World / Science & Health Oct 18, 2019
Global bottled water giants are ramping up trials of easily recyclable aluminum cans to replace plastic that pollutes the world's seas. Sound like a slam-dunk for the environment? Not entirely. Aluminum cans might indeed mean less ocean waste, but the production of each can pumps ...
Business / Corporate Jun 6, 2019
Coca-Cola to start using 100% recycled plastic bottles in Japan
Coca-Cola (Japan) Co. has said it will start selling a beverage product next week packaged in bottles made entirely from recycled plastics. The move comes as beverage companies around the world are increasingly moving toward more sustainable packaging in a bid to protect the environment ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH May 5, 2018
Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon: What's Coke without the fizz?
by Patrick St. Michel
It's hot out. Accordingly, everyone is seeking out cooler treats to get them through a summer that hasn't even fully settled in yet. Coca-Cola Japan is betting that people need a fix of cool in 2018, and have introduced a new product that takes ...
World / Science & Health Apr 14, 2017
British startup hopes to cut plastic waste with innovative water balls
Small transparent spheres filled with natural or flavored water could help provide a solution to London's plastic waste problem, according to the startup company based in the British capital that manufactures them. With many cities around the world struggling to dispose of vast numbers of ...
World / Science & Health Aug 18, 2016
Britain taxes soft drinks, will use the money to promote children's health
Britain on Thursday launched a strategy aimed at curbing childhood obesity by taxing companies that sell sugar-laced soft drinks and investing that money in programs to encourage physical activity and balanced diets for school children. Urging food and drinks firms to act swiftly to cut ...
Business / Economy | YEN FOR LIVING Jun 13, 2015
Suntory gains ground in battle of the machines
by Philip Brasor and Masako Tsubuku
Suntory Beverage is buying a bigger piece of a shrinking but lucrative pie with its purchase of the Japan Tobacco's vending machine subsidiary.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Apr 10, 2015
Kirin courts lightweight drinkers with 1 percent alcohol
by Patrick St. Michel
Always looking to court a new demographic of drinkers, Kirin seems to have listened to market research indicating that not everyone likes going overboard with booze. The answer is Butterfly, a drink boasting just 1 percent alcohol by volume. The beverage (¥135) comes in three ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Mar 24, 2015
Coca-Cola adds life to latest release
by Patrick St. Michel
Coca-Cola Co's latest carbonated creation, Coca-Cola Life, launched in Japan earlier this month with the promise of fewer calories and less sugar via the use of stevia leaf extract, a sweetener that's apparently better for the body. All of this is just slick branding, though, ...
World / Science & Health Aug 9, 2013
Declaring war on sugar-loaded 'healthy' drinks
by Alex Renton
The tin of 7UP rolls to a stop at my feet. I pick it up, scowling at the kid on a bike who'd tossed it and missed the litter bin. The can is green and shiny: "Put some play into your every day," it ...
Food & Drink | Japan Pulse Jul 2, 2013
The latest funky food flavors, coming soon to a konbini near you
by Mai Hasebe & Eric Ruble
The weather is heating up, and food companies are answering with treats for the summer palette. Check out the latest in convenience-store goodness.
Food & Drink | Japan Pulse Jul 11, 2011
Cool drinks and eats to beat the heat
by Felicity Hughes
Chilled curry sauce on nuddles? Doughnut jellies? Menthol Shock? Japan's got 'em all this summer.