Drink technology India finds fertile soil

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. It has a prosperous middle class, numbering around 300 million, who are oriented towards western consumer habits. The beverages market is profiting from this, and for many years it has been experiencing a unique boom.

Already beverages consumption in India is the third highest in the world, after the US and China – and there seems to be no end in sight to this rise. Across all categories of beverages, further increases – some in double-digit figures – are predicted for the coming years.

Beverage, news for and from all over the world

By Brau Beviale

People will always drink – a fact that has a calming effect on the beverage industry particularly when times are difficult. According to the German Association for Nutrition (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung), the recommended daily consumption of fluids is 1.5 l, which may be as much as three litres or more in summer and in southern countries. Unfortunately, however, a large demand for body fluids does not as such mean smooth business in the European beverage industry. It is a matter of producers convincing consumers to consume a certain category of drinks and ultimately their own brand. In saturated markets like Western Europe, North America and Australia, 66 % of the required body fluids are covered by packaged drinks. On the other hand, packaged drinks account for just 22 % in maturing markets like Eastern Europe and Latin America, and only around 10 % in markets still to be developed, like Asia, the Middle East and Africa (Euromonitor International).

Plenty of bottle

Substantial opportunities for the further penetration of plastic bottles in packaging markets have been identified by Applied Market Information Ltd, in its latest research project. In its report on "Growth opportunities for blow moulded bottles in Europe", AMI researchers found plenty of reason for blow moulders to be optimistic – especially those in PET. The latent potential for PET barrier bottles in beer, wine and milk is believed to be equivalent to the current size of the carbonated soft drinks (CSD) market for PET bottles which was just under 1 million tonnes for 2009.

Drinks cans: digital printing adds fizz to the market

Ball Packaging Europe has brought digital printing for beverage cans to market maturity. At its Hassloch plant in Germany, Ball can now produce beverage cans printed either the conventional way or with photorealistic custom designs. A first vanguard of customers is already using the new technology to market small special-edition production runs.

Food Packages 33, unforgettable June

The new issue presents an overview of the most important events scheduled for June, starting from Packology, the Italian manufacturers' packaging trade show, which will be held from Tuesday 8th to Friday 11th June 2010.

The expo, limited to trade members, will be held every three years and is the result of a partnership between the Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association (UCIMA) and Rimini Fiera Spa. Packology will feature the industrial production of a system that in Italy puts a great accent on export; from its first edition, the show offers an appointment able to highlight technological and innovative excellence. It is an event greatly wanted by the UCIMA, which represents almost all Italy´s world-leading Italian manufacturers, along with Rimini Fiera, owner of prestigious expo brands in the technology for the ceramic and brick inustries and in the woodworking machines sector. On one hand, therefore the leading trade association and on the other the third most important Italian expo centre.

Biodegradable packaging boards

Stora Enso is meeting the growing demand for biodegradable packaging solutions by expanding its selection of biopolymer-coated packaging boards. Biodegradable coating options are available for a number of the company's board grades for use in cups, plates, trays and folding cartons. The paper cups used at the Finnish Pavillion at the current World Expo in Shanghai are made from biodegradable Cupforma board.

New Study Gives “Green” Light to PET Bottles over Glass or Aluminum

A newly released life-cycle inventory of single-serving soda containers concludes that PET plastic bottles offer a better environmental footprint than aluminum cans or glass bottles by using less energy, generating less solid waste, and creating significantly fewer greenhouse gases.

The cradle-to-grave study, conducted by Franklin Associates for the PET Resin Association (PETRA), compared total energy, solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions per 100,000 ounces of soft drinks packaged in typical 20-oz PET bottles, 8-oz glass bottles, or 12-oz aluminum cans. The PET bottles showed appreciably lower numbers across the board.