

Juice that is ‘from concentrate’ or sold as a concentrate also cuts down on transportation costs because it weighs less. The nutritional value is the same as chilled or freshly squeezed, although it might not taste as good. Is it refrigerated or concentrated? Cut down on energy by only buying long-life juice that does not need refrigerating. Look for glass bottles to cut down on waste and resources used, or make your own juice at home. Is it in a plastic bottle? The plastic in our oceans could circle the planet 400 times and is threatening marine ecosystems. We also recommend James White organic juices (glass bottles), Co-op Fairtrade orange juice (Tetra Pak), and Calypso Fairtrade orange juice and apple juice (Tetra Pak, available from Traidcraft). Biona comes in glass or Tetra Pak and sells organic apple. Suma sells concentrated apple juice (makes 3-4 litres) in glass. Pip Organic comes in Tetra Paks or recycled PET bottles. Look out for juice from your local small-scale organic farm. Buying local, organic fruit will also minimise food miles and the environmental impact from agrochemicals. Is it homemade? Squeezing juice at home means that you can put it straight into the glass, or reusable glass bottles, thereby cutting down on packaging. Is it organic? Apples frequently make it into the Pesticide Action Network’s ‘dirty dozen’ list of most pesticide-contaminated produce, along with grapefruit, strawberries, pears and grapes. Look for organic fruit juice to avoid ingredients contaminated with these chemicals and to protect farmers and the environment. Look for Fairtrade juice to make it more likely that the workers growing the fruit are treated fairly. Is it Fairtrade? Precarious employment, extreme low wages, excessive working hours, poor health and safety, discrimination, and anti-unionism are all common for workers on fruit farms, particularly Brazil's orange groves.

What to look for when buying fruit juice:
