Cash-Strapped Drinkers Spurn Bottled Water

Environmentalists claim credit; industry blames economy

(NEWSER) - Bottled water sales are sinking, and environmentalists point triumphantly to their hard-fought campaign against the wasteful industry. Consumption is expected to drop 2% this year, following a 3.2% drop last year, MSNBC reports. But industry executives say it’s just a natural result of the economic downturn, noting that sales of soda and other drinks have seen even worse declines. More»

The plusher paper invariably comes from virgin wood, not recycled content

(NEWSER) - The environmental campaign against soft toilet paper is heating up, as manufacturers keep pushing the fluff factor—"Quilted Northern Ultra Plush is the first big brand to go three-ply and three-adjective," the Washington Post notes—and environmentalists want the industry to go all recycled. The softer rolls US consumers prefer require the long fibers of virgin wood, not the shorter fibers of recycled paper. TP accounts for only 5% of the US paper industry, but it's a lightning rod. More»

(NEWSER) - In the boom times, people quaffed energy drinks and the industry bloomed to its current $896 million in sales. Naturally, the Washington Post reports, the recession has produced a new star: “relaxation beverages.” Loaded with a somewhat questionable “calming” ingredient also in green tea, the drinks are on the rise. One slogan: “Slow your roll.” Another: “Unwind from the grind.” And Superliminal Purple Stuff Pro-Relaxation Formula doesn’t even need one. More»

Confectioners' profits rise as people seek comfort

(NEWSER) - Tough times don’t seem to be trickling down to inexpensive candy shops, where adult customers are flocking for a sugar-coated escape from their troubles, the New York Times reports. “People may indulge themselves a little bit more when times are tough,” says an analyst. And indulge they are: People are putting candy “in their actual budget,” says a store owner. More»

(NEWSER) - The current recession was fairly clear to a certain segment of the population as far back as late 2007, the Washington Post reports—landfill operators. Since then, dumps and garbage collectors have seen a steep drop-off in trash—in some cases up to 30%—along with their own jobs. It's a sure sign of a drop in consumer consumption. People are fixing instead of replacing, which cuts down on all that packaging they need to throw out. More»