20 December 2011
Soft drinks industry reports on progress towards
sustainability
The British Soft Drinks Association has
published its third annual progress report on its sustainability
strategy, setting out the achievements of the soft drinks industry
in reducing its environmental impact. There is progress to
report in each of the four areas covered by the strategy.
BSDA has also updated the ambitions set out in
the strategy to ensure that they remain challenging and consistent
with other industry initiatives, such as the Courtauld Commitment
on packaging.
Jill Ardagh, BSDA Director General, said:
“The soft drinks industry is thinking about
the long-term in devising and implementing its sustainability
strategy. It also makes short-term sense too, because
consumers and other stakeholders want to know that the industry is
doing the right things to safeguard the future.”
Packaging
BSDA has continued to work with WRAP on ways
in which the sustainability of soft drinks packaging can be
improved. To date seven BSDA members are signatories of Phase 2 of
the Courtauld Commitment, and the other members are being
encouraged to join them. Members are also aiming to
accelerate progress towards the 2015 target of zero manufacturing
waste to landfill.
Water
BSDA encourages members to use the Federation
House Commitment to help them achieve further significant
reductions in their waste water volumes. Water use in 2010,
not including that in the product itself, has reduced by 5.3 per
cent against the 2007 baseline, equating to a saving of around 1.3
million cubic metres of water or enough to fill 520 Olympic
swimming pools.
Carbon dioxide emissions
BSDA members have been reducing their
emissions through installing energy monitoring systems, more energy
efficient lighting and using more natural light in factories, and
researching the possibility of using renewable energy.
Members are also working to reduce the overall footprint of their
products by moving bottle-blowing in-house, which results in fewer
transport-related emissions and more efficient bottling. The
target in the sustainability strategy has been revised to a 35 per
cent reduction in CO2 emissions from manufacturing by 2020 compared
to 2002 levels.
Transport
The industry is working hard to reduce the
impact of freight transport, through exploring alternative fuels,
moving from road to rail and reducing transport miles through using
local distribution firms.
Ends
For further information please contact
Richard Laming
Media Director
British Soft Drinks Association
Tel: 020 7025 3707 / 07879 654555
Email: rlaming@britishsoftdrinks.com
Website: http://www.britishsoftdrinks.com/
Notes to editors
1. The
British Soft Drinks Association represents the interests of
producers and manufacturers of soft drinks including carbonated
drinks, still and dilutable drinks, fruit juices and bottled water.
BSDA members are responsible for the vast majority of products on
the British soft drinks market.
2. The
BSDA sustainability strategy was launched in 2008. It can be
read here
http://www.britishsoftdrinks.com/PDF/020608%20BSDA%20sustainability%20strategy%20_3_.pdf
3. The Soft Drinks Industry
Sustainability Strategy Progress Report 2011 can be read here.