All articles by David Burrows

Pulp fiction: paper packaging raises questions

One in four wine and spirits bottles on supermarket shelves could be paper-based rather than glass within a decade, according…
Are corporate carbon commitments on life support?

The Science-based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a corporate climate action organisation, enables businesses worldwide to play their part in combating the…
How durable are sustainability claims made for aluminium packaging?

“Today marks another significant moment and an industry first,” wrote Shiada Drysdale, beverages manager at Virgin Atlantic in March. “For…
Reality on plastics laid bare as treaty talks resume

Unilever hasn’t had a great few weeks. Once seen as the corporate cheerleader for businesses doing good it has found…
Why the sustainability spotlight may start to shine brighter on drinks

In 2021, beverage companies emitted 1.5bn tonnes of CO2e, accounting for 3.8% of all global CO2e emissions. At present, these…

Patience vital as beer industry inches forward on regenerative agriculture

As many of the largest players in the beer industry move to reduce emissions upstream, brewers are turning to regenerative…
Are ‘carbon neutral’ claims dead?

The EU wants rid of spurious green claims: too many of them are made with “no evidence and justification whatsoever”,…
Drinks packaging standardisation – green genius or marketing madness?

“People are excited by it, scared by it, challenged by it – but at least they’re having a conversation about…
Coffee and ESG: the challenges of carbon insetting

The language of sustainability is awash with buzzwords and there’s a new one in town: carbon insetting. “More and more…
Is paper packaging really a sustainable alternative for drinks companies?

Drinks companies have for years now been under pressure to leave plastic packaging in the cold but it wasn’t until…