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Beverage giant Lion has created a recycled bar at the Melbourne Cup Carnival to launch its Quincy sparkling alcoholic seltzer.

Made of 98 per cent recycled plastic, and featuring furniture created from post-industrial and post-consumer plastic such as car bumpers and plastic bags, the Round II bar is an Australian first and will be used at many of the company’s key sponsorship events, says Libby Davidson, head of sustainability at Lion.

“The impact of single-use plastics on the environment is a key concern at Lion so we are always looking for new, innovative ways to repurpose this resource and promote the circular economy.

“The concept was developed by a group of our own people from different teams across the business during a lunchtime sustainability hackathon. Not only does this reinforce the power of diversity, it’s also a great example of what a company can achieve if you empower your people to share ideas and really make a difference beyond the bottom line,” she said.

The initiative is part of a celebration of Lion’s partnership with soft plastic recycling organisation REDcycle and its manufacturer Replas, announced in September. REDcycle collects and reuses soft plastics that cannot be collected at kerbside, and Replas turns it into a range of recycled plastic products such as street signage and park furniture.

Food & Drink Business

The federal government has released the latest round of Industry Growth Program (IGP) recipients, alongside news that the program is going on indefinite hiatus following the 2026 Budget. Several food sector companies were awarded, including A-Culture Holding, Algenie, and VeraSys.

Asahi Group Holdings has appointed Nigel Parsons as CEO of Asahi Europe & International, taking over the role from Dragoș Constantinescu, who will depart at the end of June.

Integrated organic meat producer, Hewitt Foods, has entered into an agreement to acquire family-owned beef company, Nolan Meats, with the transaction expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.