User:Waterwerkz/Pouchlink

PouchlinkTM is the registered name of The Green Drinks Company Limited and refers to the patented system of interlinking spouted flexible pouches that form into long chains making them easy to manipulate through machinery. The Green Drinks Company has developed this technology for applications in vending and dispensing drinks (see www.thegreendrinkscomnpany.com).

The UK company has developed a vending machine that fills pouches of soft drink to order and is being billed as an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic bottle. The Green Drinks Company claims its Pouchlink machine has a 75% lower carbon footprint than a standard machine as it only chills water when it is needed.

Flat reels of 250 linked pouches are packed into the vending machine. The cap of the sealed, empty pouch is removed and filtered mains water is chilled and mixed with concentrated juice.

This is then filled into the pouch, the cap is replaced and the completed pack dispensed to the consumer.

The Green Drinks Company says that the pouches are fully recyclable and represent 75% less material than bottles.

Because the water is only chilled when it is needed, the machine is said to use 70% less electricity than a conventional vending machine.

The machine is also designed to clean itself and the drinks are guaranteed microbiologically safe. After each drink a volume of pure water flushes the system to remove any traces of fruit concentrate and the machine is sterilised at set intervals over night.