Joint statement on harmonised packaging labels
Together with AIM-European Brands Association and several other European industry associations, UNESDA calls on the European Commission and Member States to adopt a pragmatic approach for the future of harmonised EU packaging labels, in line with the EU’s goals to simplify rules, preserve the integrity of the Single Market and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. UNESDA supports simple, text-free pictograms with the possibility of using digital labelling. Our members place packaging on the EU market and beyond and are committed to providing clear and consistent sorting information for consumers. Yet, we face a growing number of overlapping labelling obligations that create market barriers and result in operational inefficiencies, increased costs, and confusion for consumers. This is the reason why we call for future EU harmonised labels to: Assure the free movement of goods Reduce unnecessary costs and administrative burdens Ensure clear sorting information for consumers Enable flexible solutions, including digital labelling and Digital Product Passports Read the full statement in PDF
UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe announces new President: Natalia Filipposyants, PepsiCo
UNESDA, the European trade association representing the soft drinks industry, is delighted to announce the appointment of Natalia Filipposyants, Senior Vice-President and General Manager at PepsiCo International Beverages, Europe, as the new President of the association. Her two-year term takes effect immediately. Upon her appointment, Ms Filipposyants stated: “I am honoured to take on the role of President of UNESDA and lead the soft drinks sector in strengthening recognition of its role and value for Europe. Our industry supports more than 1.8 million jobs and generates €242 billion in revenue across agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, retail and hospitality, contributing significantly to local economies across Europe. As a sector, soft drinks are part of everyday consumption occasions across Europe, and we are operating in a context where expectations are evolving rapidly and economic and regulatory pressures are high. Consumers are increasingly focused on broadening choices, transparency, functionality and environmental impact, and this is reshaping how our sector innovates, communicates and invests. In response, we are accelerating transformation, with a growing portfolio of low and no sugar options and continued investment in sustainability, responsible business practices and product innovation that meets changing consumer needs without compromising on taste, quality or enjoyment.’’ Ms Filipposyants added: ‘’I am fully committed to working with all our members and EU stakeholders. It is my ambition that, through UNESDA, we keep working in constructive partnership with policymakers and other key partners to deliver measurable impact and ensure a stable and supportive EU regulatory and market environment that enables our sector to evolve and continue to support jobs, investment and innovation for a more competitive, sustainable Europe.” Nicholas Hodac, director general of UNESDA, commented: ‘’I warmly welcome Natalia as our new President. Under her leadership and together with our closely connected membership, we will continue to demonstrate the active role of our sector in supporting balanced beverage choices and driving innovation, sustainable growth, and prosperity for Europe.’’ ‘’Finally, I want to sincerely thank our former President, Andrew McMillin, for his strong commitment and the important contribution he has made to advancing our sector’s priorities and strengthening our focus on innovation, growth and regulatory simplification as a new EU mandate was getting underway’’, concluded Mr. Hodac. Download Press Release in PDF
The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) launches industry consultation on Design for Circularity for PET bottles
The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) is initiating an industry-wide consultation to collect stakeholder feedback on the recently developed Design for Circularity (DfC) guidelines for PET bottles. This consultation marks the next strategic step following the publication of the Circularity Protocol and the Quick Test–AIT.Circularity(1), reaffirming EPBP’s commitment to supporting the PET value chain in its transition toward true circularity. The consultation will be open for two months. e.g.: until February 15th, 2026. DfC represents the evolution beyond today’s Design for Recyclability (DfR) Guidelines. While DfR ensures high-quality recyclate after a single use, DfC sets a more ambitious benchmark: maintaining material quality and functionality across multiple recycling loops, consistent with EU policy expectations and industry requirements for closed-loop PET systems. The transition from DfR Guidelines towards DfC Guidelines will be presented in the PETCORE EUROPE Annual Conference on 4th and 5th of February. Launching and using DfC will allow the industry to focus on innovative solutions that drives multi-loop recycling. The consultation will allow PET producers, converters, brand owners, recyclers, technology providers, and other stakeholders to review and contribute to the DfC framework prior to its finalization. Feedback will help ensure that the guidelines are practical, scientifically robust, and aligned with operational realities across the value chain. As a liaison organization to the CEN Technical Committee, on top of providing full support to the ongoing CEN standardization project, EPBP remains committed to share progress with CEN on the DfC guidelines to further drive European standardization efforts and reinforce regulatory and market coherence Industry stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback via the consultation portal: https://www.epbp.org/design-guidelines/products (1) AIT: Accelerated Impact Test ****ENDS**** Note to Editors For further information, please contact: Argiris Dabanlis, argiris.dabanlis@petcore-europe.org About EPBP The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) develops and maintains PET bottle design guidelines for recycling and provides independent, confidential recyclability and circularity assessments of innovative PET bottle packaging solutions during early-stage R&D. EPBP supports the PET value chain in ensuring high-quality recycled material output and contributes to standardization work through its liaison role within the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). www.epbp.org EPBP is an industry initiative supported by Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), PETCORE EUROPE and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe.
The European PET Bottle Platform introduces the Quick Test – Accelerated Impact Test.Circularity (QT-AIT.Circularity), as an addition to Circularity Test Protocol
The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP), the industry’s reference organisation for PET bottle circularity and design-for-recycling guidance, announces the addition of the Quick Test – Accelerated Impact Test.Circularity (QT-AIT.Circularity) to its Circularity Test Protocol. The QT-AIT.Circularity provides the value chain with a fast, cost-effective method to simulate the impact of multiple recycling loops on recyclate quality, strengthening EPBP’s comprehensive toolkit for assessing PET bottle circularity during the early stages of packaging development. A new tool supporting circularity assessment QT-AIT.Circularity follows the established structure of all EPBP Quick Tests (QTs), which are designed to offer manufacturers an early and indicative view of a package’s recyclability and circularity profile. Quick Tests are purposely engineered to be: Easy to execute: Performed in standard in-house laboratory facilities with minimal specialised equipment. Cost-effective: Requiring standard materials and limited time and resources. Indicative: Providing preliminary insights that help packaging developers make informed design decisions before undertaking full EPBP evaluations. As with all EPBP Quick Tests, QT-AIT. Circularity results are indicative only and are intended to be followed by comprehensive testing under EPBP’s formal protocols to validate recyclability or circularity performance. Simulating impacts across multiple recycling loops Circularity increasingly requires the PET value chain to understand how a packaging innovation behaves not just after a single recycling cycle, but after repeated loops. The QT-AIT.Circularity directly supports this need by simulating the effect of multiple mechanical recycling steps on PET recyclate quality. This allows stakeholders to gain early visibility on the long-term implications of design choices, particularly as recycled PET (rPET) content continues to grow under EU policies and associated legislation. An additional resource supporting the industry’s transition The QT-AIT.Circularity has been uploaded to the EPBP website and is now available for use by packaging developers, converters, and brand owners. It complements the broader EPBP Circularity Test Protocol, introduced as the next evolution beyond recyclability assessments, aligning with European regulatory expectations and supporting the shift toward circularity. EPBP encourages innovators to begin integrating circularity considerations as early as the R&D phase. Early adoption of tools such as the QT-AIT.Circularity reduces the risk that packaging solutions validated under recyclability criteria may face challenges when reassessed for circularity in later stages. Strengthening EPBP’s role in the PET value chain For more than 18 years, EPBP has provided design-for-recycling guidelines and confidential evaluations of PET bottle innovations, ensuring the production of high-quality rPET and contributing to standardisation through its liaison role with the Technical Committee on Packaging within CEN. The addition of the QT-AIT. Circularity reinforces EPBP’s commitment to supporting packaging circularity, recycling efficiency, and the evolution of PET bottle design in line with the realities of multi-loop recycling. ****ENDS**** Note to Editors For further information, please contact: Argiris Dabanlis, argiris.dabanlis@petcore-europe.org About EPBP For over 18 years, EPBP has played a vital role in providing design-for-recycling (DfR) guidelines and evaluating innovative PET bottle packaging solutions based on the PET Recyclability Test Protocol to ensure the production of high-quality recycled PET (rPET). EPBP is proud to be a liaison organisation with the Technical Committee on Packaging within the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). EPBP actively contributes to the development of standards and the exchange of best practices across the industry. Evolving the PET test protocol from recyclability to circularity will provide the value chain with a clearer direction in the future, considering the reality of multi-loop recycling. EPBP remains dedicated to facilitating the understanding and adoption of PET innovations that support recycling efficiency, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. www.epbp.org EPBP is an industry initiative supported by Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), PETCORE EUROPE and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe.
Natural Mineral Waters Europe and UNESDA launch the DRS Playbook: A practical guide to building new and effective Deposit Return Schemes across Europe
Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE) and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe proudly launch the ‘DRS Playbook: Everything you need to know about developing, financing and operating Deposit Return Schemes’. This comprehensive guide, commissioned from OLHC Consultants, is designed to support the implementation of effective Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) across Europe. This Playbook arrives at a pivotal moment in the European packaging landscape. With the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) recently approved and with more Member States in the process of considering, implementing or redesigning DRS, the Playbook provides a practical, experience-based guide to creating effective collection systems for the environment, consumers and the beverage industry. The development of DRS has been ongoing for several years. When designed and implemented well, DRS can significantly improve the quality and quantity of beverage packaging recycling. ‘There can be no one-size-fits-all for DRS. Every system will need to take into account the country’s specific context. But with this Playbook, we hope to provide the essential ingredients to build effective schemes. By working together and sharing key learnings and best practices, we can build solutions which will deliver circularity for beverage packaging across Europe’, said Patricia Fosselard, Secretary General of NMWE. ‘We are excited to release this playbook. It is a major collaborative effort bringing together our extensive expertise in DRS engagement with one clear goal: to inspire and guide stakeholders in making new DRS work effectively across Europe. This is an important step in our own circularity actions and helping the industry to accelerate progress toward a circular economy for beverage packaging’, adds Nicholas Hodac, Director General of UNESDA. A practical resource rooted in experience Drawing on industry knowledge, real-world case studies and policy analysis, the DRS Playbook reflects years of engagement with DRS across Europe. Aligning closely with the PPWR, it provides detailed guidance on: How to design an efficient and consumer-friendly system How to finance and ensure long-term sustainability How to operate systems that guarantee high return rates and clean, closed-loop recycling The Playbook reaffirms the beverage sector’s commitment to closed-loop recycling, ensuring that bottles and cans are collected and recycled into new bottles and cans. Context, collaboration and call for dialogue The launch coincides with the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU — Denmark is renowned for its high-performing DRS model. This political context provides the perfect opportunity to share expertise and promote harmonised progress at EU level. We are happy to contribute to the discussion and support Member States in gradually improving their beverage packaging collection and recycling systems. With the 2029 deadline set out in the Single-Use Plastics Directive for collecting 90% of plastic beverage bottles approaching, the DRS Playbook aims to support Member States in meeting — and potentially exceeding — these targets. *** Note to Editors For further information, please contact: Teresa Vallejo, Communications Manager, Natural Mineral Waters Europe teresa.vallejo@nmwe.org M: +32 495 80 63 75 Inês Rebelo, Senior Communications Manager, UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe irebelo@unesda.eu M: +32 477 860 901 About NMWE Natural Mineral Waters Europe has been the voice of natural mineral water and spring water since 1953, and today represents more than 500 producers. The sector provides European consumers with healthy, natural and high-quality hydration. Pioneers in sustainable management, our members have a long tradition of working in partnership with local communities to safeguard the environment around water resources. Our mission extends to achieving full circularity for all packaging. www.naturalmineralwaterseurope.org About UNESDA Established in 1958, UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe is the Brussels-based trade association representing the non-alcoholic beverages sector. Its membership comprises 12 companies and 27 national associations from across Europe. UNESDA members are involved in the production and/or distribution of a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages including still drinks, carbonated drinks, energy drinks, iced teas, flavoured waters and sports drinks. www.unesda.eu Download Press Release in PDF
The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) introduces the PET Circularity Test — a pioneering tool that simulates multiple recycling loops
The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) introduces the PET Circularity Test — a pioneering tool that simulates multiple recycling loops The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP), a leading industry initiative dedicated to advancing the circular economy within the PET bottle value chain, is pleased to announce the launch of its Circularity Test Protocol. This new protocol marks a pivotal milestone in supporting the PET value chain efforts toward sustainable development and resource efficiency. Meeting ambitious environmental goals The launch of the Circularity Test Protocol provides industry stakeholders with a powerful tool to meet ambitious environmental targets. EPBP’s Design for Recyclability Test Protocol already aligns with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Circularity Test Protocol can be seen as the next evolution towards true circularity. “With this new protocol, EPBP reinforces its commitment to fostering sustainable packaging innovations that embody true circularity,” said Antoon Spiessens, co-chair of EPBP representing UNESDA. “This protocol offers industry stakeholders a reliable framework to assess and improve the circularity of PET bottles during their R&D phase,” said John McClelland, co-chair of EPBP representing PETCORE EUROPE. Advancing circularity in PET recycling Circularity is defined as maximising resource use, minimising waste, extending product lifespans and enabling effective recycling, and forms the cornerstone of European Union (EU) policies and packaging legislation. The Circularity Test Protocol is designed to simulate multiple recycling loops and better address the evolving needs of the PET industry as the content of recycled PET (rPET) increases under EU policies and associated legislation. Transitioning to the Circularity Test Protocol EPBP will initially offer both test protocols to applicants seeking a recyclability or circularity assessment. EPBP will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to establish a transition period for the newly developed PET Circularity Protocol and its associated design guidelines. This transition period will enable the industry to prepare for the new design-for-circularity guidelines. These will be announced by EPBP in the near future. During this transition period, applicants may choose whether to validate their packaging innovations based on either the recyclability or circularity protocols. However, EPBP strongly encourages applicants to begin adopting the circularity protocol. Innovations successfully validated under the recyclability protocol may face challenges when reassessed against the circularity protocol, emphasizing the importance of early adoption. For over 17 years, EPBP has played a vital role in providing design-for-recycling (DfR) guidelines and evaluating innovative PET bottle packaging solutions based on the PET Recyclability Test Protocol to ensure the production of high-quality recycled PET (rPET). EPBP is proud to be a liaison organisation with the Technical Committee on Packaging within the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). EPBP actively contributes to the development of standards and the exchange of best practices across the industry. Evolving the PET test protocol from recyclability to circularity will provide the value chain with a clearer direction in the future, considering the reality of multi-loop recycling. EPBP remains dedicated to facilitating the understanding and adoption of PET innovations that support recycling efficiency, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. ****ENDS**** Note to Editors For further information, please contact: Argiris Dabanlis, argiris.dabanlis@petcore-europe.org About EPBP The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) provides PET bottle design guidelines for recycling and offers PET bottle producers an independent and confidential evaluation of the recyclability of their packaging solutions and technologies during their R&D phase where adjustments can still be made to mitigate recycling challenges. EPBP also facilitates understanding of the impact of new PET bottle innovation on recycling processes. EPBP is also a liaison organization to the Technical Committee on packaging within the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). www.epbp.org EPBP is an industry initiative supported by Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), PETCORE EUROPE and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe. Download Press Release in PDF
The European PET Bottle Platform strengthens its role in advancing PET bottle circularity
The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) takes on a strategic liaison position at the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP), an industry initiative aiming at driving the circular economy for the PET bottle value chain, has become a liaison organisation to the Technical Committee on packaging within the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). Argiris Dabanlis, Technical Manager of EPBP, stated: “This liaison role is an important recognition of EPBP’s contribution to advancing PET bottle circularity in Europe. It is a great opportunity for EPBP to bring its extensive expertise to CEN’s discussions on packaging circularity and continue helping companies in the PET bottle industry to design PET bottles for recycling on the path to circularity.” The recently adopted Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requests the Commission to take the standards developed by European standardisation organisations into consideration when establishing the future design for recycling criteria, thereby highlighting the critical role to be played by CEN in supporting the process. Through its work at CEN, EPBP aims to further enhance recyclability and circularity of these bottles to enable high-quality recycling, which is key to ensuring that used PET bottles are recycled into new ones (bottle-to-bottle recycling). This reinforces EPBP’s commitment to supporting the European PET bottle industry in boosting PET bottle recycling to accelerate the transition to full circularity. ****ENDS**** Note to Editors For further information, please contact: Argiris Dabanlis, argiris.dabanlis@petcore-europe.org About EPBP The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) provides PET bottle design guidelines for recycling and offers PET bottle producers an independent and confidential evaluation of the recyclability of their packaging solutions and technologies during their R&D phase where adjustments can still be made to mitigate recycling challenges. EPBP also facilitates understanding of the impact of new PET bottle innovation on recycling processes. www.epbp.org EPBP is an industry initiative supported by Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), PETCORE EUROPE and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe. About CEN CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, is an association that brings together the National Standardization Bodies of 34 European countries. CEN provides a platform for the development of European Standards and other technical documents in relation to various kinds of products, materials, services and processes. www.cencenelec.eu/about-cen Download Press Release in PDF
UNESDA statement on DG TAXUD exploratory study on health taxes from an EU perspective
On 15 May 2025, DG TAXUD published the study commissioned to ECORYS entitled ‘’Health taxes from an EU perspective’’, which aims to serve as a basis for initial discussions with member states on the implementation of taxes on foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS), as a health measure in Europe. UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, representing the European soft drinks sector, considers that the study’s recommendations are totally misleading and not grounded in evidence in claiming that targeting soft drinks will result in health benefits. The study includes some questionable conclusions on presumed health benefits of soft drinks taxes that are not at all supported by current evidence that showcases their ineffectiveness in achieving positive health outcomes1. Such evidence can be found, among other sources, in the recent study from Tax Foundation Europe, which demonstrates that soft drink taxes do not lead to health improvements even over time, by demonstrating that obesity rates are still on the rise in countries where soft drinks taxes have been in place for years. This study states: “The growing body of empirical evidence finds no evidence of body mass index (BMI) reductions or a decrease in obesity prevalence following the imposition of SSB taxes”. UNESDA, however, welcomes the report’s recognition of some key tax design elements: if they are to be considered, such taxes should be nutrient- and not product-based, tiered or progressive, with a threshold below which products are tax-free to encourage reformulation. The study also acknowledges that the case to tax low- and no-calorie sweeteners is weaker. Nicholas Hodac, Director General of UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, stated: “We appreciate the exploratory efforts made by DG TAXUD in providing considerations on a potential HFSS tax design that supports industry’s reformulation efforts. However, the study contradicts itself by making the case for nutrient-based taxes, but then still proposing HFSS taxes to focus first on sugar-sweetened beverages taxes, simply because these ‘are easier to implement than other HFSS taxes’. This approach singles out and penalises the soft drinks industry. It is disappointing that this is not guided by an evidence-based, scientific approach. It is also worrying that the study claims associations between HFSS taxes, including sugar-sweetened beverages taxes, and health improvements, when this is based on simulations relying on unrealistic assumptions regarding price elasticity of demand. Actually, the study also acknowledges that “the evidence on longer-term impacts of HFSS taxation on population health is not as robust”. Soft drinks taxes are just an ineffective and discriminatory quick fix. We see that in some of the markets used as case studies, where soft drinks taxes have been in place for many years, but obesity rates continue to rise2, or remain stable despite a reduction in soft drinks consumption. This highlights that these taxes do not deliver health benefits, as the recent Tax Foundation study, covering some of the same markets, demonstrated. Finally, it is misleading to consider that reformulation is only driven by taxation. Decades of industry’s voluntary reformulation efforts have shown that we take our responsibility in reducing sugar in our existing beverages and offering new low- and no-calorie alternatives to support balanced diets. We are proud to have already achieved an average sugar reduction of 33.9% across Europe since 20003. Let’s make sure that taxation recommendations are grounded in solid science, are balanced and treat all foods fairly.’’ ****ENDS**** Note to Editors 1 Recently, the WHO Europe excluded taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages from its 25 public health measures (‘quick buys’) to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs), acknowledging that, based on current evidence, it is neither a quick nor effective solution for driving positive health outcomes. A 2022 European Commission report also confirmed that there is no concrete, empirical evidence that selective taxation policies have reduced obesity, overweight and associated non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This report also concluded that alternative policies, other than soft drink and food taxation, can actually have a positive effect on Europeans’ health. Similarly, a McKinsey report concluded that taxation is a rather inefficient intervention compared to other measures. As mentioned in this report, the two most efficient interventions in tackling obesity are portion control and reformulation – two interventions our sector has been prioritising for years. Furthermore, an article from 2023 in the Annual Review of Resource Economics* concluded the lack of studies providing clear, consistent evidence on the effectiveness of these taxes in reducing sugar intake or positively impacting health outcomes: “The literature provides no consistent evidence that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) taxes have incentivized increased purchases of healthier beverages and caused overall SSB consumption to decrease.” * A New Wave of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes: Are They Meeting Policy Goals and Can We Do Better? Kristin Kiesel, Hairu Lang, and Richard J. Sexton, Annual Review of Resource Economics, 2023. 2 WHO Europe HBSC Surveys, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018. 3 Source: GlobalData. For further information, please contact: Inês Rebelo, Senior Communications Manager, UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe irebelo@unesda.eu, M: +32 477 860 901
European soft drinks sector rolls out tailored tool to facilitate soft drinks life cycle assessments
Today, UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe has announced the launch of a tailored LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) online tool for the soft drinks industry1. This LCA tool, built in collaboration with technology services company Pilario, enables soft drinks companies to measure, compare and improve the environmental performance of their products, taking into account the ingredients they source, the packaging they use and how their beverages are transported and distributed. It can also contribute to sustainability reporting, and be used to assess performance against industry standards. The tool integrates all the key elements of the ‘’shadow’’ soft drinks Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR)2 that UNESDA co-developed with Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk. Nicholas Hodac, Director General of UNESDA, commented: ‘’We are excited to have the first LCA tool tailored specifically for our sector, thanks to our great collaboration with Pilario and Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk. We can now use a practical and user-friendly LCA solution to step up our environmental efforts. This tool is an important service UNESDA offers to its members to help them drive their transition toward packaging sustainability, reinforcing our sector’s ongoing commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of our packaging.’’ Alycia Purcell, CEO of Pilario, stated: ‘’Pilario is pleased to have provided the soft drinks sector with an innovative LCA tool that members can use for eco-design and sustainability reporting. Using a software reduces costs and allows scalability across sustainability operations and reporting. Our clients see considerable cost reductions for consultants, and a decrease in the time spent measuring and improving their product’s impact. We are happy to bring this innovation to the soft drinks sector and see progress in the industry toward environmentally friendly practices.” Elisabeth Keijzer, Senior Consultant and Project Manager at Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk, said: ‘’Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk is thrilled to have co-developed a ‘’shadow’’ soft drinks Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) with the soft drinks sector. This PEFCR is essential for offering soft drinks companies a clear, harmonised methodology to assess the environmental impact of their products, ensuring that LCA results are reliable and comparable.’’ ****ENDS**** Note to Editors 1 For more information on the LCA tool for the soft drinks industry, please contact irebelo@unesda.eu. 2 The “shadow” soft drinks Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) provides all the necessary environmental footprint guidance and methodology to assess the lifecycle of soft drinks, helping to harmonise methodologies across companies and countries. These guidelines are as much as possible in line with the generic PEFCR as developed by the European Commission, and in particular with the PEFCRs for packed water and beer. At the time this document was prepared, there was no open call launched by the European Commission to develop an official PEFCR. The aim of the “shadow” PEFCR was, therefore, to stay as close as possible to existing PEFCRs in order to have a solid methodology that can serve as the foundation when an opportunity arises to develop an official PEFCR for soft drinks. For further information, please contact: Inês Rebelo, Senior Communications Manager, UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe irebelo@unesda.eu, M: +32 477 860 901 About UNESDA Established in 1958, UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe is the Brussels-based trade association representing the non-alcoholic beverages sector. Its membership comprises 12 companies and 27 national associations from across Europe. UNESDA members are involved in the production and/or distribution of a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages including still drinks, carbonated drinks, energy drinks, iced teas, flavoured waters and sports drinks. www.unesda.eu About Pilario Backed by over 30 years of experience in sustainability assessment at RDC environment, Pilario was born to make Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) calculations scalable and accessible to all. Pilario supports companies in any sector in their sustainability journey by providing a hands-on software to empower users of any background to perform PCF and LCA calculations independently. The results are delivered in formats that are compliant and aligned with current regulations and industry standards, including CSRD and GHG accounting. The scenario feature allows users to understand their product from a whole new lens, enabling them to identify environmental hotspots and assess alternatives. With Pilario, preparing for upcoming regulations and improving the impact of your products is easy and straightforward. www.pilario.com About Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk is a leading international expert in food system sustainability, dedicated to creating a sustainable and healthy planet for current and future generations. It enables organizations to assess their environmental footprint through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), combining expert consultancy, high-quality data, and software solutions, all grounded in the latest scientific developments and international standards. www.blonksustainability.nl Download Press Release in PDF
New President of UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe: Andrew McMillin, The Coca-Cola Company
UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, the European trade association representing the soft drink industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew McMillin, President of Western Europe Operations at The Coca-Cola Company, as the new President of the association. Commenting on his appointment, Mr. McMillin stated: “I am honoured to lead UNESDA and represent some of the world’s most loved brands which provide European consumers with great-tasting drinks for all occasions and choices. The soft drinks sector plays an important role in supporting the European economy by providing over 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs, and creating 242 billion euros in value across its supply chain1. A recent report established the soft drinks industry is leading innovation in the food and beverage industry2. During my Presidency I will advocate for enabling EU policies that can further advance our sector’s innovation potential to foster growth, sustainability and resilience for our industry and the European economy.” Mr. McMillin added: ‘’I welcome the new European Commission’s focus on competitiveness and its commitment to increasing stakeholder dialogue, while keeping environmental sustainability as a cornerstone of its strategy. Now more than ever it is imperative for the EU to implement science-based food policies that support consumers to adopt healthier diets while promoting fairness across the food supply chain.’’ Finally, Mr. McMillin commented: ‘’UNESDA is well-known for being a constructive stakeholder for EU policymakers and I am committed to building on this strong legacy of collaborative policy engagement. I will be working closely with our network of dedicated members and stakeholders, to bring the evolving needs of our consumers and the day to day reality of our operations to the fore in policy discussions, to ensure EU policy making is future proof.’’ Nicholas Hodac, director general of UNESDA, welcomed the new leadership: ‘’I am delighted that Andrew has assumed the presidency of UNESDA, at a time when its membership is growing. I very much look forward to working with him to drive our sector’s actions forward.’’ ‘’I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to our outgoing President, Peter Harding, CEO of Suntory Beverage & Food International, for his exceptional leadership and unwavering support during his tenure. Peter skilfully guided us through a very dynamic EU mandate, helping us to strengthen our strategic direction and constructive credentials. As we move forward, we will ensure continuity in this important work to realise our priorities’’, Mr. Hodac noted. Andrew McMillin’s biography Andrew McMillin is the President of West Europe Operations for The Coca-Cola Company. He is responsible for delivery of the P&L for the company’s full portfolio in the region, which serves over 350MM consumers in 14 countries. Prior to assuming this role, he was the President and Chief Commercial Officer for Coca-Cola’s North American Operating Unit. Since joining Coke in 2001, Mr. McMillin has held a variety of consumer marketing, commercial and franchise leadership roles including SVP of the Coca-Cola brand portfolio, CMO of the North America Foodservice business, Account leader for Coca-Cola’s Inspire Brands account team, leadership of Coca-Cola’s Walmart / Sam’s marketing team, and oversight of retail shopper marketing function. Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Mr. McMillin spent six years with the Ford Motor Company in various brand management and sales roles. Mr. McMillin board experience includes his current chairmanship of the European Soft Drink Manufacturers Association (UNESDA), as well as, non-profit experience with Make a Wish Georgia. An avid runner, Mr. McMillin just completed the 2024 NYC marathon. He holds a BA from Boston College and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School. He and his wife, Tricia, live in London, UK. They have two grown children, Jack and Meghan who both live in New York City. ****ENDS**** Note to Editors 1 Source: Market data copyright held by GlobalData PLC. Check out the soft drinks sector’s contribution to Europe’s economy and society here. 2 According to the 2024 FoodDrinkEurope Data & Trends Report, the soft drinks sector is the most innovative in the food and drink industry. Explore the full report here. Download Press Release in PDF