European soda producers have reduced the sugar content in drinks by 7.6% in 4 years

According to a statement from the Union of European Soft Drink Associations (UNESDA), the sugar content of drinks produced by European companies decreased by 7.6% between 2019 and 2022. Last year alone, the volume of added sugar in European soft drinks decreased by 4%, Sfera writes.

Ian Ellington, President of UNESDA and Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo Europe, highlighted the significant progress made in health and nutrition, especially in reducing the amount of sugar in products. He noted that UNESDA intends to continue its efforts and plans to reduce the sugar content of its drinks by another 10% by 2025.

In addition, the association plans to increase the use of recycled plastic for product packaging. Manufacturers are currently facing challenges due to limited access to this material. But despite this, UNESDA has set a goal to use recycled plastic in 50% of packaging by 2025.

Ian Ellington pointed out that the industry has been able to reduce the use of sugar in carbonated drinks through the use of low-calorie sweeteners. He urged governments and regulators to continue supporting these ingredients so the sector can make further progress in reducing sugar consumption.