you spot the bottles of water in the picture below? It’s actually the running shoes you should be focusing on because recycled bottles have been used in their construction. Over 75% of Brooks’ Green Silence trainers have been crafted from components recycled by consumers, including used bottles for the shoe laces, mesh and tongue webbing. “We were told Brooks couldn’t build running shoes that feel great, perform great, look great and support a healthier environment for years ahead. With Green Silence, we shattered that belief, ” says Future Concepts Manager Derek Campbell. “We hope this shoe will serve as an inspiration to others in our industry and beyond.” The shoes

will be hitting running tracks from 1 February next year and retail for around $100. Despite being made from recycled materials, they have still been designed to offer performance, durability and aesthetic appeal. Sounds like a win-win situation all around, then. Speaking of which, don’t miss our roundup of the water winners crowned at this year’s beverage innovation awards, which were staged during drinktec, on page 11. Congratulations and hats off to the companies who took home trophies for their innovative and inventive contributions to the international drinks industry. You can also read all about the latest alternatives to plastic on page 27, decide where you stand on the PLA debate on page 34

and turn Japanese on page 39 with our regional review. For a lighter read, check out the brand new and slightly crazy Bubbles news roundup (page 6), and see what former Editor Nayl got up to at this summer’s Tour de France (page 49). Now that brings me rather nicely onto the fact that it may or may not have escaped your attention that the person pictured on this page is no longer Nayl, but me. I’ve been with Zenith International Publishing (ZIP) for nearly four years and am familiar with the water industry through my work on cooler innovation, so I’m not a newbie as such. I’m really enjoying getting my teeth into the bottled water industry though and absorbing all of the new and exciting information that you’re throwing my way. I rather like my new desk as well. Although it’s only about two metres away from my old one, it comes complete with a fine collection of shiny bottles of water, which I shall be buffing, and of course adding to, on a regular basis. Another change you might have noticed (which is arguably more important than my desk) is our company name. On 14 September, ZIP became FoodBev Media to reflect our expanding online output and contract publishing work. As ever, see FoodBev.com for more details. So, now it’s over to you. I’m really look forwarding to you educating me about the merits of bottled

Medina Bailey water and telling me about your latest creations, so please stay in touch and make sure you keep me posted. Until next time,

Editor, water innovation

In the next issue If you don’t pick up a copy of issue 57 of WI, you’ll be missing out on all this: Drinktec 2009 - The ultimate review The lowdown on filling, packing and liquid nitrogen injection An indepth look at the North American market Part 2 of the Japanese regional review

foodbev com

WATER innovation

A world of food and drink

Published six times a year by FoodBev Media Ltd 7 Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1225 327890 Fax: +44 (0)1225 327891 E-mail: info@foodbev.com

EDITORIAL

Advertising

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Editor: Medina Bailey Direct line: +44 (0)1225 327856 medina.bailey@foodbev.com Senior Designer: Jolyon Edwards Designer: Kirstine Henderson Designer: Hannah Green Group E ditorial Director: Bill Bruce

Senior Sales Executive: Karen Collins Direct line: +44 (0)1225 327872 karen.collins@foodbev.com

A years subscription costs £99 inside Europe and £119 outside Europe.

News Send your product and business news to: wi@foodbev.com

Every effort is made to verify all information published, but water innovation cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any losses that may arise as a result. Opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect those of FoodBev Media Ltd. water innovation welcomes contributions for publication. Submissions are accepted on the basis of full assignment of copyright to FoodBev Media Ltd unless otherwise agreed in advance and in writing. We reserve the right to edit items for reasons of space, clarity or legality.

To subscribe to water innovation call +44 (0)1225 327871 email: subscriptions@foodbev.com or visit www.foodbev.com/subscribe

Printed in the UK by Holbrooks Printers Ltd on paper produced from elemental chlorine free pulp sourced from sustainable managed forests.

4 EDITORIAL

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

wi interactive

Trading places - page 44 Event and appointment news

Feedback, facts and fun

Click here to subscribe

Letters to the editor

What happened to free choice?

So what’s going on when a small Australian town decides to be the first place in history, and in fact the world to ‘ban bottled water’? Not to cast aspersions on the intellectual make up of the 351 residents of Bundanoon in New South Wales, but what were they thinking? Essentially the focus of the media debate on drinking water hasn’t been about water at all. It’s been about the marketing, distribution and packaging of water. Bottled water is seen as a ‘soft’ target because most people can access it for almost free from the tap. It’s also an easy target for zealots, who blindly choose to forget the fact that over 98% of bottled beverages sold globally are not pure drinking water. Researchers have worked out why people buy bottled water. The primary reason is simply convenience and a desire to I wanted to send you this quick note to say thanks for the great work on the article about our new 3 litre bottle in the previous issue. You summed up a lot of information very concisely. Congratulations on your new position at wi, Medina. I will be sure to keep you posted as we progress and I look forward to continuing to advertise within your high quality magazine. wi delivers useful information with a nice look and feel. What else can you ask for in a magazine?

choose something not sweet or caffeinated. People want options. If I go for a drive in the car I might get thirsty and a bottle of water is the healthiest option. However, what the residents of Bundanoon are saying is that they have great municipal drinking water so why should they have to buy it? OK, but who was putting the gun to their heads insisting they buy bottled water? We all have free choice. So the impact of this new ban is likely to be nil. But the profile of the town is now global. Well done that town. A survey conducted recently in the US found that the public believe that bottled water is the healthiest beverage choice. In the survey, respondents were asked: “Please think about living a healthy lifestyle. Which one bottled beverage do you associate most with living a healthy lifestyle?” Bottled water scored a resounding 58%; milk 22% and juice 5%. Soft drinks were 2% and yet ironically here in New Zealand the number one selling single item in all supermarkets is Coke 1.5 litre. Interestingly, the UK based National Hydration Council Many thanks for taking the time to write in Dean, and please do keep us up to date with your news.

(NHC) has just launched a campaign to underline the positive benefits of bottled water and getting into the ‘water habit’. In the UK the average person drinks just 100ml of bottled water and 100ml of tap per day, less than one cup of the recommended six to eight cups a day. According to Jeremy Clark, a Director of the NHC: “The amount of tap water the English drink has remained the same for the last 30 years. So the growth of bottled water over the last decade has been a force for good. But we are still not drinking enough water.” Pure water is amazing. Every enzymatic and chemical reaction of the body occurs in water. Digestion and metabolism are water-based processes. Water regulates all functions of the body and protects us from both heat and cold. Even our breathing process requires moisture from the lungs in order

Fill me in

to transfer oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of the blood and body. Plus let’s remember that every day at least 5,000 children die from lack of access to safe, clean drinking water. How lucky are we? Let’s not take it for granted. We know how important water is. Let’s preserve, respect and honour it. And if necessary carry it around in a bottle. Hey, they’ve been doing that since the dawn of time. Plus it’s good for you! Okay. Grant Hall, Good Water and New Zealand Juice & Beverage Association Editor’s note: A straight talking, thought provoking riposte to some of the negative press about bottled water which has been circulating in recent weeks. Thanks to Grant for sending it in.

WATER innovation

QUIZ Can you complete the water facts below by filling in the gaps with the following answers? 1

97.5

a) Recycling a single glass bottle could power a computer for ___ minute(s) (British Glass) b) ___% of the earth’s water is saltwater. If the world’s water fitted into a bucket, ___ teaspoonful(s) would be drinkable (UN Human Development Report, 2006) c) ___% of an elephant is water (Wiki Answers)

Dean Lane, Add-vanced Creations

ANSWER: a) 25, b) 97.5 and 1, c) 70

The best beverage for the human body is . . . water. There, I said it. You already know it instinctively. We are born in it, feel good next to it and are made up of it. We are about 70% water in fact.

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

feedback 5

Bubbles

Click here to subscribe

It’s news, but it’s light

Scotland takes on Italy in water fight n Italian restaurant in Leith, Scotland, is giving its customers the chance to vote for their preferred choice of drinking water. When the owner of Vittoria, Tony Crolla, considered removing Acqua Panna bottled water from its menu, he sparked a debate among his customers about which is better - Italian bottled water or Scottish tap water. “Worldwide, Scottish water has a fantastic reputation - especially compared to the likes of London water - and serving from the tap has obvious environmental and carbon footprint benefits over transporting Acqua Panna to the restaurant,” he said.

“However, some people feel that an authentic Italian restaurant should have authentic Italian water, so I’ve decided to open it up to the public to decide if it should be Scottish water or Italian water we serve. “It’s Water Idol with the winner being kept on at the restaurants. If Italian water wins, then all the Scottish water will be used for is washing the dishes and the floors.”

For Italian born Paolo Veneroni, who runs Edinburgh based Continental Quattro Stagioni, a food and wine distributor, there’s no contest: “When you go to a proper Italian restaurant, you want the most authentic Italian experience you can have - and that includes having Italian water. Having an Italian meal without Italian water would be like serving lasagne and sprinkling it with cheddar cheese instead of parmesan cheese.

The public will be voting with its taste buds via a blind tasting test, an online poll at vittoriarestaurant.com and voxpops among diners in the restaurant.

“You can have Scottish water any time - just turn on the tap - but for an Italian meal, there should be Italian water - and let’s be honest, it just tastes better.”

Crystal Geyser worms its way in

S-quids in

woman in Nevada, US, opened a bottle of Crystal Geyser sparkling flavoured mineral water, only to be confronted by an 8 inch long worm. Lorna Thomas hadn’t noticed it until after she had opened the product, causing the creature to rise to the top of the bottle.

A Japanese toy company has devised an unusual way of making bottled water even more appealing. Bandai’s plastic floating squid, jellyfish and octopus can simply be added to bottles of water for hours of aquarium-esque, fishy fun. The micro toys retail at $6 each.

Following advice from Crystal Geyser, the surprised consumer returned the bottle to the store, where it was sent back to the manufacturer, who will be investigating the mysterious incident.

Sipping celebs

The latest water related news from planet celebrity

Gossip Girl fans may have noticed Glacéau vitaminwater being prominently displayed at a lavish party in the opening episode of the show’s second series, as well as being talked about throughout the remainder of the teen drama.

“This is very unusual. I have been with this company for 20 years and have never heard of anything like this ever happening to any of our customers,” commented Consumer Service Manager for Crystal Geyser, Nancy Davis.

UK celebrity chefs including Ainsley Harriott (right) and Ken Hom are backing WaterAid’s Taste for Life campaign by coming up with recipe ideas for participants to prepare at home for friends, while raising money for the water charity. According to the Daily Mail, Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie drank Skinny Water while shaping up for the band’s tour. “I’m drinking Skinny Water,” she said. “With a name like that it has to be good, right?”

When US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton (above left) arrived in Mumbai for her five day tour of India, she was closely followed by a security official who carried bottled water into the Taj Mahal Hotel where she was staying.

6 FEEDBACK

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Innovations

Click here to subscribe

The Editor’s pick of the latest new products, with a definite scent of coconut in the air . . .

Coca-Cola buys minority stake in Zico

ollowing recent speculation, as reported on FoodBev.com, The Coca-Cola Company has taken a minority stake in the coconut water company Zico Beverages. Coca-Cola announced the investment in Zico on 1 September. Coca-Cola declined to say how much its investment was worth, other than to say it was a stake of less than 20%.

“It’s an exciting new category and an exciting new brand in the category,” said Coca-Cola spokesman Scott Williamson. California based Zico (pronounced ZEE-ko) said in a statement that

it has received a $15 million investment from partners including Coca-Cola, beverage entrepreneurs, distributors, celebrities and others, so Coca-Cola’s stake was worth less than that. According to a report from Merrill Lynch, sales in Brazil are worth more than $300 million a year,

while sales in the US are about a tenth of that. Coconut water is not to be confused with coconut milk, the liquid that comes from pressed coconut meat.

PepsiCo agrees Amacoco acquisition

epsiCo has agreed to acquire Amacoco, Brazil’s largest coconut water company. The agreement is the most recent step in PepsiCo’s strategic transformation of its beverage portfolio and marks the company’s entry into the fast growing market for coconut water, a source of natural hydration popular in Brazil and dozens of other countries. Amacoco makes and sells Brazil’s top selling coconut water brands, Kero Coco and Trop Coco, which are highly regarded by consumers as healthy, refreshing hydration drinks. Together they account for the bulk of packaged

coconut water sales in the country, making PepsiCo the category leader. “We’re delighted to welcome Amacoco into the PepsiCo family,” said Massimo d’Amore,

Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Americas Beverages (PAB). “Amacoco is an outstanding company that I have known and admired for a long time. Amacoco will complement our current business and enhance our growth prospects throughout Latin America and beyond. Even in the nascent US market, coconut water sales are enjoying extraordinary growth.” Coconut water represents one of the fastest growing beverage

Coconut water offers high potential

company that is not new to coconut water is Los Angeles based One Natural Experience, which was established in 2005 and is behind O.N.E. Coconut Water. The firm’s CEO and founder, Rodrigo Veloso, spoke to water innovation about what the Coca-Cola and PepsiCo acquisitions mean for the coconut water industry and why the product is increasing in popularity. “We feel very excited about these acquisitions as they legitimise coconut water as a beverage category in its own right,” said Veloso. “We are confident that the success of the water in Brazil will start to be replicated in the US, and then become a global success as a billion dollar category.” O.N.E. Coconut Water extracts water from inside the green coconut. According to Veloso, Brazilian consumers were initially drawn to the product due to its refreshing taste, but it is now receiving increased attention in the US as a result of its functionality. The water is said to contain five electrolytes, offer more potassium than bananas and provide similar hydrating properties to sports drinks. “People in the US are definitely becoming more aware of the health benefits of what they are consuming,” he continued. “Coconut water combines health benefits with hydration so it appeals to athletes, as well as a more mainstream audience. It’s currently the fastest growing natural beverage.”

categories due to its natural hydrating qualities, good taste and nutritional benefits. It is a great source of nutrients particuarly for people who lead active lifestyles as it contains calcium, magnesium and the same amount of heart healthy potassium as a glass of orange juice.

Innovations from FoodBev.com

News in brief • Nestlé Waters North America is introducing re-source, a bottled spring water designed to engage with consumers about the importance of recycling • Saka Natural Mineral Water has added a 5 litre bottle to its now 11-strong lineup • Mineral water, Brecon Carreg for Kids, has been launched to appeal to parents looking for healthy items to fill their offspring’s lunchboxes • glacéau vitaminwater10 has added four new variants to its low calorie, naturally sweetened water range, namely go-go, mega-c, revitalize and recoup • Lightly flavoured Nutri waters with herb extracts and vitamin B are new from Simonds Farsons Cisk. Read more innovations at www.foodbev.com

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

PRODUCT NEWS 7

Newsreel

Click here to subscribe

News roundup

Austria’s Ottakringer and Vöslauer to merge

ustrian beer maker Ottakringer Brauerei and mineral water producer Vöslauer are to merge. The two companies have been part of the same holding company, but will now formally merge in a deal to be closed at a special shareholders’ meeting on 21 September and backdated to 1 January 2009. Family brewery chief Sigi Menz, who will be Chairman of the Board of the new firm, explained the name of the merged company will be Ottakringer Getränke and that Ottakringer’s foreign subsidiaries and Vöslauer would be listed on the Vienna stock exchange, along with Ottakringer under the new name. Christiane Wenckheim will manage Ottakringer, and Alfred Hudler will manage Vöslauer.

The Wenckheim and Menz families will have an 88% interest in the new firm, up from the 76% interest they have had in Ottakringer.

The news comes after recent figures showed Ottakringer bucked trends in the Austrian brewing business by turning in good first quarter results. Its domestic sales rose 0.6% year on year in the first quarter of 2009 while Austria’s overall brewing industry shrank by 10.6%.

The new firm is expected to have an annual turnover of around €200 million. Ottakringer had a turnover of €83 million last year, while its Bavarian subsidiary Innstadt Brauerei’s was €10 million and its Hungarian subsidiary Pecs’ was

Menz said the reason for the company’s relatively good performance could be that Ottakringer had recently become the first Austrian beer given the “AMA-Gütesiegel” seal of approval by the Austrian Agriculture Association (AMA).

Organic status for Tyˆ Nant land Tyˆ Nant has been awarded Soil Association Organic Certification for the land where its bottled spring water is sourced.

€28 million. Vöslauer’s turnover was €77 million last year.

“For 20 years, since inception, we have worked to eco-friendly and organic principles,” commented General Manager Sales & Marketing for Tyˆ Nant,

David Relph. “We are fiercely loyal to the land from which our water is sourced. We respect the natural world and in turn it rewards us with an awardwinning water.”

The firm has also unveiled an ambitious tree planting programme to turn an additional 200 acres of land acquired in 2004 from acidic pine forest into indigenous broadleaf woodland.

Nestlé Waters to open new Sacramento bottling plant

estlé Waters North America is opening a two line water bottling facility in Sacramento in a bid to better serve its customers in Northern California. The new facility, which will be located in an existing industrial area, will create 40 jobs in the region by early 2010. “Nestlé Waters looks forward to building strong partnerships in the Sacramento community as both an employer and neighbour,” said Nestlé Waters Sacramento Plant Manager Chris Kemp. “It is our commitment to invest not just our resources, but also our time and energy into the communities where we operate and we hope to learn more about how to be a part of Sacramento in the coming months.” The new bottling facility will initially bottle up to 150 acre feet of water annually, purchased from the city of Sacramento and from nearby private springs. It will bottle water under the

company’s Nestlé Pure Life and Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water brands for distribution to its customers primarily in Northern California. During the equipment installation and building retrofit phase, the firm will invest approximately $14 million and directly employ approximately 16 people. In addition, many local contractors and tradesmen will be hired to complete the construction and installation. Once the plant is fully operational, Nestlé Waters will employ approximately 40 people. These posts will pay competitive wages and offer

a generous array of benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, and profit sharing. Sacramento Area Trade and Commerce Organisation (SACTO) Board Chair Jeanne Reaves commented: “Nestlé Waters’ decision to open and operate a bottling facility in Sacramento

is a testament to our city’s strengths as a good place to do business and create jobs. This is exactly the type of light, clean industry SACTO works to attract to this region and we look forward to continuing to work together with them as the company becomes a part of our community and our economic base.”

8 NEWS

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Newsreel

Click here to subscribe

For the latest industry news, visit FoodBev.com

Volvic voted greenest soft drink

Sangs scores in Scotland

ollowing its relaunch in March this year, Danone Waters’ Volvic brand has been recognised as the greenest soft drink in an independent UK assessment of grocery products. Run by researchers in association with the University of Nottingham, the study scored a range of grocery products across a number of categories, from laundry detergent to tea, on a number of factors including packaging and energy needs. It found that Volvic bottled water was the greenest soft drink and that the brand came fourth overall, way ahead of any other soft drinks. The new ‘go green’ packaging on the Volvic pack uses explicit messages to signal to consumers the brand’s commitment to

sustainable projects which aim to help both people and the environment. It also encourages consumers to recycle and clearly highlights that Volvic bottles are 100% recyclable and made with a proportion of recycled plastic.

Canada Dry gets the Skinny Skinny Water’s manufacturer has entered into a distribution agreement with Canada Dry Bottling of New York. Skinny’s calorie free enhanced waters will be distributed by Canada Dry throughout the five

boroughs of New York, as well as Westchester County, Long Island and parts of New Jersey. Canada Dry also bottles national brands such as Evian, 7UP, Sunkist and Welch’s.

t’s that time of year again and Scottish spring water and soft drinks manufacturer Sangs (Banff) is celebrating the start of the new football season by becoming official water partner to five Scottish Premier League teams. The firm will be whetting the appetites of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hamilton Academical, Hibernian and St Mirren football clubs with its MacB pure Scottish spring water throughout the 2009-2010 season.

We wish them all the best for the season ahead.”

Andy Anderson, Managing Director of Sangs said: “We are delighted that these SPL players will benefit during matches and training from some of the purest water produced here in Scotland.

“The opening of the Metro New York market for Skinny Water is truly a milestone for our company as we build out its distribution,” commented CEO and President of Skinny, Ron Wilson. The size of the market, the number of chain accounts

and the total number of accounts that Canada Dry can place Skinny Water into is expected to drive significant growth.”

Bottled water to the rescue

ottled water provides much needed hydration and refreshment in various situations, particularly during the long hot summer months, as this recent news roundup from the US shows.

• In Tucson, local businesses

clubbed together to provide police officers at sun-scorched crime and accident scenes with bottled water. Deputy Chief, Sharon Allen commented: “This will at least prevent them from getting dehydrated. The donation of water allows officers to continue to work their ten and 12 hour shifts every day. Often they are called upon to work long hours in crisis situations, and the water they bring with them to work is usually all drunken up.” People on the streets of Los Angeles are being

•

encouraged to swap their beer for a bottle of water. Funded by community groups, the Safe and Sober Summer campaign aims to hand out over 10,000 free bottles of water in a bid to reduce incidents of violent crime, cool down hot tempers and offer an alternative to alcohol. “Basically we could wash dishes cheaper with bottled water.” That was the view of Larry Potter, General Manager of the Cotton Gin restaurant in the town of Crandall, where water and sewerage rates have increased

•

10 NEWS

to SCAN Health Plan Arizona. The firm raised awareness about the importance of hydration, particularly among older people in the community, by matching up to 200 cases of bottled water donated by each of its business partners to local organisations and senior centres. Students moving into halls of residence at Gordon College, Georgia (below), were provided chilled bottled water by United Bank of Barnesville. The bank offers the complimentary water to students and their families and friends every year.

• by 45% and 80%, respectively. Local residents have been angered by the rises, with Potter adding: “Now, don’t be throwing any of this water away - it costs too much money.” City Manager Heath Kaplan said that although they’re not proud of the rates, they’re not the highest in the state. Elderly residents in Arizona (above) were offered relief from the intense summer heat thanks

•

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Lap of honour

Click here to subscribe

The judges deliberated. The lavish ceremony, which was the largest event of its kind for the non-alcoholic drinks industry, took place at the International Convention Centre in Munich, during Drinktec. And the victors were crowned. Now we present you with the water related winners of the beverage innovation awards 2009 . . .

Best packaged water Winner: Danish Bottling Company, Nornir The concept behind Nornir water is to symbolise the cycle of life and tell the story of the Fates of Norse legend, Nornir, who used it to give strength and vitality to the world tree. The pure mineral water’s source in Denmark comes from a 20 million-yearold cycle as the water is filtered deep underground by quartz sand and protected by age old geological strata.

SEEMS, Sembrancher Premium Swiss Water Sourced from melted snow on the peaks of Mont Blanc, this premium bottled mineral water claims to travel from its pristine origins to the finest tables. Its glass bottle packaging with contemporary mountain logo, gunmetal label and handwritten graphics serve to recreate the experience of drinking directly from source.

Available in three versions, which parallel the three Norns, namely still, effervescent and with oxygen, the water’s glass-like appearance in PET, simplistic labelling and original marketing aim to emphasise its purity and status as a premium water.

ABI, 9˚ This Belgian premium water brand is so called because the Italian underground spring from which it originates remains at a constant temperature of 9°, making this the optimum temperature to serve and enjoy the water. To enhance its exclusivity, the product has limited distribution, is available in nine different colours and is adorned with platinum and nine diamonds with 23 carat gold flakes.

Finalists Grupo Vichy Catalan, Font D’Or Maximum Developed for the restaurant and hotel markets, Spanish Font D’Or Maximum hails from the Font D’Or spring, which is marketed as ‘The

birthplace of water’ due to its 100-year-old heritage and history. It is presented in a blue translucent, stylised glass bottle with a sophisticated, curvy silhouette for easy handling and a classically distinctive appearance.

Font D’Or Maximum, Sembrancher and 9˚

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

COVER STORY 11

Lap of honour

Click here to subscribe

Best new flavoured water

Finalists

Winner: Coca-Cola Hellenic, Römerquelle emotion blackberry and lime

Tate & Lyle, Enrich Lotus Blossom This new flavoured water targets health conscious French consumers by aiming to assist with weight management and good digestive health, as well as provide antioxidants from green tea for cardiovascular and anti-ageing benefits. It is sweetened with Fructopure Fructose and Splenda Sucralose, contains Sta-Lite Polydextrose fibre and is enriched with Teawell green tea extract.

Bringing together Römerquelle mineral water with natural fruit juice concentrates, the eighth variant of the emotion brand combines the sweet sour taste of the blackberry with a hint of refreshing lime. Four weeks after making its retail début in 50cl and 1 litre PET, as well as horeca in 33cl glass, the product catapulted itself to become the no 2 variant in the Austrian near water market thanks to an integrated TV and billboard advertising campaign. After two months, the drink’s reach grew to 88% across the country, resulting in 7.1 Austrians seeing the advert or poster 1.4 times a week.

Highly commended Ganic Water, Ganic water This unadulterated sugar free spring water from Southern Norway is enhanced with completely natural extracts and aromas from herbs, spices, fruits and flowers to subtly infuse flavour through the nose, rather than the tongue. The German range features 15 variants including cranberry pearl, smooth ginger and caramel toffee, all delivered in 50cl bottles.

blends mineral water from the Alps with a fruit flavour, hint of coffee and a natural caffeine fix. Presented in a 750ml bottle, Active O2 taps into both the coffee drink and flavoured water trends.

Adelholzener Alpenquellen, Active 02 mango/raspberry and coffee flavours Claiming to offer 15 times more oxygen than other waters, this functional water from Germany

Enrich Lotus Blossom and Active 02

Best activation/POS/print or online campaign Winner: Coca-Cola Spain, Limon & Nada campaign Limon&Nada was launched in Spain in 1997 to appeal to the adult end of the market. Media support for the beverage began in 2008 via TV, print, internet, point of sale and outdoor channels, with the aim of communicating its personality. After 18 months of ad-hoc advertising, which interpreted daily life and news though the brand’s humorous, pencil drawn philosophy, and a ‘Sencillo nos gusta más’ (‘Simple, we like it better’) tagline, the beverage took a 50% leading share of the lemon segment. It also achieved a brand awareness reach of 53%, beating the new brand average of 51%.

Finalists Highland Spring, Now, that’s true love Scottish Highland Spring’s campaign centres on the premise that despite the credit crunch, consumers are not willing to compromise on good quality food and drink as it comforts their loved ones through difficult times. The resulting adverts show nostalgic, feelgood movie moments, signifying that if you truly love someone, then only the best bottled water from organic land will do.

Masafi, Fruitherapy

Ganic water

The launch of Masafi’s 100% pure juice blends in Tetra Pak cartons was supported by an extensive media and marketing campaign, which incorporated print and outdoor, instore and truck branding elements, as well as a website, merchandise © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

12 COVER STORY

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe

Best alternative packaging

Finalists

Winner: Lightweight Containers, KeyKeg one way dispensing line

RKW SE & Hartness International, Grabpack

The KeyKeg dispense-cooling system aims to enable clients to transport at least 25% more beverage product per transporter. Combined with the integral one way dispensing line, it claims to improve the quality of dispensed drinks at outlets by preventing over carbonisation and maintaining product freshness for more than four weeks, instead of the four to five days achieved with metal kegs. As it eliminates the return transport and washing processes of metal kegs, the KeyKeg also has a smaller carbon footprint.

This multi-pack product comprises a pre-formed web of printed shrinkable polyethylene film, which captures the foot and shoulder of bottles. It gives a unique on shelf appearance to products, increases label area per bottle, improves bottle

costumes and PR material. The objective of the campaign was to engage with fruit juice consumers in the UAE and portray the range’s rejuvenating, vitalising and energising effects.

Next Generation Waters, Change is in the bottle Next Generation Waters’ brand campaign involved putting a dollar and a message in 10,000 of its bottles and distributing them to various sites such as petrol stations, parks and beaches across Florida. The message suggested several ways of how

Highland Spring

the recipient could use the dollar, such as contact the person they’d been meaning to call.

Highly commended Coca-Cola, Spirit of Georgia

at the adult retail and out of home market. The campaign included retail displays, beach club, boat tour and barbeque samplings, and online, print and radio advertising.

Coca-Cola in Germany devised a campaign to target its new sparkling traditional beverage from natural fruits and plants with a dash of fermented juice

Next Generation Waters

Masafi

Coca-Cola Germany

protection, reduces floor space and personnel, and is ideal for stackable end of aisle displays.

Smurfit Kappa, Gassier Bag-in-Tubes This concept from Smurfit Kappa features a spiral composite tube, double layered bag, tinplate top and bottom lids in various colours and a Vitop tap for withdrawing the liquid glass by glass. After opening, the Bag-in-Tube protects the product from oxygen ingress, which ensures an extended shelf life and suits the needs of occasional drinkers.

Highly commended Cubis, Cubis 25A Cubis is a square, stackable container for the grab&go segment, which hails from Cyprus. Featuring a fliptop cap for easy opening and reclosing and hygienically protected drinking spout, the square shaped containers are made of 100% recyclable material and can be efficiently stacked, leading to fewer trucks on the road and more space on the shelf.

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

COVER STORY 13

Lap of honour

Click here to subscribe

Best bottle in glass

Finalists

Winner: Acque Minerali, Stille di Lurisia

Grupo Vichy Catalan Font D’Or Maximum For the makers of Font D’Or Maximum, its outer container should not only present it as firmly positioned in the premium water category, but also as an object of desire. They felt that the material that would best achieve these aims was glass. The result is a translucent elegant bottle with a striking blue hue and fine curves.

Acque Minerali’s Stille di Lurisia sophisticated glass bottle was designed by Sottsass Associati to evoke the tradition and values of the mineral water contained within it, as well as its quality and evolution. Its simple silhouette with gentle curves, which was created by SaintGobain Vetri, is unique in appearance and instantly recognisable, while the caps crafted by Guzzini successfully bring together good looks and functionality. The water is targeted at the refined consumer who believes that drinking water should be a pleasurable, high quality experience.

PepsiCo, Pepsi Natural Pepsi Natural is packaged in a glass bottle with traditional crown cap for the US market. The choice of glass lends simplicity to the product, while the embossed logo provides soft, yet distinctive branding.

Font D’Or Maximum and Pepsi Natural The overall look connotes premium quality and a fresh new look, which is ideal for introducing consumers to this new all natural soft drink with a smooth finish.

Best can or alu bottle Winner: Kian Joo Packaging, 200 can end For Kian Joo in Malaysia, the standardised can end should offer beverage manufacturers versatility and cost effectiveness. It believes that its smaller can end, which boasts a diameter of 200 (down from 206), should set the standard as it eradicates the reduced panel profile, lowering costs. It would also lessen the hassle of having to pile SKUs and take inventories of different sizes, which can be a logistical and financial burden. What’s more, the smaller end could bring about a reduction in carbon emissions as it uses less aluminium. It would also result in a simpler filling line that reduces changeover time, cuts down on costs and maximises capacity.

Finalists Ball Packaging Europe, Ball resealable end

Toyo Seikan Kaisha, RFID beverage can

Ball’s resealable can comprises an aluminium can end with a flat opening mechanism made of plastic. A simple rotating movement uncovers the opening, which has a tamper proof feature. Its benefits include a long shelf life, recyclability, various colour and size options and added convenience for the consumer.

This specially designed Japanese can lid with RFID tag can communicate with conventional readers, even if the body of the can is made from aluminium or steel. The tab ring acts as the antenna and allows the RFID chip to vertically emit a radio wave, making it ideal for commodity control applications and promotional campaigns.

RFID beverage can and Ball resealable end

Highly commended Boxal, High definition printing process Boxal’s printing on aluminium bottles allows for distinctive packaging designs with unique shapes and contours. Premium, lightweight and shatterproof, the bottles can feature high definition printing with unrivalled sharpness and colour contrasts, as well as brushed metal effects incorporating the latest design trends for maximum differentiation and brand impact on shelf. © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

14 COVER STORY

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com, For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

Highly commended Uskok, Costella Slovenian Uskok had the challenge of complementing its PET bottle water line with a new premium water bottled in glass. It came up with a sleek, stylish container and simplistic label, which gives a transparent look to the product and ensure it stands out as a premium water.

SEEMS, Sembrancher Premium Swiss Water Fit for the most upmarket of dining tables, Sembrancher water is contained within a glass bottle. The shape might be reminiscent of a classic fine wine bottle, but its white finish, evoking Swiss snow capped mountains, cleverly adapted

cap, and silkscreen labelling effect ensure that it stands out as a contemporary premium water.

The Danish Bottling Company’s Managing Director, Brian Tholstrup Nybo, receiving an award from beverage innovation Managing Editor, Claire Phoenix

FoodBev Media Group Editorial Director, Bill Bruce

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

FoodBev Media Chairman, Richard Hall

cover story 15

Lap of honour Best carton or pouch

Click here to subscribe

Finalists Funkin, Funkin Cocktail Mixers

Winner: Ecolean Group, Ecolean Air Aseptic pouch

Aiming to translate the success of its professional products for bartenders to the UK consumer market, Funkin launched its single serve ready made cocktail mixer pouches in December 2008. They cleverly enable consumers to create bar quality cocktails in around ten seconds by adding the 100% natural contents to a glass with ice and alcohol.

Suitable for the ambient distribution of low acid liquid food products, the Air Aseptic is based on Ecolean’s Calymer material technology with extended light and oxygen barriers. The ready to fill packages are supplied pre sterilised and hermetically sealed, and aim to offer consumer convenience with a low environmental impact.

Volpak, DUOpouch The Spanish DUOpouch is a flexible package designed for

Highly commended Dolphin Productions, Dolphin SmartPack Lightweight and 100% recyclable, the Dolphin SmartPack for water has a patented tear and sip closure for easy opening while on the go. Available in a 25cl size, it is suitable for schools, vending machines and large scale events. After use, only a small, flat piece of film remains, reducing waste going to landfill.

Best design in PET Winner: Danish Bottling Company, Nornir At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that Nornir’s slim 50g multi-layer PET bottle is actually glass. Sealed with a 30/60 aluminium closure, the natural mineral water has been launched in three different variants, based on the Fates of Norse legend, the three Norns - still, effervescent and with oxygen. Its design aims to embody its simple and serene Nordic origins and appeal to horeca consumers with its elegance and emphasis on quality. The colour palette, closure and label have all been carefully selected to fit in with its decadent, yet delicate image.

Funkin and DUOpouch beverages. It is made up of a stand up pouch with straw which can be hermetically closed and sealed and is protected by a top tab. Its hygienic easy opening solution makes it ideal for children and prevents spillage, contamination and air ingression.

Finalists Next Generation Waters, Ñúu Spring Water This water is so called because the ancient tribe which inhabits the volcanic region in Panama where it originates believe that Ñúu is rain, a gift from nature. It blends functionality, which makes it easy to carry and drink from, along with aesthetic appeal thanks to the embossed raindrops on the bottle, which hint at its origins.

Preshafruit and Ñúu

Preshafood, Preshafruit Australian Preshafruit boasts a triangular silhouette, distinctive branding, transparent label and bold colour, which make a strong visual impact on shelf. But there’s another reason for

that unique shape - it reduces waste by maximising the production capacity of the HPP process, a juice and cold water pasteurisation technique used to make the drink.

Highly commended Sinebrychoff, Battery For the makers of Battery premium energy drink in Finland, its bottle needed to portray its masculine, powerful, functional image, as well as justify its premium price tag. Sustainability was also important, so Battery is part of a recycling system where 70% of the bottles are returned and the material is used to make display crates and pallets. © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

16 COVER STORY

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Best environmental initiative category sponsored by

Click here to subscribe

Best environmental initiative Winner: Thonhauser, TM Smart Track This dry lubrication product is used in Austrian bottling plants to keep bottles and cans moving along the production line. It is intended to replace the normal soap and water based lubricants which produce excessive amounts of water (approximately the volume of an Olympic sized swimming pool every year for a small plant). As this substance is based on silicone it doesn’t require any water and reduces lubricant

chemical use by 90%. According to the manufacturer, this will make an enormous contribution to green beverage production and many plants in Austria have already made the switch.

Finalists Frigoglass, Ecocool Coolers This range of eco-friendly ice cold merchandisers has been designed to reduce environmental impact by using natural substances (hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide) to cut down on refrigerants. They also operate with 50% less energy than coolers produced a decade ago, are HFC-free and compatible with recycling process requirements.

Compostable PLA bottle

Log, Compostable PLA bottle Log’s bottles are made from degradable materials from renewable sources, and are compostable within a short time. The PLA containers can be filled or cleaned at temperatures up to 70°C. Log’s improved formulation has made the industrial process more efficient and economical, and also resulted in better transparency and clarity for the finished product.

PepsiCo, Green plant in China PepsiCo’s first overseas ‘green’ plant was opened in the Chinese city of Chongqing. It is also the first green beverage facility built in China that complies with rigorous sustainable engineering standards set by the Green Building Council. It has been

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

cover story 17

Lap of honour

Click here to subscribe

Best environmental initiative (continued) Finalists designed to use 22% less water and 23% less energy than the average PepsiCo plant in China.

Delta. It aims to educate and change attitudes about the environment, as well as provide practical training. Over 27 million people have been exposed to the communication so far.

Highly commended PepsiCo, Tropicana Rescue the Rainforest

PepsiCo Green Plant in China

Coca-Cola Hellenic, Adopt a river This Romanian programme sets out to preserve water resources and prevent floods in vulnerable areas from Dorna, where CocaCola bottles its mineral water, to the UNESCO protected Danube

This campaign gives consumers the chance to rescue the rainforest through orange juice. With assistance from Tropicana, non profit international trust Cool Earth helps to protect the rainforest in Peru’s Ashaninka Corridor by employing local people and funding community based initiatives. To date, over 54 million square foot of rainforest has been protected by the campaign.

Best health initiative

Coca-Cola Hellenic Romania

PepsiCo Holland

Special commendation Coca-Cola Hellenic, All initiatives Coca-Cola Hellenic received this special award for: “an outstanding and sustainable international contribution to water stewardship across an entire business - engaging with employees, communities, governments and NGOs to protect watersheds, raise public awareness and preserve water.” Coca-Cola Hellenic’s environmental initiatives are wide ranging and include ‘Let’s Save Yelyna Together’ in Belarus, ‘Clean Coast’ in Ireland, ‘Acquando’ in Italy, ‘Vistula River for life’ in Poland and ‘Save Liberty Island’ in Hungary.

Finalists

Winner: Coca-Cola Hellenic, Wake your body (WYB) active lifestyle programme

First Juice, First Juice The First Juice brand was the brainchild of a team of parent entrepreneurs in the US who set out to help children develop healthy habits from a young age. Available in Purple Carrot with Blueberry and Peach variants, the juices blend organic fruit and vegetables, encouraging children to develop a taste for healthy foods, rather than products crammed with sugar.

DSM, tensVida

This programme aims to promote leading an active lifestyle and raise public awareness about the importance of regular exercise. It has created various opportunities for Hungarians to take part in large scale public sports events by choosing personalised regimes that are in keeping with their age, gender and fitness levels. Everyone can take advantage of the programme, which features swimming, running, cycling, dancing and aerobic activities. The WYB events also highlight the benefits of making the right nutritional choices, and dieticians are on hand to carry out health checks, such as weight and body fat percentages, BMI calculations and cardiovascular tests.

This ingredient contains dairy peptides, which aim to help control blood pressure levels. Over 20 clinical studies have been carried out with lactopeptides to show their blood pressure lowering effect.

First Juice Its manufacturer therefore claims that consuming tensVida as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle can contribute to a reduction in risk of stroke and heart disease.

Coca-Cola Hellenic, Amita five a day campaign Amita worked with the Ministry of Development on this campaign to communicate the five a day concept and its benefits. It encouraged Greek consumers to improve their nutritional intake by increasing their consumption of vegetables, fruit and juices. The initiative

18 COVER STORY

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe

Best ethical initiative Winner: PepsiCo, PepsiCo Foundation - access to clean water PepsiCo’s work to provide communities with access to clean water started many years ago through investing in programmes and becoming involved in the UN Water mandate. The PepsiCo Foundation aims to bring safe water to at least a million people who are affected by lack of water and sanitation. It seeks to achieve this by putting proper sanitation in place, protecting water sources, funding ‘demand driven’ water programmes, and educating local communities about improving water and sanitation. The Columbia Water Centre, the SafeWater Network and Water Partners work alongside the foundation to implement programmes in India, China, Africa, Brazil and Bangladesh.

Finalists The Staging House, ASDA Dairy Bus This campaign backed by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs aims to put children back in touch with the origins of their food and drink. The bus visits county shows, stores and schools to educate youngsters about where dairy products come from, how they

Pfanner Fairtrade orange juice

was supported by TV, print and web communication, as well as participation in conferences and instore activities.

the shelf. With six cans retailing at £2.50 in the UK, it also represents good value for money.

Highly commended Cott Beverages, Asda Apple & Berry 100% sparkling fruit juice This lightly sparkling beverage which contains pure juice counts towards one of consumers’ five a day, meeting the demand for healthier beverages. It is packaged in a 25cl can format in a versatile multi-pack with a stylish design to stand out on

Asda 100% sparkling fruit juice and Celsius On-the-go

Hermann Pfanner Getränke, Pfanner Fairtrade orange juice Pfanner has been working with the Fairtrade organisation since 2001 to bring fairly traded products to Germany and Austria. Its 100% orange juice, which uses fruit from Brazil and Cuba, helps to promote better living conditions for fruit pickers and their farmers. Multivitamin and mango beverages have now also been launched under the Fairtrade banner.

Highly commended Sociedade de Central de Cervejas e Bebidas, Água de Luso/Associação Laço Drink for life programme

Celsius, Celsius On-the-go Celsius has launched its calorie burning beverages in convenient single serve sachets, which can be mixed with water. Each on the go packet contains MetaPlus, ginger, caffeine, calcium, chromium, B vitamins and vitamin C, and claims to raise metabolism for three hours, therefore helping to promote weight loss.

are processed and the part they play in a healthy balanced diet.

Coca-Cola Hellenic, Earthquake relief Following an earthquake in the Abruzzo region of Italy in April, Coca-Cola worked with the Red Cross and civil defence, and sent volunteers from its plants, to equip kitchens set up in the worst hit areas with water, fruit juice and fridges. It also turned its Oricola facility into a collection point for donations and asked employees to give an hour’s pay to the worthy cause.

The Luso brand supported Associação Laço to assist with raising funds to build a new breast cancer diagnosis and treatment centre in Lisbon. Every time a consumer bought a bottle of Luso water between May and July, they automatically made a donation to the association and helped this worthwhile cause.

Água de Luso

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

COVER STORY 19

Lap of honour Best labelling or decorative finish Winner: Borojo Beverages, Borojo

Click here to subscribe

Best labelling or decorative finish category sponsored by

Finalists

This organic energy beverage contains borojo fruit, which hails from the rainforests of Panama, Colombia and Ecuador, and is said to boost energy levels as well as act as a natural aphrodisiac. It is also infused with green tea, yerba mate and guarana seed for an added antioxidant and energy fix. Its manufacturers therefore wanted a packaging design that would make this distinctive drink stand out from the crowd. The resulting label definitely delivers thanks to its bold use of colour to represent the various flavours, sans serif typography which lends a clean look, and text to emphasise the product’s natural properties.

Coca-Cola, Coke Light Alu bottle by Manolo Blahnik Well heeled lovers of designer shoes will be more than familiar with the work of Manolo Blahnik. This time the designer turned his attention to Coke’s iconic contoured bottle to create a new design for the Light brand in Germany. His stylish limited edition aluminium bottle is targeted at fashion conscious women and links the drink with the latest trends.

Love Limited Edition, Love h2o Limited Edition

Highly commended Yxaiio, Yxaiio pheromones This self titled beverage from Austria’s Yxaiio combines pheromones and chilli aromas. The former are chemical messengers which are said to trigger sexual desire, while the latter release endorphins and lead to enhanced Yxaiio pheromones sexual sensations. Its can features a simple, minimalistic design with in the Czech Republic devised a bright pink to stand out and appeal Christmas themed design with a to its female target audience. holographic effect for its Regular and Diet Coke 33cl can multiCoca-Cola, Christmas packs. The red and silver 3-D effect hologram pack of Coca-Cola enabled the products to shimmer Aiming to connect with consumers on the shelves and attract the over the festive period, Coca-Cola attention of shoppers.

Christmas hologram pack of Coca-Cola

This limited edition water from the UK has been styled like the latest must have fashion accessory. It is adorned with Swarovski crystals, which are applied individually by hand and symbolise the crystal clarity of the Wenlock water contained within the bottle. Each bottle also features a limited edition number to enhance its exclusivity and promote it as a collectors’ item.

CCL Label, Harboe Bryggeri ØKO This organic soft drink with a high juice content is

packaged within a PET bottle and full body sleeve. It features a matt and glossy finish for a distinctive look, as well as a transparent window so that the product can be seen. The bottle and sleeve can both be recycled.

Liquidcool, liquidcool Liquidcool wanted to present bottled water differently by opting for a tall, sports style bottle with a large recessed label area for providing an effective grip. Its self adhesive silver label has a laminated coating for durability and the brand name printed on the back of it, cleverly magnifying the logo through the water.

Polysack Plastic Industries, Polyphane Fit-STS Developed for contoured bottles, Polyphane Fit-STS shrink labelling offers up to 50% shrinkage, is compatible with steam and hot air shrinking, and can wrap up to 60,000 bottles per hour. It can also be applied with all seaming methods, adapts to all printing methods, and its production process uses up less energy.

Coke Light, ØKO, Love h20 Limited Edition, liquidcool and Polyphane Fit-STS © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

20 COVER STORY

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com. For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

Best multi-pack or crate Winner: Elopak, Multipull Elopak’s Multipull system features a paperboard tray that can hold up to six mini cartons and a handle. Pre-cuts in the tray make it easy to pull the cartons out to be consumed. The package has a distinctive shelf presence and is ideal for outdoor use at picnics, barbeques and days out.

Finalists Coca-Cola, Apollinaris crate This 10 x 1 litre returnable crate, which is made Apollinaris crate using 50% of It also prevents bottles in recycled material from old multipacks from being scanned crates, has an open design to individually, retains pack highlight the recently updated integrity inside and outside German Apollinaris brand. The of the cooler, and facilitates new logo is on display on the easy removal of the bottles sides of the crates, while the from the pack. use of eye catching red and silver is inkeeping with the overall look of the brand.

RKW SE & Hartness International, Grabpack One of the main benefits of the Grabpack is it increases the area available for branding and promotions and ensures that it is facing the customer.

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Grabpack

cover story 21

WINNER

Lap of honour

Click here to subscribe

Best new closure

Finalists

Winner: SmartSeal, Fizz

Vicap Systems, Vicap

The latest innovation to emerge from SmartSeal’s Active closures range is the Fizz. Designed for single serve carbonated drinks, the closure automatically opens when you drink and closes when you stop, offering optimum convenience for the consumer. The valve even opens when the internal bottle pressure exceeds three bar, which is equivalent to a carbonated soft drink at room temperature, and releases the drink in a controlled manner. The cap also ensures the beverage retains its carbonation and is 100% spill proof when closed, while a grip feature makes it easy to open with one hand. It is constructed from recyclable materials without silicone.

Containing liquid or powder, the Vicap releases its contents within seconds, creating sports, near water, vitamin, health or energy drinks. It aims to offer consumers convenience by enabling them to fill their PET bottle with water, attach the Vicap, push and pull it and instantly create the drink of their choice.

Vicap

26mm BTL Short Neck

Corvaglia, 26mm BTL Short Neck This still water neck finish cap concept was designed to be lightweight, yet still effective. The cap weighs 0.95g, compared to the original cap’s 1.6g weight, while the bottle neck finish was reduced from 3.15g to 1.75g. This could save over 2,000 tonnes of plastic per annum, without compromising on cap performance.

Bericap, Transatlantique Developed for a new range of premium smoothies, this Bericap closure is ideal for use in bars, cafés and restaurants. It works by pressing down the rear flap with one hand to open and releasing the finger pressure on the flap for automatic reclosing. The cap ensures quick serving with good flow control and optimum hygiene.

Highly commended Elopak, Transparent closure for airlines This closure has been designed specifically for juice manufacturer albi, which supplies Lufthansa with Elopak’s 1 litre Diamond with Curve cartons. The airline required a package that made it easy for staff to differentiate between opened and unopened packs to meet border regulations. The resulting carton cuts under the cap and shows a black hole when opened.

Transparent closure

Transatlantique

Original Sports Cap 30-25

Seaquist Closures, Original Sports Cap 30-25 This addition to Seaquist’s original collection of sports caps features a 30-25 high neck finish. Its outer part is made from PP and has an active hinge which flips back for easy drinking. The PE mouthpiece imparts no odour or taste to the product and the double sealing SimpliSqueeze system effectively prevents spillage.

Best new ingredient Winner: Aquanova, NovaSOL BCS This range of natural colours was developed in response to the ruling at an EU level that beverages containing azo dyes such as sunset yellow, allura red and tartrazine could cause allergic effects and hyperactivity in children.

The liquid NovaSOL system employs a broad spectrum of fully soluble colours which enables beverages to keep their established colour profiles, but use labelling friendly colours, including lutein, sweet pepper and

betacarotene. Light and pH stable in suitable compounds, the colours offer clear water solubility, are identical in appearance to azo dyes, provide flexible levels of colouration and are stable during heating processes.

22 COVER STORY

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe

Best newcomer brand or business Winner: Fruity King, fruit lab Launched in April 2008, the fruit lab from Fruity King is a brand of freshly squeezed juices and smoothies with the mission to ‘enjoy life with nature’s best fruit!’ Each product features a unique number, which represents the amount of sweetness, sourness and bitterness on a scale from one to nine, as well as the name of the fruit type. The line consists of six juices and two smoothies and is mainly distributed to catering companies serving on the go locations, such as train stations and canteens.

Finalists Good Natured, Happy Monkey Aiming to be nutritious, affordable, appealing to children and sustainable, the UK Happy Monkey brand from Good Natured offers a range of 100%

Preshafruit and Happy Monkey

Highly commended pure fruit smoothies. Available in strawberry & banana and orange & mango flavours, the range emphasises its healthy image, child friendly packaging and Rainforest Alliance certification.

Preshafood, Preshafruit

AiQA, AiQA intelligent water Developed to offer consumers healthy and good tasting natural drinks, this Austrian brand offers a range of waters flavoured with natural sweetening systems. Striving to make a contribution to the fight against obesity, AiQA aims to adapt its drinks to the specific needs of different groups, based on their age and gender requirements.

Bringing something new to the Australian beverages market, Preshafruit from Preshafood is made using high pressure processing for a better tasting finished product. Its packaging in triangular bottles facilitates efficient transportation as they stack easily, as well as the ability to stand out on the shelf.

Finalists

Highly commended

DSM, tensVida

Danisco, HOWARU

Aiming to help control blood pressure levels, tensVida is the result of five years of intensive research using enzyme and application technology. The ingredient has been designed to offer good taste, effectiveness and versatility as it can be used for various applications including near waters, fruit juices and dairy drinks.

Claiming to solve the issue of probiotics remaining alive in beverages in order to maintain their effects, the HOWARU straw guarantees that live probiotic bacteria will survive in all types of beverages, even aseptic products. Developed with Unistraw, the straw can be attached to most packaging types including plastic and glass bottles.

Givaudan, Sweetness Taste Solutions This line of ingredients represents Givaudan’s capabilities in providing beverage manufacturers with

Sweetness Taste Solutions and tensVida healthy, naturally low calorie flavour solutions that also taste good. The firm has reduced sugar content by 25-30% in a market where 70% of sugar consumption is linked to beverages and processed food. The range is suitable for all beverages including flavoured waters.

antioxidants, with verbascoside, a polyphenol typical of olive fruit pulp, being the main active component. Aiming to offer beneficial skin effects, such as helping to prevent wrinkle formation, the ingredient is suitable for the functional drinks market.

Indena, Opextan Extracted from the non oily part of olives, Opextan contains only water soluble

Opextan and HOWARU

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

COVER STORY 23

Lap of honour

Click here to subscribe

Best new children’s drink Winner: RDA Organic, Squeeezy and Sqqquishy Targeted at children, as well as their health conscious parents, this range aims to offer affordable, pure organic fruit juices that children will enjoy drinking. Available in Sqqquishy smoothie (blackcurrant, apple and banana) and Squeeezy juice (mango, apple and orange) variants, each drink provides children with one portion of their daily fruit requirement and recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. The chilled line uses 100% premium organic grade, Soil Association certified fruit without added sugar, concentrates, colours, preservatives or ‘bits’. They are delivered in lunchbox sized packs with resealable caps and are suitable for vending machines.

Finalists Good Natured, Happy Monkey

Little Bird, Magic Fruit Potions

Good Natured involved children in its research and product tastings to ensure that its finished range would appeal to them. But as its Happy Monkey smoothies are made from 100% pure fruit with no added sugar, sweeteners or preservatives, it is likely that parents will approve, too!

These multicoloured ‘potions’ aim to tap into children’s imagination by providing fun flavours and child friendly, attractive packaging. The wedge shaped cartons contain no artificial sweeteners, colours, flavours or preservatives, and offer 15% of a child’s recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, and the herb Echinacea for helping to ward off colds and flu.

First Juice, First Juice Aiming to encourage children to develop healthy taste preferences, this line of 100% juice products is fortified with calcium and vitamins C and D and contains 50% less sugar than leading brands. It is conveniently packaged in a recyclable, reusable 8oz sippy-top container and a 32oz bottle for refilling at home.

AiQA, Intelligent Water AiQA Kids

Best new functional drink Best new functional drink category sponsored by

Winner: Next Generation, Next Generation Waters This range of functional waters with enhanced flavours and supplements comes in flavours targeted at different needs to ‘actually make you feel different’. Kick Water provides a physical and mental boost; Chill is infused with relaxants; Thin helps to curb appetite; Hot is blended with herbal aphrodisiacs; Livelong offers antioxidants; and Strong contains vitamins and proteins for stronger muscles and bones. Next Generation is a member of 1% For The Planet, which supports WaterAid, an organisation that helps a million people gain access to clean drinking water and 1.5 million gain access to sanitation every year.

Designed with one to eight-yearolds in mind, this range of 100% natural beverages provides a balanced fruit content, vital vitamins and minerals, and high quality fructose from natural fruits. The drinks are bottled with coloured sleeves to appeal to children and protect the vitamins, while the bottle top is suitable for youngsters under three.

Finalists Aldi Stores, Optifit Liquid Breakfast, Apple & Mango

AiQA kids, Happy Monkey, First Juice and Magic Fruit Potions

This breakfast yogurt drink with vitamin C, probiotic bacteria and cereal aims to put a stop to mid morning snacking by combining a glass of orange juice, probiotic drink and bowl of cereal in one multitasking solution. Ideal for busy people on the go, it is available in

mixed berry, strawberry and peach variants.

Vivadis, Maca-Loca With maca as its main active ingredient, this organic drink claims to be highly nutritious as the plant grows at high altitude in the Peruvian Andes in cold temperatures and poor soil, helping to render its root

24 COVER STORY

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe

Best PET technology innovation

Best PET technology innovation category sponsored by

Winner: Niagara Bottling, Eco-Air bottle Weighing just 9.17g, this is thought to be the world’s lightest 0.5 litre PET bottle in mass production, yet it doesn’t compromise on performance thanks to its enhanced hoop and improved vertical sway strength. The weight reduction was primarily achieved through its low neck profile, closure finish and thin wall design. A conical preform was used to cut down on non structural plastic in the base, while the injection point was designed to reduce wasted plastic in the gate area. Its manufacturer estimates that the bottle will save approximately 193,000 tonnes of resin and bring about a 38,750 tonne reduction in CO2 emissions next year.

Finalists Highly commended PepsiCo International Nordics, SoBe Pure Rush

Lipton Linea, Maca-Loca, Optifit and Milehigh naturally rich in nutrients. It is available in Switzerland with ‘Juice with Power’ as its slogan.

Targeted at consumers who avoid energy drinks due to the perception that they don’t taste good and are crammed with artificial ingredients, Pure Rush is a natural energy beverage containing ginseng, yerba mate, sea buckthorn and guarana. It is packaged in 25cl cans in berry apple and guanabana flavours.

PepsiCo, Lipton Linea Describing itself as the first functional hot and cold ready to drink leaf tea range, Linea contains green tea and is calorie free. Centred on a ‘Love your body shape’ marketing campaign, it is targeted at consumers who would like to improve their body shape or lose weight.

Milehigh Drinks, Milehigh Developed by a nutritionist to help passengers deal with the effects of flying, this beverage contains red grape juice, tart cherry juice, ginger and aloe vera, which were specifically chosen to provide nutritional support and help overcome that jaded feeling after air travel. The pure juice drink can also be enjoyed everyday as it offers general antioxidant benefits.

Shotz Health, Big Shotz This multivitamin fruit juice shot contains 20 vitamins, minerals and nutrients in an easy to consume and digest format. Free from artificial sweeteners, colours and flavours, the 12cl shot is preservative, gluten and lactose free. It is targeted at busy adults who do not always consume the nutrients they need through their diet.

SoBe Pure and Big Shotz

Log, PET hotfill bottle This hotfill bottle without panels or rings provides a lightweight, economical solution. Vacuum pressure developed during its cooling stage is neutralised by a drop of nitrogen, which results in a much lighter bottle compared to standard panelled bottles. It is also more cost effective to produce and compatible with normal labels.

sterilisation using hydrogen peroxide vapour. This means that no water is required, lightweighting is achieved, the use of chemical agents is kept to a minimum and all of the preforms are guaranteed to be uniformly sterilised.

Highly commended The Coca-Cola Company, PlantBottle

Sidel’s patented system for blowing bottles and filling sensitive products, such as flavoured waters, uses dry technology. Bottle rinsing is replaced with dry preform

Made partially from plants, the PlantBottle is the first plastic bottle made from renewable resources that can be recycled along with other PET bottles in the existing infrastructure. It also offers the same performance as the current PET bottle and its manufacturing reduces carbon dioxide emissions compared to petroleum based PET plastic.

PET hotfill bottle

PlantBottle

Sidel Blowing Services, Combi Predis FMa

Combi Predis FMa

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

COVER STORY 25

Lap of honour

Click here to subscribe

Best TV or cinema advertisement Winner: Tempo Beverages, Jump The Jump soft drinks range has been relaunched with a new TV advertisement featuring an animated kangaroo as its main protagonist. The kangaroo works out in a style reminiscent of Rocky, before drinking a bottle of Jump and leaping into the boxing ring, looking ready to take on his next opponent. The soundtrack employs rousing music to complement the advert’s fun theme. Implying that the beverage will provide energy and plenty of get up and go, the advert aims to appeal mainly to children thanks to its kangaroo character, as well as adults who are familiar with the boxing film genre.

Finalists Coca-Cola, Apollinaris Jazz

Coca-Cola, Encounter

Coca-Cola Hellenic, Shake

Pepsi-Cola, Refresh Anthem

Making the analogy between sparkling carbonation and lively jazz music, this advert shows five friends opening a bottle of Appolinaris water and pouring it into glasses. Its effervescent effect transforms into an animated jazz trio playing the Brubeck classic Take Five, connoting the pleasurable experience that the drink provides.

This advertisement from Coca-Cola’s Iberian division shows an elderly man going on a journey as his granddaughter gives birth, then reveals that he has gone to visit the new arrival in hospital. The aim of the advert is to highlight the importance of celebrating life’s happy events and encourage the viewer to associate celebrations with Coca-Cola.

As Shake is aimed at the teenage market in Cyprus, its TV advert shows a rotoscope technique, which gives it a graphic look, reminiscent of novels targeted at a young audience. The soundtrack features a Cypriot hiphop artist with ‘Shake Your World’, a song that has become a hit among Shake’s target demographic.

Featuring grammy winning artist Will.i.am covering Bob Dylan’s ‘May you stay - forever young,’ this advertisement shows a collage of iconic images celebrating past and present generations. With ‘Every generation refreshes the world’ as its final tagline, the advert aims to offer a positive message of optimism.

Best overall concept Winner: Preshafood, Preshafruit

Finalists

See Best newcomer brand or business and Best design in PET.

Fruity King, Fruit lab

The panel said: “Preshafruit represents a new concept in juice processing, coupled with innovative packaging and a range of truly delicious, great tasting and refreshing flavours.”

See Best newcomer brand or business.

PepsiCo, Pepsi Natural

For more awards coverage, see the next issue of beverage innovation magazine, which will include a full review. The awards presentation featuring all of the entries, finalists and winners can also be viewed on YouTube.

See Best bottle in glass.

26 COVER STORY

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe

Black and white images supplied by Ardagh Glass

Material world

Far from being limited to plastic, water can be delivered to the consumer in a plethora of materials, ranging from glass and cartons, to aluminium and bag in box (BIB). water innovation Editor Medina Bailey explores the latest looks in nonplastic packaging.

Page 28 Gorgeous glass

Page 31 Cool cartons

Page 33 Amazing aluminium / Bag it

漏 water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September 路 October 2009

SPECIAL REPORT 27

Material world

Click here to subscribe

It’s easy on the eye and the environment, but what else has glass got to offer? water innovation asked Communications and Operations Manager for the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE), Michael Delle Selve, and Marketing Manager for O-I Europe, Matthias Warneke, to make its benefits crystal clear.

Top of the glass Michael: According to a survey of 6,200 European households at the end of 2008, three quarters of European consumers cited glass as their preferred packaging material for beverages and food. The large scale survey carried out across 12 European countries by FEVE, the European Container Glass Federation, revealed that Europeans believe that glass is the most recyclable and environmentally friendly packaging material. The study also showed that most consumers are concerned about the risk that certain packaging materials may have on the drinks and food they buy. Sixty-nine percent of buyers were convinced that glass packaging is the best at preserving the original taste and nutritional value of their food and beverages. And 48% said glass is the safest packaging material for health reasons. Made from some of the earth’s most abundant raw materials sand, soda ash and limestone - glass distinguishes itself as the purest, most natural material for packaging items such as beverages.

The “green” choice One of the unique advantages of glass is that it can be 100% and endlessly recycled without any loss of quality to produce another glass bottle or jar in a “closed loop” system. This makes it the only true “cradleto-cradle” recycling material.

of cullet of good quality in Europe. Landfill is also not needed when glass is recycled and put back into the production chain. The objective is to reach a “zero” waste production cycle where all produced glass is recycled and reintegrated into the chain.

All in good taste

It can transform the simple act of pouring mineral water into an occasion

The first mission for packaging is to preserve products. Glass is the best material for doing this because it is chemically inert. It is in fact the only packaging material which requires no protective layer between content and container, and it preserves the natural flavour and appearance of products for a long time without the need for

preservatives. Glass containers are easily and repeatedly resealable and keep products fresher for longer once opened.

Grab a glass Consumers also attribute a higher added value to products contained in glass. More than 85% of European consumers say they would never think of celebrating a special occasion without glass as a favourite container. Thanks to its transparency and infinite flexibility to design, glass adds very strong visual appeal to the product it contains. It can transform the simple act of pouring mineral water into an occasion.

Recycled glass, known as cullet, has a lower melting point than raw materials, which means that more glass can be melted for the same energy investment, emissions can be reduced and the furnace life extended. Up to 90% of cullet can be used to manufacture new containers and the only real limit to using recycled glass today is the amount of glass recovered and the availability

The movement

Images supplied by Ardagh Glass

In response to the FEVE survey’s findings, the glass container industry recently launched the Friends of Glass movement - an active social network that unites people who believe that glass is the clear choice for themselves, their families and the environment. An animated online platform supports the movement, covering health and wellbeing, recycling and environmental issues, glass art and design, and a time travelogue of 5,000 years of glass history. A series of activities is planned, leading up to the first ever Choose Glass Week in September. For further details, visit www.friendsofglass.com

28 SPECIAL REPORT

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe

Matthias: There are multiple reasons for using glass to bottle water. Firstly, it is a tried and trusted choice. Pure and natural, it is impermeable and non-porous, so there is no risk of chemical migration from pack to product, which could alter the taste of the water. In addition, glass keeps drinks cooler for longer, and is therefore suitable for products that are served chilled. As a result of all these factors, glass has been named by the US Food and Drug Administration as Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS).

Brand it Glass also helps bottlers communicate a premium positioning and encourages brand loyalty. Colour, bottle shape, embossing and decoration options all help to create a strong branded

statement onshelf and in bars and restaurants. Eighty-six per cent of European consumers (81% in the UK) feel that glass packaging enhances the experience of a ‘special occasion’, perhaps even adding a certain cachet and added value to a product.

Green glass Glass is the only true “cradleto-cradle” recycling material because it can be turned into new bottles again and again with no loss of quality. Whether choosing returnable or onetrip, recyclable bottles, brand owners are making a positive environmental choice by using glass. Most importantly, consumers understand these messages. Pure water and pure glass are natural partners.

Bottled couture Ty ˆ Nant is auctioning a collection of its iconic crimson red and cobalt blue glass bottles in aid of the Pink Ribbon Foundation to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Five of the bottles have been created by fashion designers including Ben de Lisi, Elspeth Gibson, Hamish Morrow and Justin Oh. The pieces will be auctioned on eBay’s charity site from 13 October.

Even better than cookies A Finnish contemporary artist has been named as the artist behind VEEN’s latest bottled water creation. Kaj Stenvall’s painting, bizarrely named “VEEN Art - Better than a cookie!”, adorns the O-I glass bottle, which is available exclusively at premium store, Harrods, in London. Funds raised from the numbered limited editions will be donated to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

SPECIAL REPORT 29

Gorgeous glass

Click here to subscribe

Clockwise from top left: Aguas de Fuensanta, Fuensanta mineral water; Mineragua, Panaclara Agua 22 mineral water; Dabau Luxury Water, Palladiumod Summer Collection; Grupo Vichy Catalan, Font d’Or Maximum; Finé Japon, Finé bottled water, designed by Karim Rashid; Coca-Cola Hellenic, emotion blackberry lime; SEEMS, Sembrancher Premium Swiss water; ABI for Waterwinkel, 9°; Acque Minerali, Stille di Lurisia; Aguas de Lanjarón, Lanjarón Limited Edition; Uskok, Costella; Axygene Creative Element, Ô Water; Love Limited Edition, Love h2o Limited Edition; Daylesford and Hepburn Mineral Springs Co water with juice in lemon, orange & passsionfruit and pink grapefruit.

30 SPECIAL REPORT

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Cool cartons

Click here to subscribe

The O.N.E According to O.N.E World Enterprise, its O.N.E Water offers consumers a healthy, eco-conscious option because it packages its natural spring water in Tetra Pak cartons. Made primarily from paper, a renewable resource that comes from responsibly sourced forests where reforestation is monitored, cartons are recyclable on selected sites and decomposable in 12 to 15 weeks. “We pride ourselves on being a socially and environmentally responsible company, and are extremely proud to offer consumers an alternative to plastic bottled water,” said Rodrigo Veloso, Founder and CEO of US firm, O.N.E. “We also feel passionately that giving back to the community is a necessary, important part of building a successful business and we are thrilled to have that opportunity with O.N.E. Water.”

Just water Aquapax natural mineral water water is packaged inside a recyclable 50cl carton, primarily derived from the natural, renewable resource that is wood. When full, transporting the cartons uses up to 40% less fuel than full glass bottles, while up to 80% less fuel is needed when they’re empty, compared to glass or plastic. Its manufacturer and the founder of Just Drinking Water in the UK, Neil Tomlinson, set out to come up with an alternative to plastic for packaging portable water. As well as referring to its more sustainable approach, the “Just” in the title also refers to the water itself as it has an optimal pH balance, and is low in minerals and nitrates, making it suitable for even babies.

The water itself follows the sustainable theme as it is sourced from the Blue Mountain plateau of Eastern Canada, an area which is actively reforested every spring. The trees assist with minimising evaporation, maintaining cold temperatures and keeping the aquifer clean. O.N.E has committed itself to donating 100% of the proceeds from its water to various non profit organisations, such as disaster relief and cancer research and education charities. The firm will select ten to 15 different organisations every year to receive funds from sales, and encourages consumers to vote for their favourite charity on its website.

Plant It Plant It Water opted for cartons for as they are made from over 60% renewable materials. “By putting our spring water in a Tetra Pak carton, we offer a ‘greener’ alternative without compromising portability, convenience and delicious taste,” said Plant It Water CEO, Jane Goldberg. “We are also committed to educating the public on water quality and delivery issues as well as the sustainability of packaging and our planet.” The firm will also plant one tree for every carton sold and forged a partnership with Trees for the Future 501 to help communities around the world with reforestation projects.

Outside the box “Part sustainable water company, part art project, part philanthropic project, and completely curious.” This is how boxed water firm Boxed Water Is Better describes itself. Its boxed water, which is carbon filtered, purified and hails from Minnesota, US, was launched back in March in Michigan, in a bid to create a new water brand that is kinder to the environment. Approximately 85% of the water’s container is made from trees, which were harvested in a responsible and managed way. The boxes are transported to the filling plant in flattened form, enabling efficient stacking, as according to the company, two pallets or 5% worth of its box truckload would require around five trucks if bottles were being shipped. After use, the cartons can be returned to their flattened down state and recycled in certain areas. The company also donates 20% of its profits to water and forestation organisations.

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

SPECIAL REPORT 31

Amazing aluminium Drink and dine

Click here to subscribe

Exal for ESKA

Boxal’s distinctively shaped 25cl bottle was chosen for O’Sushi flavoured water. Aluminium was selected to ensure that the product, which has a novel use of working in harmony with food dishes, would stand out and introduce consumers to this new product category. It also lends the bottle a premium look and ensures it is light and shatterproof, making it well suited to the takeaway trade or for airline and train catering. The brushed metal effect and smooth, seamless lines work to connote the freshness of the water and emphasise the innovation behind it.

The main objective for the Canadian ESKA aluminium bottle was to create an innovative, designer looking product which would offer improved sustainability thanks to its recycling capabilities and lightweight feel. It uses Exal’s Coin to Can (C2C) process, which makes use of 50 to 65% post consumer aluminium, rather than solely virgin materials. C2C also allows for superior printing effects to give a contemporary, stylish finish, while the bold snowflake, stone and droplet icons shed light on Eska’s glacial origins – the St Mathieu-Lac Berry Esker in Western Quebec, where the 8,000-year-old rare underground formations create a natural water purification system.

Doing it for the kids Greg Stromberg’s CannedWater4Kids organisation is a non profit charity focused on providing children worldwide with access to clean, safe water. The product behind the initiative is water packaged in aluminium cans, which aims to spread awareness and help fund safe water projects, such as water filtration programmes, well digging and clean water education.

Aluminium was chosen due to its water cooling capabilities, as well as its sustainability and convenience. “The can chills faster and stays colder longer than any other beverage container,” explains Stromberg. “It is the most recycled drink container in the US and it has a unique stacking ability. It’s no wonder that the aluminium drink can ranks as today’s most desirable, convenient and environmentally friendly package. Success comes in cans, failure comes in cannots.”

Bag it Raving about Rapak Bag-in-box (BIB) manufacturer Rapak claims that its solutions are continuing to gain ground in the water market thanks to their convenience, product protection and taint free capabilities, as well as bag capacities ranging from 0.75 to 1,400 litres. The firm demonstrated the versatility of its BIB systems at Drinktec, highlighting their high barrier films to protect product quality, sterile chamber for extended shelf life and aseptic filling for long life ambient products. The Rapak bag also protects water from light pollution, is sealed for optimal hygiene and bacterial growth reduction, and is light and easy to handle and store.

Well water Water Wellpoint’s Coolcask’s BIB system stores water in lightweight recyclable inner liners, protected and strengthened by a cardboard outer box. The water refills, which are easy to store, lightweight and hygienic, are contained within the CoolCask to provide users with access to fresh, cold drinking water in a table top hydration solution. “The benefits of good hydration at work, home and school are clear, and access to quality drinking water is essential,” explains Ben McGannan Managing Director of Water Wellpoint. “Just 2% dehydration will cause a 20% reduction in concentration, making hydration a key concern for businesses and schools, and the CoolCask has been designed to provide a compact, lightweight solution where a larger water dispenser isn’t suitable.”

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

SPECIAL REPORT 33

The case of PLA & bioplastics Click here to subscribe Hailed as the potential saviour to the bottled water industry’s environmental issues, PLA and bioplastics are now having their sustainable credentials called into question. water innovation Editor Medina Bailey examines the case for and against.

n this environmentally aware age, the introduction of innovative carbon footprint reducing

solutions have become as inevitable as the criticisms that invariably follow from their dissenters.

This is definitely true of PLA and bioplastics, which for some ease concerns about the sustainability

of bottled water, but for others are nothing more than too good to be true ‘greenwashing’.

She also claims that the manufacturing of PLA requires the use of valuable food resources, such as land and food products, which are not sustainable: “In the bigger picture we as a human race need to decide which is more important, to feed those in the world who are starving or to use our food resources to make plastics?

not sustainable or renewable. The use of fertilizers which are derived from fossil fuels is a nonrenewable and non-sustainable requirement in order for the high yield crops to grow.

biodegrade in anaerobic and aerobic environments, and be recycled in existing PET recycle streams, makes it stand out from other environmentally friendly packaging solutions.

“Ethanol and PLA have created a 400% price increase in 2007, leading to world food riots. In addition, there is currently a huge problem with forests being clear cut and burnt to create farmland for corn.”

Biodegradable and recyclable, the bottle solution claims to retain the properties of original PET, as well as being created from a sustainable non food source. It contains nutrients and other organic compounds, which allows for microbial action and metabolisation of the container. The idea is that the bottle will biodegrade in one to five years leaving behind only humus (soil) and carbon dioxide or methane.

Against

According to the Founder of Enso Bottles, Teresa Clark, it is very difficult to determine if plastics truly are green plastics. She lists various caveats and limitations of PLA, starting with the conditions that are required for its biodegradability: “From an environmental perspective there are a number of issues which arise from using oxo-degradables and PLA (plastics made from plant starch) products. Both require an environment with oxygen, heat and moisture in order to begin breaking down. These conditions are not often found in landfills.”

“The current way humans grow corn and other agriculture is neither sustainable nor renewable. The use of genetically modified (GM) seeds which are required for the high crop yields needed are unnatural, manmade and are

When it comes to oxo-degradable products being recycled after use, Clark also suggests that there are questions regarding the impact of fragmentation on existing PET recycle streams. As the Founder of Enso Bottles, which is described as: “An environmental company whose mission is to find feasible solutions to the global plastic pollution problem,” Clark has developed another alternative to PET. Enso joined forces with Bio-tec Environmental to introduce EcoPure to the PET bottle market. She claims that the bottle’s ability to

“The development of our bottles marks a turning point from traditional PET bottles and provides a turnkey stable solution over starch based and oxodegradable products currently on the market,” says Clark. Ecopure bottles offer the same physical properties as standard PET, such as clarity, strength, heat tolerance, shelf life and barrier protection.

34 FOCUS

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe

For As for PLA, can it be defended against Clark’s comments? PLA manufacturer NatureWorks, which is responsible for introducing Ingeo, a natural plastic obtained from the fermentation of plant sugars, rather than petroleum, to the consumer packaging market, is used to tackling tough questions about its products: “Whenever a new polymer is introduced to the market it is often followed by speculation as to what is true or false about the product - what it can do and what can’t it do.” The firm says that there is a global need to find alternative, sustainable raw material sources to oil, substantially reduce CO2 emissions and find additional sustainable methods of dealing with or managing waste. “Ingeo offers more options than any other plastic and has the fundamental benefits of being made from a renewable material,” says NatureWorks’ Business Development Manager, Eamonn Tighe. “It is currently made using plant sugars and in the coming years will be based on biomass.”

He claims that the production of Ingeo doesn’t take away from the food supply as it uses dextrose as the base feedstock in a fermentation process, which converts sugar to lactic acid to create a polymer (see What goes into Ingeo? on page 38). The dextrose is made from No.2 yellow dent field corn in the US, and when its plant is at capacity it will apparently use less than 0.5% of the country’s available corn crop.

PLA to lose molecular weight and become biodegradable to naturally occurring microorganisms,” says the company. “If not disposed of properly (placed in a household garden compost system or thrown by the side of a road), Ingeo biopolymer will not reach the typical composting humidity and temperature required and thus will maintain its product integrity in the near term.

Tighe cites a study carried out by Wageningen University & Research Centre in June 2008, which attributes the rise in world food prices to various factors, such as a poor wheat and barley harvest, rather than biofuels. He says that with 5% of oilseed going into biodiesel and 4.5% of grain going into ethanol, biofuels have had a marginal effect on the price hike. As for bioplastics, according to Tighe, they are: “300-500 times smaller than biofuels, for example, polylactide requires less than 0.04% of global corn supplies.”

“Ingeo offers the most landfill waste diversion options globally of any current commercially available plastic material. It can be physically recycled, industrially composted, incinerated, and chemically converted back to lactic acid through hydrolis or land filled.”

Although the corn that is made to produce dextrose is a mixed stream of non-GMO and GMO corn, NatureWorks states that: “during the manufacture of PLA, the multiple-stage processing and high heat used to created the polymer removes all traces of genetic material.” When it comes to its biodegradable capabilities, Ingeo is compostable in industrial composting facilities where available throughout the world. “Under industrial composting facility conditions the temperature and humidity in typical sites will cause

In order to explore how this PLA works in practice, let’s look at the first mineral water brand in Italy to market a bottle made from NatureWorks’ Ingeo. Following rigorous testing, which brought about encouraging results, the Chairman and CEO of Fonti di Vinadio, the firm behind the Sant’Anna label, launched the product in Italy’s Ipercoop chain (right). There are also plans in the pipeline for an international launch. “The use of annually renewable resources, instead of oil, to produce this natural plastic cuts dependency on fossil fuels and, thanks to more sustainable manufacturing processes, helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the main cause of the greenhouse effect,” explains Bertone. “Replacing petroleum with a renewable plant based feedstock uses 67% less fossil fuels than traditional plastics.” He then goes on to compare 50 million bioplastic bottles each weighing 27g with the same quantity of standard PET bottles, which would offer a saving of 13,600 barrels of oil,

or the amount of energy needed to supply electricity to 40,000 people for a month. “In Vinadio (in the Maritime Alps) we have the capacity to produce 50 million bottles in a working week. And Italy currently has to dispose of more than 5 billion bottles per annum!” he continues. The initial phase of the launch will allow the company to collect data relating to the new product’s market impact and consumer reactions to it. Refuse collection and disposal methods for the new plastics will also be put in place, such as recycling and composting, as the firm claims it wants to ensure that it knows where the raw materials end up, as well as where they come from.

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

FOCUS 35

The case of PLA & bioplastics Click here to subscribe

The verdict

he debate surrounding PLA and bioplastics is clearly a complex and emotive one which will continue to rage on. However, it is important to remember that consumers need to be reassured that bottled water isn’t contributing to the throwaway, overflowing landfill culture that can no longer be sustained. Although there is still work to do, developing and marketing innovative solutions is surely the most effective way of helping to shed bottled water in a greener light.

Other evidence NAPCOR wary of plastics claims

It has urged restraint in the use of degradable additives in PET packaging as it is concerned that no data has been publicly made available to substantiate their degradability, effects on the quality of the PET recycling stream or impact on products made from recycled PET. “We urge manufacturers of PET resin and packaging to refrain from introductions of degradable additive-containing products until data is made available for review and verification so we can better understand these products and their potential ramifications,” said NAPCOR Chairman, Tom Busard. “Even if a package were to disappear or fragment - and we’ve not yet seen this evidence - it would not make the package sustainable, nor does it provide any positive impacts in terms of greenhouse gas emissions or resource

Did you know? Lactic acid, which is used to make polymers, is a naturally occurring material that gives yogurt its tangy taste and makes muscles ache after a workout.

conservation,” added Executive Director Dennis Sabourin. “Degrading plastic provides no useful nutrients to the soil, and the impact to soil and sea of reducing the plastic to molecules using degradable additives is unknown.” The association has also questioned the idea that PLA containers can be successfully mixed into the existing stream of recycled PET containers, citing concerns over cost of separation, increased contamination and yield loss, and impact on recycled PET quality and processing. “We don’t doubt that PLA can be recycled,” said Busard, “but there are unquestionably some big issues yet to overcome. NAPCOR has spent over 20 years helping to build a successful domestic PET recycling infrastructure and this solution not only jeopardises the PET system, but is not an effective solution for PLA.” Mike Schedler, NAPCOR’s Technical Director, added: “The entire premise that you can simply add PLA containers into the PET recycling stream, successfully sort them out, and eventually find markets for the material is like advocating that mixed ceramic materials can be thrown right in with the recyclable glass stream to be sorted out, and that eventually there will be enough of this mixed material that someone will want to buy it. It’s really no different from this and just isn’t a viable solution from anyone’s point of view.”

The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) has refuted certain claims being made about degradable PET and recyclable PLA containers.

As PLA and PET containers are not readily distinguishable by sight, NAPCOR has suggested that some type of autosort technology should be put into place, such as near infrared (NIR) systems. However, these are not yet being used by all recyclers

and can incur large investments of $200,000 or more. The association’s overall message is to call on brand owners to fully consider the impacts and realities of the current situation when they make decisions that address their product requirements and sustainability goals.

36 FOCUS

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Ecopure goes Native minimal carbon footprint,” said Native Waters’ Vice President and Co-founder, Rodger Cohen. “By combining our locally sourced water with the ENSO earth-friendly, biodegradable bottles, we hope to take a step forward in the battle to stop plastic containers from filling our waterways, streets, and landfills.”

Native Water chose Enso’s Ecopure for its sustainable bottled water range. Locally sourced and packaged in the biodegradable containers, the water is 100% natural and organic, and emphasises its minimal impact on the environment through its marketing. “Our goal is to provide the healthiest and highest quality natural spring water with a

Did you know?

The concept behind Earth Day was thought up in 1969 by US senator Gaylord Nelson who wanted to organise a nationwide ‘teach-in’ about the environment. Around 20 million people took part in the first Earth Day on 22 April 1970.

ENSO meets its mantra For Aquamantra spring water sourced from Mount Palomar, which is distributed throughout western US, Enso’s

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

biodegradable bottle was the ideal vehicle to communicate its ecological image. “How lucky are we?,” said Aquamantra Founder and President, Alexandra Teklak. “We get to be the first company to introduce delicious local water, with a message that inspires and supports a plastic free landfill - we are now in alignment with our triple bottom line people-planet-profit. How does it get any better than that?”

FOCUS 37

The case of PLA & bioplastics Click here to subscribe

The sweet taste of sustainability

Currently produced using a new process that turns sugar cane and molasses, a by product of sugar production, into a primary component for PET plastic, the new bottle blends together petroleum based materials with up to 30% plant based ones.

Coca-Cola’s latest sustainable packaging innovation is a fully recyclable bottle, which is made partially from plants. PlantBottle aims to have a lower reliance on nonrenewable resources and reduce carbon emissions in comparison with petroleumbased PET plastic bottles.

What goes into Ingeo?

Water is removed, it is crystallised, then transformed into polylactide (PLA), which is branded as Ingeo natural plastic

Through a process of fermentation, separation and polymerisation, the carbon and other elements in these natural sugars make lactic acid, from which a molecule is made called lactide

“The Coca-Cola Company is a company with the power to transform the marketplace, and the introduction of the

PlantBottle is yet another great example of their leadership on environmental issues,” said Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund, US, at the time of the initial announcement earlier this year. “We are pleased to be working with Coke to tackle sustainability issues and drive innovations like this through their supply chain, the broader industry and the world.”

Start with: An abundant 100% annually renewable plant resource

1 6

Carbon is captured in these plant resources, sequestered from the atmosphere during plant photosynthesis and stored in the starch found in the grain of the plant

This starch is then converted into natural sugars

4 NatureWorks uses these plant sugars, or dextrose, from a simple existing supply stream as their raw base material

Eco art

UK bioplastics producer Stanelco has sponsored an art exhibition with a sustainability theme. Sustainabilitree, which was staged at London’s Artsdepot in July, brought together a new collection of work from 13 British artists. Ethical journalist Justin Rowlatt opened the show, unveiling the central exhibit, the titular Sustainabilitree, a 3 metre high sculpture crafted from bioplastic by the exhibition’s curator, Melanie Warner. Leafy potato plants at the work’s base underline its potato and corn starch roots, while the

composting leaves emphasise its biodegradable nature. However, it was Ally Rosenburg’s the Teabag Man and Chewing Gum Woman sculptures which scooped the Stanelco Prize for Sustainable Art, with 44% of the votes. The 18-year-old-artist, who is due to study fine art at Central St Martin’s, salvaged his chewing gum ‘clay’ from the underside of school desks and teabags from his school classroom in Manchester. CEO of Stanelco Paul Mines, commented: “Living sustainably is an important cultural change for our society, and art is an

important medium to provoke discussion and debate about this change.”

38 FOCUS

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Regional review: Japan Turning Japanese - part 1

Co-founder of Exigo Marketing, Steve Galloway and Beverage Japan President Yoshihiko Hani provide an overview of the bottled water market in Japan.

Click here to subscribe

ithin the mature soft drinks market in Japan, one of the few growth markets has been in bottled mineral waters. Mineral water is defined in Japan in the following categories: natural water, natural mineral water, mineral water, bottled water or sea water - but excludes flavoured, near water or functional water beverages. As a market, it has grown at break-neck speed. In only seven years, production has grown from just over 1 million kilolitres (kl) in 2001 to more than double that amount in 2008. As a result, mineral water’s share in the soft drinks category reached 11% in 2008 (on a production base), and is becoming an increasingly significant product in the category. The reason for this is not only because consumers are using bottled water as a replacement for tap water at home, but also because they are now drinking

it as a non-sweetened beverage. In other words, waters are being consumed as non-calorie, nonflavoured, non-scented, healthy drinks. However, in recent years, traditional products in the category, such as carbonated drinks and coffee type drinks, have started to tout ‘zero calorie’ or ‘light carbonation’ labelling, which has made them more prominent. This appears to have deflected consumer attention away from water and towards these other categories, and as a result 2009 is seeing a flattening of the growth experienced in previous years. The Japan Mineral Water Association says that the total volume of domestic and imported mineral water in 2008 was 2,515,290 kl, an increase of only 0.4% over the previous year. However, within this, 2,015,614 kl are domestic water beverages, a

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

japan 39

Regional review: Japan Click here to subscribe 4.7% increase over 2007, which, in a declining overall soft drinks market represents a category at least holding its own. Viewed by packaging type, PET bottles are the most used, at 92% of the total (growing 4.8% over 2007). While the market for domestic mineral water is holding up, a large decline has been seen in imported waters, which are down significantly at 499,676 kl (only 86% of the previous year). It is thought that quality problems and subsequent recalls which plagued Otsuka Beverage’s Crystal Geyser and Kirin Beverage’s Volvic in October and November of 2008 played a large part in causing this decline. Otsuka received 75 complaints from consumers who described smelling a medicine or pesticide-like scent in the water, and as a result recalled 8 million bottles of the US imported water. Kirin was forced to recall 570,000 Volvic bottles after complaints the bottles smelled of a paint odour, which had apparently come from the paint on the containers in which the products were shipped from France. Efforts to try to rebuild the nation’s appetite for foreign bottled water have included Otsuka using Beyoncé as the current face of Crystal Geyser in their TV commercials. But even the largest beverage companies are finding it challenging to make new imported mineral water brands work in Japan. Last year CocaCola Japan

tried to import and distribute Chaudfontaine from Belgium, but it failed to take off.

Small is superior The large Japanese domestic manufacturers such as Suntory Foods, Asahi Soft Drinks and Coca-Cola Japan had previously focused on large size bottles, but 2008 saw them placing greater emphasis on smaller bottles. What used to be a market divided by bottle size (large bottles = domestic brand, small bottles = imported brand), is now giving way to a battle of small bottles by all. Although more of the large bottles are being sold, they are subject to price wars and profitability is decreasing. In the mineral water category, large bottles make up approximately 60-70% of volume, however from a financial standpoint they only account for 50% of sales. Currently, domestic producers are focusing on small bottles in an attempt to improve profitability, and are at the same time extending their brands. A critical factor in the pricing of small bottles, however, is gaining market share. Otsuka’s Crystal Geyser 50cl bottle at 110 yen (including tax) has become the benchmark price. Because of this, domestic producers are aligning prices of similar products and using the brand value in them as a weapon

Vittel, Contrex and Suntory bottled waters

Volume of imported still and sparkling mineral water by country 2008 Country

Volume (kl)

% of total

France

309,276.8

152,442.6

Italy

12,611.1

Canada

10,744.1

Germany

4,485.4

0.9

TOTAL

499,676.2

towards gaining market share. For example, Suntory’s Ten-nensui product (50cl) was given a price change from 130 yen to 110 in 2008. And the new I LOHAS product from Coca-Cola Japan, which went on sale in May 2009 in a 52cl size retails for 105 yen (including tax) at convenience stores.

Adding value The basic value of mineral water is that it is non-flavoured or scented. Because of this, products are differentiated by taste according to the hardness of the water and by how “natural” or “fresh” they are. For example, Suntory is proactively supporting the preservation of a natural area, and by extension attempting to incorporate this image into the overall brand appeal of Ten-nen-sui.

that they too are participating in socially responsible activity by buying the products. Flavoured water, a mainstay in overseas markets, is starting to become important in Japan. Even before Volvic’s Fruit Kiss product, there was a huge hit in the near water category with Momo no Ten-nen-sui in 1996. It is likely that the country will see the launch of more products by soft drink brands, which make use of the physical properties of mineral water, as consumers are not only looking for an improvement in the value of the water, but also for an increase in the value that is added to that water.

Multiple sourcing Due to the astronomical cost of water logistics in Japan,

We are also seeing a growing trend among companies in Japan to incorporate social responsibility elements into their brands, such as Danone Group’s global “1 L for 10 L” programme, and Coca-Cola’s ‘twistable’ I LOHAS eco bottle. Such initiatives appear to have been successful in giving consumers the sense

Selection from Coca-Cola Japan © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

40 japan

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

a number of national players are using multiple sources across the country for their domestic mineral waters. Kirin has changed its strategy of naming the specific regional source of its water on its packaging to allow for this. It also appears that the strength of the larger companies’ brandnames is enabling them to achieve this without losing their integrity. Coca Cola’s I LOHAS is sourced from five locations in Japan, while Otsuka’s Crystal Geyser is imported into seven different facilities, and is reportedly more affordable to import than it would be to distribute a domestic water from a single source locally.

Branding activities The number of players in the Japanese mineral water market is surprisingly large, and the largest among all the soft drink categories. The category is populated not only by the big, national brand companies, but also by many smaller, local firms. The number of mineral water producers in 2008 was 212 (compared for example to 65 carbonated drinks producers). By product, there were a total of 931 mineral water brands in the Japanese market in 2008, including 53 new products (JSDA figures). However, the top four brands represent 55% of the market (by volume).

Exigo is an international consultancy specialising in strategic marketing, innovation and market entry, with particular expertise in helping food and drink companies in the Japanese market. Established in 1978, Beverage Japan is Japan’s leading trade beverage publication covering all aspects of the drinks industry and market in Japan, and is published monthly by Beverage Japan. Beverage Japan is represented in Europe and Asia by Exigo Marketing. For more information about entering or learning from developments in the Japanese market, contact steve@exigomarketing.com www.exigomarketing.com

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

In the next issue

Yoshihiko Hani and Steve Galloway

Don’t miss Part 2 of the Japanese market overview, which will feature a gallery of the latest product launches from leading brands including Suntory, Kirin MC Danone Waters and Coca-Cola Japan.

Aqua-tech

Click here to subscribe

A roundup of technical news

Spanish premium water opts for Krones line

ne of Spain’s most prestigious water brands has commissioned a new high speed PET line from Krones. Solán de Cabras comes from a spring in the mountains of Cuencas in Castilla-La Mancha Province, 200km east of Madrid. At 3,100 feet up, the spring is part of a nature reserve, and therefore free of any contaminants. The water’s deep blue packaging has won numerous design awards in recent years. Not only is the shade pleasing on the eye, it also protects the water from UV rays, helping to preserve the distinctive character of its mineral and health related properties. The bottles are available as PET containers in both single serve sizes of 0.33 and 0.5 litres with a screwcap (the 0.5 litre size also has a sportscap), takeaway sizes of 1.5 litres and 2.0 litres, and household sizes of 5 and 8 litres. In the narrow valley of the Rio Cuervo, the spa is situated among stunning scenery, with the bottling hall directly in front of it. A total of seven bottling lines are accommodated on several floors: one for the 8 litre PET, one for the 5 litre PET containers, two for 0.33 litre and 0.5 litre PET containers, and a mixed PET line for 0.33 to 2 litre bottles. In 2006,

Solán de Cabras installed the new Krones wet end for the 0.5 litre and 1 litre returnable glass bottles to coincide with the widespread introduction of the new blue bottle. The blow-molder/filler BLOC, comprising a Contiform S18 and a Volumetic filler, is installed in a separate cleanroom, together with an existing blow molder for a second line. The filled containers are inspected for correct fill level by a Checkmat 707, then leave the room directly onto a dynamic Accutable buffering system. For sleeving, the containers have to move to a different level. For this purpose, Krones installed a steel platform at a height of 4 metres, integrating three linear machines (contributed by the sleeving film supplier). The ratio between the outer radius and the closure radius of the containers exceeds the maximum 70% shrinkability

guaranteed by the film manufacturer. This is why the material and the machine had to come from the same vendor. “Otherwise we’d have had to divide up the responsibilities between the label producer and the labeller manufacturer,” explains Industrial Director, Jesús del Pozo Sanz. According to Production Manager, Carlos Míguel Gómez Zapata, Krones offered a very high level of craftsmanship. “(They) did a perfect job.” Industrial Director, Jesús del Pozo Sanz adds: “It’s our fastest line, and what’s more it had to be installed in an extremely confined space for a highly complex bottle. For this reason, it’s an extremely sensitive line, because due to the space constraints everything has to function on a just-in-time

Sacmi presents speedy machine

acmi’s Closures & Containers team presented its latest innovations for the bottling industry at a stand that covered more than 900 square metres at Drinktec. The firm showed a European preview of its new CCM80 continuous compression molding machine. The CCM80 is the only machine in the world able to produce more than 2,000 caps in just 1 minute using only 80 molds with a cycle time of a mere 2.4 seconds. The CCM80 can handle the widest range of raw materials available on the

market such as PP, HDPE and LDPE. It can produce caps having a nominal diameter up to 33mm, maximum height of approximately 25mm and maximum weight of 6g. The CCM80 is the latest innovation from Sacmi and adds to its line of products with benefits including quality of finished products, reliability, low maintenance costs, high productivity, low consumption and minimum colour changeover times. In addition to the well known advantages of compression molding, this technology has become the

most widely used system in the world for the manufacture of caps for beverages. Over the last few years, increased competition and a growing tendency in the market to look for a single supplier able to provide complete turnkey systems, have prompted Sacmi to create new synergies and solutions with other companies within the Sacmi Group. In addition to operating independently in the international marketplace, the division can also work side by side with other companies in the Group to offer complete solutions for the bottling industry.

basis and lots of loops had to be incorporated in order to provide the requisite buffering capacity. Considering the line’s complexity, we’re operating at excellent efficiency levels.” The line is being run in three shift operation, substantially upsizing the plant’s bottling capacity. “Krones took the idiosyncrasies of the job at Solán de Cabras most responsively on board, and came up with the most elegant solution to the difficulties of the project and the special requirements of the bottle, like orientation upstream of the packer,” said del Pozo Sanz. “The key to success and the brand’s cornerstones are four in number: the quality of the water, the institution (history, family), the eye-catching design and the innovative ingenuity.”

Kiefer cutting blow molding costs

ver the past two decades, Kiefer has expanded to become a tool making specialist in the plastics processing sector. The firm operates in the blow molding field for the beverage industry, with applications in water, soft drinks, energy drinks, beer, juice and milk. It manufactures molds for round running stretch blow machines for firms such as Krones, Sidel, KHS-SIG, Sipa and SMI, and linear stretch blow machines for Sipa, Tetra

42 TECHNICAL NEWS

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Aqua-tech

Email your latest news and views to the editorial team at wi@foodbev.com

Click here to subscribe

Danone Turkey débuts Bericap’s HexaLite

ericap Turkey has launched the production of HexaLite 29/11 SFB 3T the water closure suitable for lightweight neck finish 29/25 for Danone Turkey’s Hayat brand.

forgiving application on high speed lines. The cost saving to convert from a 30/25 neck and closure to HexaLite 29/25 will

save more than 30% of resin in the neck and closure weight. The successful conversion of the existing 26.7mm neck and

corresponding closure to the HexaLite 26, began in August 2008, predominantly in North America.

Danone Turkey is the first location to start using the 29/25 neck finish and has modified most of its existing lines in Turkey from Hexacap 30/17 3T to HexaLite 29/11 SFB 3T. The still water market is the defined target for the Bericap closures. The range consists of HexaLite 26 FB - suitable for light weighted 26mm neck finishes; and the HexaLite 29 FB for light weighted 30mm neck finishes. All HexaLite closures are equipped with a slit and folded safety band (flexband) for efficient TE performance and reliable and

Pak, Kosme and ADS. The company supports the complete process from the design, process development, pilot molds and sample production, up to mold manufacturing. With latest CAD/CAM equipment, blow molds are developed according to a design or sample bottle. The filling volume and construction of the preform are calculated before assembly and the specific requirement of lightweight bottles is also considered. © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

TECHNICAL NEWS 43

Trading places

Click here to subscribe

Event review and executive move

Event review World Water Week Stockholm in Sweden was the host city for World Water Week, which took place from 16-22 August. Gathering together leading water experts from across the globe, the event was organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute to provide a unique forum for the exchange of views and experiences. Representatives from various different arenas were present, including the scientific, business, policy and civic sectors. The issues addressed through conferences and discussions encompassed wide ranging themes, such as the environment and climate, politics, and society and health, and included: “What the world doesn’t get about water pollution”, “Are richer countries land grabbing again?” and “The Global eating disorder: Overeating, hunger and waste.”

Water vital to climate change action At various sessions throughout the week, a number of

organisations and officials articulated the reasons why water needs to be an integral part of the negotiation process on climate change and adaptation. These reasons became key points of the Stockholm Statement, which the assembled participants of 2009 World Water Week unanimously supported at the final plenary session. The main message of the statement is that the importance of water must be properly and adequately reflected within the COP-15 agreement, and in processes beyond the COP-15 UN Climate Conference, which takes place in Copenhagen in December. “We urge the global water and climate communities to look beyond COP-15 and work through dialogue to strengthen global mechanisms that can enhance collective action on water and adaptation,” said the statement. “These should include, but not be limited to, better sharing of knowledge and technology in

Delegates show their approval for the Stockholm Statement support of adaptation measures in developing countries, active support for capacity building and access to improved levels of financing. “Finally, the water community expresses its commitment to strengthening institutional co-

Concert for climate change The event staged the launch of the Play to Stop - Europe for Climate concert series, organised by the European Commission and MTV. Moby kicked off the EU initiative, which aims to engage young people in climate change issues, by playing at The Rival Theatre on 20 August. The campaign will continue up until the COP-15 UN Climate Conference.

operation at all levels between the climate, water and wider development communities under appropriate mechanisms and institutional arrangements in order to work more collectively to address the immense development challenges ahead.”

On camera An online video channel, watercube.tv, highlighted the hottest issues being raised at the conference by encouraging delegates to share their ideas with a team of video reporters in the exhibition area. A series of round table discussions and one on one interviews were also recorded at an onsite studio for the Watercube podcast. Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, speaking at the opening session © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

44 EVENTS

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe

Dr Bindeshwar Pathak receiving the 2009 Stockholm Water Prize for his lifelong work improving the health, dignity and wellbeing of millions of people, from HRH Prince Carl Philip of Sweden

Youngsters at the 2009 Stockholm Junior Water Prize exhibition

Appointment Ball names Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer Michael L Hranicka is Ball’s new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the firm’s North American metal beverage packaging operations.

For detail and insight on this exciting market, Zenith’s report examines the success of both the multinationals and smaller water cooler operators in East Europe.

Initially he will report to John R Friedery who has announced his intention to leave the company early in 2010, after which Hranicka will report to John A Hayes, Ball’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Hranicka joined Ball in 2005 and has been Senior Vice President - Sales and Marketing for Ball’s metal food and household products packaging, Americas, business since 2007. “Michael Hranicka has a strong commercial focus and excellent leadership skills,” commented Hayes. “His emphasis on being truly close to our customers in all of the ways we interact

East Europe Water Coolers 2009

Michael L Hranicka with them, combined with his disciplined, systematic approach to processes, will serve him and the corporation well in his new position. He and John Friedery will work closely on a smooth transition over the coming months.”

Data 2004-08 Forecasts 2009-13 Market characteristics Leading distributors Leading bottlers and brands Unit placement Support your investment Identify decisions new growth Adapt quickly opportunities to change and allowing you to remain aware be early to of what your market competitors are doing

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

EVENTS 45

Products and services

Click here to subscribe

Reach thousands of decision makers in the packaged water industry worldwide by advertising in the water innovation marketplace.

per year •Mini display - 7 centimetres x single column: £580 per year •Classified plus(Onelogo:off£415 payment for advert to appear within six consecutive issues) To book your advertisement or to discuss other options, contact: Karen Collins on +44 (0)1225 327872, e-mail: karen.collins@foodbev.com Flavours, colours and ingredients Botanical extracts and natural supplements

Flavours and flavouring

Karen Collins

Machinery and equipment Flavours, colours and ingredients

William Ransom & Sons PLC Alexander House 40a Wilbury Way Hitchin Herts, SG4 0AP UK Tel: +44 (0) 1462 437 615 Fax: +44 (0) 1462 420 528 E-mail: info@williamransom.com Website: www.williamransom.com

Carry handles

Induplast Josef Loeken GmbH & Co KG Schaffeldstr. 21 D-46395 Bocholt, Germany Tel: +49 (0)287 124 4010 Fax: +49 (0)287 124 0150 E-mail: info@induplast.de Website: www.induplast.de

Flavours and flavouring

from

£99

Have you appeared in WI? Don’t forget... a wealth of online advertising opportunities exist at www.foodbev.com/water 46 MARKETPLACE

• We can supply a high-resolution PDF of your feature • Use it on your website or in your newsletter • Prices from just £99 (€109, $149) for a 4 page article To order, contact Sharon Bulled Tel: +44 (0)1225 327871 e-mail: subs@foodbev.com

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

Click here to subscribe

Machinery and equipment Conveying

Packaging

Mould suppliers

Used Plastic Machinery

PLAMA Engineering GmbH Bergische Str 15 D-42781 Haan, Germany Tel: +49 2129 94160 Fax: +49 2129 941699 E-mail: info@plama.de Website: www.plama.de

Sismatico (UK) Ltd Plumtree Farm Industrial Estate Bircotes, Doncaster DN11 8EW Tel: +44 (0)1302 719738 Fax: +44 (0)1302 719222 E-mail: info@sismatico-uk.com Website: www.sismatico-uk.com

Caps and closures

Closures

Seaquist Closures Ltd 5 Bruntcliffe Avenue Leeds 27 Industrial Estate Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS27 0LL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)113 220 3200 Fax: +44 (0)113 289 7323 E-mail: info@seaquistclosures.eu Website: www.seaquistclosures.eu Sports closures and dispensing systems for plastic packaging. Contacts: UK: Paul King +44 (0)7711 648 835 Germany: Gerhard Brandt +49 (0)151 1950 7325 France: Florent Gras +33 (0)6 78 86 35 91

water innovation

advertiser index

Mould suppliers

comep PET Engineering, Bottle Design, Prototyping, Industrial Blow Mould And Services Rue du buisson Moreau 16100 Cognac FRANCE Tel: 0033 (0)5 45 36 63 50

Page

Alcoa CSI 2 Bericap 32 Danish Bottling Company 21 Demo 17 Dolphin Production 43 FoodBev.com 48 Krones 41 OP Sarl 39 Polymer Solutions 9 SmartSeal 52 Uskok dd 15 William Ransom 37 Zenith International 45, 51

Viscose Closures Ltd Fleming Way Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9JY, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1293 519251 Fax: +44 (0)1293 540005 E-mail: sales@viscose.co.uk Website: www.viscose.co.uk Leading suppliers of sports caps, plastic and aluminium closures for still and carbonated products.

Subscribe today and save up to £59 on the full price Every issue delivered direct your very own copy guaranteed Industry expert opinions, news and innovations Contact +44 (0)1225 327871

www.sa-comep.fr accueil@sa-comep.fr

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

www.foodbev.com/subscribe

MARKETPLACE 47

FoodBev com A world of food and drink

Daily industry news and opinion

Making a splash online now

foodBev.com Images: screen © Irochka, bottle © Filipe Varela, tomato © Mailthepic, carton © Photoeuphoria, cheese © Edyta Pawlowska, glass © Konstantin Tavrov, orange © Les Cunliffe, bean © Monika3stepsahead, biscuit © Picsﬁve, strawberry © Braendan Yong | Dreamstime.com

Tour de force

Click here to subscribe

Nestlé Waters has decided to renew its sponsorship of the Tour de France. Former water innovation Editor, Nayl D’Souza, looks at how much impact the event has brought the company. opportunity in the height of the summer to strengthen the bond with its consumers in addition to the traditional media communication. The Tour provides a very special interactive experience.”

The publicity caravan has delivered huge impact to Vittel No sooner had the Tour de France arrived in Vittel than Nestlé Waters and the organisers of the Tour de France announced that their partnership would continue until 2013. The move grants Nestlé Waters the status of main co-partner of the Tour and exclusivity on various rights and benefits connected with publicity, promotion and sales in the area of beverages and sports nutrition for another four years. Let’s not forget that 2009 is already the ninth year that the company has been a co-sponsor of the event. At least four key brands in the Nestlé product portfolio are set to benefit, including Vittel, Powerbar, Nesquik and Ricoré. However, the company hasn’t ruled out the possibility of bringing advantages to other brands from the deal in the future. The company’s sponsorship first began in 2001 with the Nestlé Aquarel brand and the agreement was extended in 2004, a move which clearly demonstrated Nestlé’s interest in the Tour. Since 2008, the Vittel brand has been sponsor alongside three other major partners: LCL, Carrefour and Skoda.

Denis Cans, President and CEO of Nestlé Waters France, said: “We’re delighted to be renewing our partnership with the Tour de France. For a brand like Vittel, the Tour is a unique

For Jean-Etienne Amaury, President and CEO of the ASO Group: “Having the trust of a group like Nestlé, a leader in the areas of health and well-being, illustrates how an event like the Tour de France can be interesting for mass consumer brands wanting to get closer to the centres of interest of their consumers. It’s an unparalleled communication platform for brands.” As part of the tie-up, Vittel has marketing infrastructure focused on the last hour of the race. For example, there are marking

The Tour de France is an unparallelled communication platform for brands banners counting down the last 25km that will continue to bear the Vittel brand name. The possibility of carrying out large-scale sampling aimed at the many spectators crowded along the edge of the roads is also a major selling point of teaming up with the French cycling event. Indeed, over 1 million bottles of Vittel mineral water are distributed

Personal experience When I was kindly invited by Nestlé Waters to watch a stage in the Tour de France, there was a slight sense of irony involved. The report I would file for the magazine from the trip would be my last as Editor of water innovation as I had decided to pursue a career move to public relations. Needless to say, the sponsorship of the Tour de France by Nestlé Waters is deemed to be the largest PR activity based around sport by any packaged water company. This only added to the relevance and excitement for me. However, there was a particular sense of pride shown by the event organisers and Nestlé Waters for the stage of the race I followed. This was no ordinary segment of the race. This was Stage 12, a leg which took the cyclists through territory north of Dijon, passing from medieval Tonnerre to charming Vittel. Vittel is a thermal spa totally devoted to sport and home to Vittel mineral water. Situated in the heart of the Vosges mountains,

in a preserved natural area, the spa town of Vittel has built a range of top-level sports facilities over the course of the last century that are quite unique in France such as three swimming pools including an Olympic-sized one, three golf courses and about 40 tennis courts. My ultimate highlight was finding myself so close to the competitors and mingling among them before the race. Other highlights were watching how residents in different villages welcomed the cyclists and spotting Dieter Senft, also known as the Tour de France devil or El Diablo, along the route of the race.

The Tour de France devil Since 1993, Dieter Senft has been seen in the Tour’s many stages wearing his red devil costume and painting trident symbols on the road some miles before he appears. He is also an inventor who has created over 100 bicycles, including the largest in the world.

www.foodbev.com/water Issue 56 - September · October 2009

ONE TO WATCH 49

Tour de force

Click here to subscribe

than actors bringing a touch of humour. That said, their presence provides a great sense of family fun to each stage and they are an important marketing tool to boost brand recognition.

during the Tour de France: half of them handed out to the public from the publicity caravan, the other half provided to the event organisers. Moreover, Vittel has a ‘flamme rouge’ indicating the final kilometre, branding at the finish-line arch and sponsorship of the Stage Winner and presentation podium. “Since last year, the Tour de France has come through some

Vive la différence This year, more attention has been paid to Team Vittel, a fictional team seen in the Tour caravan at the start of each race. Team Vittel consists of five unlikely cycling professionals led by Maria Del Vélo, the first woman to take part in the maleorientated Tour de France. All of their adventures could be viewed daily on the Team blog online and the activity clearly helps to personify the brand.

• 600,000 copies of “L’Eaufficiel de la Caravane” issued • 25 vehicles in the Nestlé promotional infrastructure • 120 Nestlé staff on hand

‘there’s something in this water’ brand publicity platform with the public all along the route of the Tour de France.

Vittel’s link with sport Vittel was in many ways a pioneer of sports sponsoring in France. In the late 1960s, Vittel signed an agreement with the French National Football League to sponsor the jerseys of all teams in the French football championship. In the 1990s, Vittel re-employed the famous ‘Buvez, éliminez’ (‘Drink, eliminate’) slogan and the ‘Vitality’ positioning to promote an ambitious sponsoring policy of a dozen French Olympic federations including athletics, swimming and cycling. Also, in addition to its support of top level professional sport, Vittel rolled out a completely original promotional offer to the world of amateur sport: ClubVittel (which was later renamed the Club du Sport). This structure allowed 10,000 amateur French sports clubs to acquire sports equipment at an affordable price, just by encouraging their own members to all drink Vittel mineral water.

In case you were wondering, the team are nothing more

Team Vittel will also enable Nestlé Waters to share the new

• 1,000,000 bottles of Vittel distributed

Over 1 million bottles of Vittel are distributed during the Tour de France

testing times without the loyalty and mobilisation of its many spectators being affected,” said Cans. “This is proof of the strength of this event which is still, in France, a major social event that is so much more than the great international sporting event that it has become.”

According to a Nestlé Waters spokesperson: “The original and interactive concept of Team Vittel combines the two key aspects that together make the Tour de France the greatest cycling event in the world: the sporting aspect of the cycling race and the teams involved; and the festive aspect (the publicity caravan, the spectators and the mobilisation of the regions crossed).”

Nestle Tour caravan key facts

Vittel gains considerable visibility along the 25km route and each Stage Winner is sponsored by the brand along with the presentation podium © water innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

50 ONE TO WATCH