• The new Blonde Cola.
    The new Blonde Cola.
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New Zealand company Soda Press Co has launched a certified organic, reduced-sugar cola alternative.

Blonde Cola syrup blends cola nuts, ginger, lemon, cinnamon, rosemary, lavender, and is sweetened with organic brown rice malt syrup, organic cane sugar and monkfruit.

According to Soda Press Co, the low-caffeine product has half the sugar of big cola brands and sits within internationally recognized safe sugar level guidelines of under 5g per 100ml.

The cola also features a golden colour, which is due to the omission of sugar, caffeine, preservatives, and artificial colours.

The syrup, which can be mixed with carbonated water, has already picked up a Gold Medal and the Champion Beverage Award at the recent 2017 Royal Hobart Fine Food Awards. RRP is $14.95 for the 500ml bottle.

 

Packaging News

New European rules on generic environmental claims have prompted the Australasian Bioplastics Association to warn that packaging carrying poorly substantiated claims could be marketed in Australia.

Australia's environment ministers have declared packaging reform urgent and named soft plastics as an initial priority, but offered no firm timetable or regulatory commitments. SPSA has welcomed the soft plastics focus, while Boomerang Alliance and WMRR have raised concerns about the lack of concrete action.

Economic analysis commissioned by SPSA estimates national recycling reforms could deliver up to $278m in net productivity gains and stimulate up to $2.6b in capital investment each year.