Signals

Australia – With some consumers thinking more consciously about packaging and waste associated with the alcohol sector, wine brand Hey Tomorrow is working to break the stigma of boxed wine through more sophisticated branding and eco-messaging.

Using minimal packaging and editorial style imagery, the brand is also promoting the idea that its wine has a longer shelf life than conventional products. In turn, the brand is using cardboard packaging and sans serif typography to ensure its ready-to-drink offer has a premium aesthetic. ‘We wanted something that people would be happy to display in their kitchen, a bit like a fancy magazine or book on a coffee table,’ says the brand.

Beyond the wine category, we’ve been tracking this rise in box-format drinks through initiatives like cocktail delivery service The Drinks Drop. As audiences begin to recognise the environmental benefits of lighter boxed drinks over glass, there is a burgeoning opportunity for disruption in this market.

Across the world, livestock farms are responsible for a worrying level of carbon emissions – and are receiving funding to do so. According to research by environmental campaigners and a Meat Atlas report, levels of meat production are also expected to rise in the coming years.

Environmental campaigners note that 20 livestock companies are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than either Germany, Britain or France. Meanwhile, the overall impact of raising livestock accounts for 14.5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Meat Atlas research also shows that, between 2015 and 2020, global meat and dairy companies received more than £346bn ($478bn, €406bn) in backing – a figure that could increase meat production by a further 40m tonnes by 2029.

With this data in mind, food suppliers must take greater responsibility for the brands they’re working with, seeking out sustainable dairy alternatives instead of relying on animal products.