Page 16 - Food & Drink Magazine April 2021

BY ASSOCIATION
How beverages are building back better
With ongoing adjustment to COVID-19 impacts, Australian Beverages Council CEO Geoff Parker looks at the optimism in the non-alcoholic beverages industry as “the new normal” starts to appear.
THE first few months of 2021 have proved to be an exciting time for the non-alcoholic drinks industry. With restrictions easing across the country and the vaccine roll-out bolstering consumer confidence, the mood has shifted from resilience to reinvention, with industry well and truly embracing the opportunity to help the broader economy to “Build Back Better”.
EMPOWERING CHOICE
The drinks industry has a long history to demonstrating its reflexivity and ability to adapt to changing markets.
With the rising popularity of new non-alcoholic drinks and creative craft beverages, this increasing demand for variety has empowered the credo of consumer choice, with the industry offering more alternatives than ever before.
From growth in health- conscious functional beverages to exploring new alternatives to sugar, smart brands are putting the lessons of the pandemic into practice as they lead a new wave of wellness and innovation.
At the heart of the industry’s
ethos to empower choice is the nation’s first industry-wide sugar reduction pledge. This bold commitment by the Australian Beverages Council to voluntarily reduce sugar by 20 per cent between 2015 and 2025 showcases an industry which is responsive and responsible in supporting more choice for consumers. At the midway point of the pledge the industry is on track to deliver its 2025 promise.
It is important to remember the role that non-alcoholic drinks have in the Australian diet. Consumers are keen to embrace an increasingly diverse market with drinks for every occasion.
This exploration across tastes extends into exciting possibilities across uniquely Australian flavours. Some manufacturers looking onshore to native ingredients for new flavour opportunities whilst others are relying on trusted recipes for a broad and loyal consumer base.
SUSTAINABILITY SHIFT
The increased use of recycled materials, success of state-based container deposit schemes, and expanded government
investment in recycling infrastructure, sees sustainability remain a key priority.
With the ban on certain types of single-use plastic across Queensland and South Australia coming into play, it’s clear consumers are looking to support brands with a positive environmental footprint.
The drinks industry has been at the forefront of these reforms, with a number of our members light-weighting existing plastic packaging while others increase the use of recycled materials across their portfolios.
As governments across the country commit to bolstering Australia’s onshore recycling infrastructure due to an increased demand for recycled materials, there is still work to do to ensure Australian manufacturing can fully adopt a closed-loop approach.
Given that by 2023, all states and territories will have a container deposit scheme (CDS), three critical success factors in achieving circularity will be: the transparency and availability of materials coming through (CDS); better sortation of recyclable materials collected through kerbside; and increased consumer awareness and education on recycling .
The non-alcoholic drinks industry will continue to promote a harmonisation agenda with scheme coordinators, regulators, and governments to maximise the efficiencies of these important strategic assets and decrease the significant impost and cost to drink manufacturers.
ETHICAL FOCUS
In the wake of the pandemic, we have witnessed a sense of mateship and responsibility pervade Australian business culture. It is inspiring to see food and beverage brands searching for ways to support communities and affected groups recover from the pandemic’s economic impacts.
Embracing this ethos of doing the right thing, the industry is always ready to reflect societal sentiment across several important issues.
Recently, International Women’s Day served as an opportunity for the industry to be
“ With industry supporting local communities and workers, it is vital we continue to advocate for small business both in manufacturing and across the supply chain.”
16 | Food&Drink business | April 2021 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au
The Australian Packaging Covenant has announced solid progress toward the 2025 National Recycling Targets, with the non-alcoholic drinks industry welcoming the opportunity to go above and beyond in achieving its environmental objectives.
that mirror and celebrate women’s achievements and impact across Australian business. This year’s “Choose to Challenge” theme invited us to challenge gender preconceptions and bias, and build a more equitable world.
I’m very proud that the