Coca-Cola has begun to test distribution of Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Fanta Orange and Mello Yello in its plant-based PET bottles, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The move marks the first time that Coke has used its PlantBottle, a PET container made from at least 30 percent plant-based materials, for any products other than Dasani.

In a new report on the global beverage market, Rabobank, an international financial services firm, states that greater consumer demand for health and wellness beverages, rising commodity costs, and growing demand from emerging markets will be key influencers of trends and innovation in 2012. Additionally, the report asserts that a combination of soft drinks and dairy beverages will emerge as a “megatrend” in the coming year.

The impetus to create an entrepreneurial beverage brand is often a simple one: profit. The genesis of Heart Juice, however, was inspired by - of all things - a heart attack. After hearing about an admired Rutgers professor who had suffered a heart attack, Ray Li and John Vitug, the creators of Heart Juice, set out to create a beverage that could help protect individuals from high cholesterol, a leading cause of heart problems, and support overall cardiac function.

Adding to the growing ranks of lemonade/tea blends, Snapple has introduced Diet Half n’ Half Lemonade Iced Tea, a low-calorie extension of its popular Half ‘n Half flavor. Snapple is hoping that momentum for the burgeoning category will continue, and will promote the launch of Diet Half n’ Half with a national FSI campaign as well as new television advertising and a heavily promoted social media effort.

The first redesign of Barq's packaging in 20 years takes the beverage back to its founding roots in the Gulf Coast region where the brand was founded 114 years ago. While Barq's cans and labels will maintain their distinctive silver sheen, Coca-Cola, which purchased Barq's in 1995, pays homage to the brand's heritage in New Orleans, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi.

Greenlight Beverages, the maker of Chronic Ice, a line of hemp iced teas, has announced the introduction of two new flavors, a hemp soda, and plans for future line extensions. Greenlight will launch Chronic Ice Grape Escape and Peach Perfection as well as Chronic Ice Ginger Ale next month. Along with the new flavors and soda, Greenlight will also introduce a new packaging design "that expresses the hemp beverage’s refreshing-now-and-healthy-later benefit."