Kerry, the world’s leading taste and nutrition company, has launched an online, interactive sustainability calculator that enables beverage providers to quickly examine the significant benefits of moving toward a “dry” beverage model and away from traditional liquid offerings. When analyzed against liquid beverages, shelf-stable dry beverage solutions are designed, produced, packed and then served in a much more sustainable way. According to a technical life cycle assessment (LCA) study conducted by Kerry on its dry beverages, the sustainability benefits over traditional liquid beverages can be quantified—and they are substantial.
This “cradle to grave” LCA assessed the environmental impacts associated with all stages of the life cycle of a commercial product, in this case Kerry’s Peach Mango Fresca premium dry beverage product. Examining five key areas—greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, non-renewable energy and minerals, impacts on the ecosphere, and land use—the study found a 42% lower impact on non-renewable energy, 7% lower GHG impact, 18% reduction in land-use effects, and 29% lower influence on ecosystem quality. These results were driven by such factors as reduced product weight in transit, lower packaging impact on landfills, decreased land use for packaging, and less damage to the ecosystem.
Commenting on the sustainability value of dry beverages, Clint Rogers, National Account Beverage lead at Kerry North America, said: “When compared with liquid beverages, shelf-stable dry beverage solutions are sustainably produced, packed and designed with cost-effectiveness and sustainability in mind. But, most importantly, the beverage maintains a fresh, premium taste over an extended shelf life. Kerry’s life cycle assessment is a technical case study that reveals how costly liquid beverages are in terms of the environment and as an overall business expense, and how using dry beverages can help businesses provide premium craft-style beverages that are also environmentally friendly. Try our sustainability calculator to see what’s possible.”
Moving to a sustainable dry beverage model can be valuable to a brand given the importance of the climate change issue to consumers. According to Innova, more than 40% of people across all age groups expect companies to invest in sustainability, and more than 50% of millennials strive to purchase from ethical brands. Consumers are highly loyal to brands that aggressively pursue sustainability goals. Switching to using dry beverages is one valuable way to help a brand build its “sustainability credibility.” The Kerry online calculator is a fast, efficient way to quantify the sustainability benefit.
Consumers are Switching to Premium Handcrafted Beverages
Consumer data make clear that the public is steadily switching from soda to natural, handcrafted beverages. In fact, after carbonated soft drinks, lemonades and teas dominate the category, and dry solutions for these types of craft beverages provide efficient, sustainable options for both operator and consumer. Premium craft beverages are growing based on rapidly changing beverage trends, impacted by health and wellness goals, demands for variety and novel tastes, the need for value beyond water, and growing “premiumization” of consumer tastes overall. Since liquids are not being shipped, dry beverages provide immediate advantages in terms of transportation cost and ease of delivery. They also allow for flexibility and reduced space requirements in back-of-house operations, all while providing a remarkable 12-month shelf life.
Kerry’s online interactive dry versus liquid beverage sustainability calculator can be accessed here. Also included are access to white papers, product information, and technical know-how in beverage development.
Kerry’s Premium Dry Beverage Solutions include a portfolio of on-trend, flavorful, clean-label and lower-sugar options, including the craft beverage collection—ranging from lemonades to iced teas to frescas and other trending flavors. These crafted dry beverages are formulated with Kerry’s proprietary technologies that deliver high-quality, shelf-stable, lower-sugar alternatives to traditional CSDs and juices.
The calls for convenient, healthy, high-quality products that taste good and are produced ethically and sustainably have never been louder. In rising fashion, consumers are amplifying their voices to demand that the companies from which they buy become invested in the concerns that matter to them: sustainable nutrition, climate responsiveness, responsible sourcing, circularity and social integrity, among others. This strong mandate requires food and beverage manufacturers across the board to be forward-thinking in their efforts. Working in conjunction with its industry partners, the Kerry Group’s sustainability strategy—“Beyond the Horizon”—is being applied to enhance and expand the range of available food and beverage solutions that address these important consumer concerns.
