Leading drinks companies cut sugar by 12% in second major progress report on industry sugar reduction pledge
Non-alcoholic drinks industry announces progress toward 2025 sugar reduction target
Friday, 30 October 2020, 09:00AM, SYDNEY: Australia’s largest beverage companies have marked a major milestone by announcing a 12 per cent reduction* in sugar, in the second progress report on the beverage industry’s flagship pledge.
In June 2018, with the support of the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Asahi Lifestyle Beverages, Coca-Cola Amatil, Coca-Cola Australia and PepsiCo Australia committed to reduce sugar from drink sales by 20 per cent on average by 2025.
The second major progress report on the pledge shows that the industry is making significant progress towards its target, largely as a result of innovation that has led to the introduction of more low and no-sugar drinks and reformulation of existing products.
“Today’s report is a further sign that the industry stands by its commitment to reduce sugar in drinks while continuing to offer greater choice of low-sugar drinks and many without any sugar at all,” said Mr Geoff Parker, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Beverages Council.
“The industry is already close to two thirds of the way towards meeting the 2025 sugar reduction target, but there’s still a lot of important work ahead of us,” he said.
Taking into consideration the first half of 2020, progress made by the industry to reduce sugar is ahead of the straight-line average required to meet the 20 per cent reduction in sugar by 2025.
The Australian Government supports the non-alcoholic beverage industry’s commitment to reducing sugar, with the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, congratulating the industry on its progress and encouraging it to reduce sugar even further.
“The Morrison Government supports appropriate action to tackle obesity, particularly through initiatives that support Australians to live healthier lives,” said Minister Hunt.
“The Government and the beverage industry are working together to tackle the complex issue of obesity and to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in sugar in Australia by 2025 by encouraging healthy diets.”
The Australian Beverages Council will continue to consult widely with a range of health, industry, supplier and government stakeholders to increase understanding of the commitment.
“The non-alcoholic beverage industry invites other sectors to join the Australian Beverages Council in reducing sugar while continuing to support consumer choice and healthy lifestyles,” said Mr Parker.
The latest progress report demonstrates the industry’s long-term commitment to reduce sugar, complements a national obesity strategy, encourages all Australians to live healthier lives and reflects the industry’s contribution to combat the prevalence of overweight and obesity.
The second progress report on the industry’s sugar reduction pledge can be accessed here.
*12 per cent reduction in sugar has been achieved by average reductions in total grams of sugar per 100mL and includes the period 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2020.
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Note to the Editor:
The Australian Beverages Council engaged KPMG to aggregate the industry’s results and report on the industry’s performance on an annual basis through to 2025. The sugar reduction pledge applies to all categories of non-alcoholic drinks represented by Members of the Australian Beverages Council that have signed the pledge.
For further information or to speak with Mr Geoff Parker, CEO, Australian Beverages Council:
Mr Shae Courtney
Senior Manager – Corporate Affairs
Australian Beverages Council
M: 0420 736 136