A K-Pop star toad? Jinro taps Korean wave in limited-edition soju
South Korean multinational soju brand HiteJinro is tapping the global K-pop wave with a limited edition label design featuring its toad mascot as a K-pop star
As K-pop culture continues to dominate global trends, HiteJinro is using packaging and consumer engagement to further extend Jinro’s appeal beyond its home market.
On August 10, HiteJinro announced the launch of its limited edition label for Jinro’s green grape soju, featuring its toad mascot available in pink or green, dressed as a K-pop idol.
Kirin puts ¥43.8bn price tag on transition to green packaging
Kirin estimates carbon pricing could add ¥43.8bn (US$275.4m) to packaging costs by 2050, while climate change could raise energy costs and put agricultural yields at risk
The Japanese beverage giant’s latest climate-risk assessment estimates that carbon pricing could add ¥43.8bn to packaging costs by 2050 under its Sustainable Scenario, which assumes a stronger global shift towards a low-carbon economy.
The estimate covers emissions associated with aluminium, plastics including PET, and paper used in Kirin’s packaging. The figure reflects the potential cost passed through to Kirin as carbon pricing makes these materials more expensive.
Consumer acceptance and food safety key to biobased packaging adoption
Experts say consumer acceptance and food safety concerns, including technical and regulatory barriers, remain key hurdles to wider adoption of biobased packaging
Biobased packaging could offer food and beverage manufacturers an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics, but its wider adoption remains constrained by technical, economic, regulatory and consumer barriers.
‘Damning results’: Australia investigates alleged food fraud in supermarkets
Australia’s consumer watchdog is looking into alleged food fraud after forensic tests flagged misleading origin claims and possible adulteration in supermarket products
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced on August 7 that it is investigating the claims raised in the recent Four Corners programme, which contained allegations about businesses misleading consumers with label claims.
Would you eat a cookie made from a plastic bottle?
US scientists are using engineered yeast to turn plastic waste into protein-rich cookies – but safety, scale and consumer disgust stand between µBites and the snack aisle
Researchers at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale have created a protein-rich, vanilla-scented cookie partly derived from a discarded plastic bottle. Called µBites, pronounced ‘microbites’, it uses genetically engineered yeast to transform polyethylene terephthalate (PET), crop residues and other waste into proteins, fats, nutrients and flavouring compounds.
These are combined with starch, fibre and sweeteners, passed through a 3D printer and microwaved. The researchers insist the resulting cookie doesn’t contain plastic particles, but nobody has yet been authorised to eat one.
