Author: dezm11

The NSWA have launched a new Healthy Hydration Habits fact sheet, which you can download here.

NSWA is looking forward to joining leading producers, retailers, advisers and innovators from across the UK water drinks industry at the 2022 UK Water Drinks Conference on 22 March in London.

The 30th annual conference will explore the latest market and consumer trends, new product development, future market opportunities, industry leader insights and sustainability, alongside extensive high-level networking opportunities.

You can find out much more about the event here.

NSWA has launched a new video to promote the benefits of drinking water. The video uses simple animation to get across the message that water is the best drink for a healthy lifestyle, as soft drinks often contain more sugar than you might think, and are high in calories.

Highland Spring Group, the UK’s leading producer of natural source waters, will aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 and become carbon neutral by the end of this year, as part of their commitment to providing healthy hydration in an environmentally sustainable way.

To mark World Environment Day 2021, the business has today announced plans to significantly reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions across its operations to accelerate its goal towards carbon neutrality and ultimately net zero.
As part of their journey to net zero, the company will work towards a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030, and a target of net zero emissions by 2040. This is five years ahead of the Scottish Government’s proposed 2045 target, and 10 years ahead of the UK Government’s deadline. The business is working with Carbon Intelligence to develop an emissions reduction roadmap and set credible and robust Science Based targets.

At a critical point for the climate and ahead of the COP26 Climate Change Summit in November, the Group has also signed-up to the United Nation’s ‘Race to Zero’ campaign, underscoring its commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

The business has focused on environmental leadership since it was founded in 1979. Highland Spring was the first brand to introduce a 100% recycled and recyclable bottle
in the UK, and for the last 20 years has achieved organic accreditation from The Soil Association for its protected water catchment area.

Simon Oldham, Chief Commercial Officer, Highland Spring Group, said: “We are committed to playing our part in addressing the risks of climate change through reducing our carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment with the aim of becoming carbon neutral in 2021 and net zero by 2040.

Since the company was founded over 40 years ago, environmental sustainability has been at the heart of everything we do. We will continue to work hard on our strategy to ensure we keep reducing our environmental footprint, to create a positive impact for people, society and the planet.”

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Michael Matheson MSP said: “I am pleased to see Highland Spring Group’s ambition to reach net zero by 2040 and I fully welcome the announcement.

The Scottish business community continues to play a crucial role in delivering a just transition to net zero. Ambitious targets help drive the development of new industries, services, and skilled jobs, alongside new export and investment opportunities.

With COP26 being hosted in Glasgow later this year, we are asking other Scottish businesses to follow Highland Spring Group’s example and to demonstrate the leadership required to inspire collective climate action and ensure Scotland becomes a net zero nation.”

UK Net Zero Business Champion, Andrew Griffith MP, said: “Fantastic that Highland Spring Group have joined the UN’s Race to Zero, underlining their target to halve their emissions by 2030 and be net zero by 2040, across all scopes. This is backed by crucial innovation and investment, securing the company’s low carbon growth path.”

Jonathan Sykes, Executive Chairman, Carbon Intelligence said: “We are delighted to support Highland Spring Group on their Net Zero journey. They join our roster of consumer brand clients committing, during this year of COP, to driving the changes needed to limit planetary warming.”

Sandra Stewart, Land Management Officer from Forth Rivers Trust said: “We are delighted to be working with Highland Spring Group to undertake scientific baseline surveys in the protected catchment area and advise on actions to benefit biodiversity and enhance watercourses. The Trust has been working with land managers across the Allan Water catchment to undertake Natural Flood Management work to revive the river, restore peatlands and wetlands and encourage sympathetic native tree planting in the right place. Working with partners allows benefits at a catchment scale to protect businesses and communities, and support wildlife and biodiversity using Nature Based Solutions.”

The business continues to go further through on its journey towards net zero with the introduction of innovative new projects;
• A planned on-site rail freight facility in Blackford, due to be operational in 2022, will remove 8,000 lorries from the road and contribute towards a CO2 reduction of 3,200 tonnes per annum.
• Supporting and enhancing heathy eco-systems on the protected catchment area will be a key focus area. An ambition to secure a biodiversity net gain by 2025 will be achieved through scientific surveys, to create a net increase of flora, fauna and wildlife.

The Group will also be focusing on creating a truly circular plastics economy in the UK through;
• Introducing more recycled plastic (rPET) into bottles to ultimately reach 100% rPET across all Highland Spring and retailer branded products by 2025.
• The continued expansion of the Highland Spring eco bottle range which already contains 100% rPET.
• The further roll-out of a category-leading trial of 100% recycled LDPE in Highland Spring shrink wrap.
• As a founder member of Circularity Scotland, the new administrator for a Scottish Deposit Return Scheme, working to achieve a 90% recycle rate target through collaboration with other members.

Concerns have been raised by health experts after 2019 saw a decline in natural source water sales year on year, with the category losing out to diet fizzy drinks.

The decline in sales of natural source waters over the year, which can largely be put down to the key summer sales period being substantially cooler and wetter than the previous year, appears to have come at the same time as an increase in sales of diet fizzy drinks and energy drinks, with diet colas alone taking 6.5 million litres of sales from the natural source water category.

For more information, you can read below the full press release below or download it here.

People swapping from natural source waters to diet fizzy drinks

Concerns have been raised by health experts after 2019 saw a decline in natural source water sales year on year, with the category losing out to diet fizzy drinks. Natural source waters are the healthiest choice on the shelf when it comes to ways to quench your thirst, as they contain no sugar, calories or additives, so seeing people switch to other drinks, even diet soft drinks, is worrying, say diet and dental experts.

The decline in sales of natural source waters over the year, which can largely be put down to the key summer sales period being substantially cooler and wetter than the previous year[1], appears to have come at the same time as an increase in sales of fizzy drinks and energy drinks[2]. Diet fizzy drinks benefited most, with diet colas alone taking 6.5 million litres of sales from the natural source water category[3].

Importantly, tap water consumption at home remains the same year on year[4]. Data did however show people moving back into hot drinks such as tea (+3%) and coffee (+4%) in 2019 compared with 2018[5], which would be expected with cooler summer weather.

Water is the healthiest way to hydrate as it contains no sugar or additives, so this switch in sales has raised concerns among diet and dental specialists alike. Even though the Soft Drinks Levy has seen a reduction in sugar in fizzy drinks and much of the switch has been to diet fizzy drinks, these are not as healthy as water. As a result, this is likely to have had an adverse impact on our health at a time of increasing levels nationally of obesity, diabetes and tooth disease.

Johanna Hignett, BDA member, commented that ‘Water is one of the healthiest ways to hydrate. With no added sugars, it is calorie free and also has no added colours, sweeteners or acids. When faced with a vast selection in a shop or café, water is one of the best choices. It is concerning to see that customers seem to be choosing other options more often.’

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation said, “They may not contain sugar but artificially-sweetened or ‘diet’ fizzy drinks can still be harmful to oral health and general wellbeing. Diet fizzy drinks are highly acidic and can dissolve the enamel on the teeth. This risk is higher when having them between meals. Plain still water is the best ‘tooth-friendly’ way of quenching thirst, without putting health at risk.”

Natural source waters are not only the healthiest way to hydrate, but also have the lowest environmental impact of any drink on the shelf as they contain no agricultural or industrial additives such as sugars, flavourings or sweeteners, so this switch will also have resulted in an increase in greenhouse gases produced from the nation’s drinks choice.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

The Natural Source Waters Association, formerly the Natural Hydration Council, represents producers of natural source waters. Membership includes the majority of natural source water producers in the UK as well as leading importers.
Natural source waters all come from protected underground sources and must be safe to drink from source as they cannot be chemically treated, unlike tap water which comes from a variety of sources, such as reservoirs and rivers, and undergoes an industrial process to make it safe to drink.
Members of the Natural Source Waters Association are instrumental in protecting 350,000 acres of land in the United Kingdom, the equivalent of the Peak District National Park.
For more information go to www.naturalsourcewaters.org.uk or call 0208 996 5115.
[1] 40% fewer hours of sunshine in June and July according to the Met Office.

[2] Kantar Worldpanel, Total Soft Drinks: Switching: Spend (£000s), 12 w/e 26 Jan 2020 vs. YA

[3] Kantar, 52 w/e 01 Dec 19, Universe Soft Drinks.

[4] Kantar Worldpanel Usage, 52 w/e August 19 vs. YA, % change.

[5] Kantar Worldpanel Usage, 52 w/e August 19 vs. YA, % change.