The Australian Federal Government has unveiled the world's strictest laws on tobacco promotion, which will see cigarettes sold in plain packaging. Currently, smoking kills approximately 15,000 Australians each year and is costing taxpayers $31.5 billion.
This move makes a very strong statement about how the Australian government perceives the impact of design and brand on consumer behaviour. The scare mongering by the tobacco industry would suggest the industry is particularly anxious about the impact of this legislation in grooming the next generation of smokers
Rather than persuasive brand imagery - graphic health warnings and a (researched to be) unappealing green will dominate the pack.
The pack is in many ways the tobacco company’s only mode of communication and brand differentiation.
A sustainable effort under the directive of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) in Taiwan has been announced, as of 1 May 2011, many establishments selling beverages (including cafés, fast food restaurants and convenience stores) will officially be required to give customers a discount when they bring in their own reusable cups.
Every year Taiwan uses over 1.5 billion disposable cups, however the new regulation is expected to reduce disposable cup use by 30 percent annually, or 450 million cups, saving 110,000 trees and reducing carbon emissions by 15,000 metric tonnes - a very worthwhile exercise.
In addition to this, Taiwan’s sustainable efforts continue by reducing their total packaging volume by 11,000 metric tonnes in 2010. The drop exceeded the Ministry’s set target, and came with the participation of five major computer manufacturers in the country’s packaging reduction agreement.
KeepCup has appointed Taioz as KeepCup’s Taiwanese distributor, helping to galvanise the presence of the KeepCup in Taiwan. With sales to premium stores such as GaBee (winner of latte art at the Hong Kong Coffee Fest) and Eslite Books there is an exciting opportunity for Marco Chen and his team at KeepCup Taiwan to make a vibrant contribution to the visual landscape of Taiwan.
This is an early drawing of our KeepCup tree, an Australian ghost gum. I particularly love the two in the centre of the roundabout beside Melbourne Cemetery.
Starbucks are giving everyone who brings a resusable cup to their stores on Earth Day, 22 April a free coffee. By 2015 Starbucks aims to produce 25% of its beverages in resuable vessels - sounds like they will need the assistance of the KeepCup users all over the world.
Happy Earth Day everyone. Be good. Do good this Friday too.
