just-drinks authors and correspondents

Biography

Ben Cooper is just-drinks' sustainable business editor and specialises in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, policy issues and sustainability. He holds MAs from Cambridge University and the University of London, respectively in Social and Political Sciences and Social Policy.

He joined the just-drinks editorial team in 2000 and today works across both just-drinks and just-food, while also writing occasionally for just-style.

In addition to his regular features, Ben has written numerous in-depth management briefings on issues such as alcohol policy, sponsorship, the Fairtrade market, the use of food colourings and environmental issues facing the clothing industry. He also writes regularly for Ethical Corporation magazine which specialises in the corporate social responsibility field.

He lives in London where he also works as a professional singer.

Columns by Ben Cooper

Sustainability in Drinks

Every month, Ben Cooper casts his eye over sustainability efforts in the global drinks industry.

Articles by Ben Cooper

Sustainability in Drinks - Much Work to do on Packaging in the US 26 February 2015

When it comes to recycling, the US falls well behind many developed markets. Is it time for companies to pick up the baton in the country? Ben Cooper investigates.

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Non-Scotch whisky tipped for growth - research 17 February 2015

The whisk(e)y segments outside of Scotch are set for significant growth over the next four years, a new IWSR/just-drinks report has forecast.

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Research in Focus - World whiskies market expanding on numerous fronts 17 February 2015

As diversity is what defines the non-Scotch whisky segment, it is subject to numerous and sometimes contrasting trends across the different whisk(e)y-producing countries. Nevertheless, while the category may represent a wide-ranging patchwork of national products, the trends in the key individual countries all appear to be pointing upwards, with a new IWSR/just-drinks report suggesting future growth is assured for the sector for the five-year period up to 2019.

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Sustainability in Beer - Part I: 2020 Vision 12 February 2015

This month's sustainability management briefing returns to the beer category. In the first of the four-part briefing, Ben Cooper considers the sustainability programmes set up by Diageo, Heineken, Molson Coors and SABMiller, all of which run to 2020.

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Sustainability in Beer - Part II: Targets, Goals and Commitments 12 February 2015

In the second part of this month's management briefing, which looks at sustainability in the global brewing category, Ben Cooper reviews the commitments from several of the world's largest beer companies.

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Sustainability in Beer - Part III: Water Stewardship, Supply Chains and Building Prosperity 12 February 2015

The penultimate part of this month's sustainability management briefing, which focuses on the global brewing category, considers some of the more specific details of brewers' programmes in the coming years.

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Sustainability in Beer - Part IV: Responsible Consumption and Sports Sponsorship 12 February 2015

In the final part of this month's management briefing, which considers sustainability in the global brewing category, Ben Cooper takes a look at the delicate balancing act that is sports sponsorship.

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Sustainability in Drinks - Sports Sponsorship in the Spotlight 28 January 2015

Sponsorship of sporting events by alcohol companies is once again under intense scrutiny, across a number of countries, and pressure on policymakers to regulate against it is increasing. Ben Cooper delves deeper.

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Research in Focus - Drinks market's 'fast fashion' sector continues to grow through smart innovation 14 January 2015

If adaptability and versatility are key strengths in today's fast-moving drinks market, there is arguably one category which carries all before it. Indeed, a new just-drinks/The IWSR report describes pre-mixes as the "fast fashion" sector of the alcoholic drinks market.

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RTD sector maintains global momentum - research 14 January 2015

Global pre-mix sales rose by 6.3% in 2013 to a new record high of 370m nine-litre cases, according to a new just-drinks/The IWSR report.