Health, convenience and environmental concerns drive beverage consumption trends.

An ageing population, health awareness, concern for the environment and a desire for greater convenience are the most important worldwide trends affecting the way people consume beverages, the packaging giant Rexam highlighted in the 2007/08 edition of its annual Consumer Packaging Report.

One in every seven liters of carbonated soft drinks sold worldwide is now a low calorie or 'light' variant, said Rexam, reflecting health trends and fuelling the growth of packaged water, iced tea, juices and nectars. Meanwhile, energy drinks have grown at a global rate of 20% annually, while ready-to-drink (RTD) teas have grown by 8%.

Overall, global consumption of commercial drinks has grown an average of 3% between 2001 and 2006. In the United States, the largest market for beverages, annual consumption stands at 609 liters per capita, whereas in western Europe the figure stands at 574 liters/capita. These markets grew by an average of 1-2% over the same time frame. By contrast, Asia grew by 6% per year, with average consumption now standing at 126 liters/capita. Central and Southern America grew by 5% per year, with consumption of 309 liters per capita.

Cans and plastic bottles for carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) packages were experiencing growth, while the use of glass use is declining. In Western Europe, glass is losing market share to plastic, while cans are retaining their share. In Eastern Europe, glass has for the most part been replaced by plastic, while beverage cans are also gaining share.

Convenience remained a key factor in beverage packaging, with the emergence of new pack shapes that were easier for consumers to handle, and re-sealable openings that were easier for children and active consumers to operate. Smaller, sleeker pack sizes that allow greater portion control were also popular. Aluminum bottles were also seeing growth, and were appreciated by consumers because they were different and re-sealable.

The beer market remains mature but growing, according to the firm, with strong growth still evident in China, Russia and South America, amongst others. However in the mature markets of Western Europe and the United States, consumers were looking for different beer styles, in particular imported or specialty brews. In Western Europe, glass bottles now account for over half the pack mix for beer, reflecting the growing popularity of premium beers and the need for differentiation. Premium beers account for 30% of the total beer market in the region, and due to the ageing population the premium segment should grow further, said Rexam.