A 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 said its Pouchlink machine had a 75% lower carbon footprint than a standard machine as it only chills water when it is needed.

Pouchlink, the result of five years' development and claimed to be the first of its kind in the world, was created in conjunction with a number of drinks brands, including Bottlegreen, Vimto and Sunkist, as well as vending technology specialists.

Managing director Ian Bidmead said the machine would "revolutionise" the vending of cold drinks and that there had been interest in the UK as well as in the US, Far East and Australia.

"Our aim has been to combine the benefits of great tasting, healthy packaged drinks and major operational and environmental savings," he said.

"In effect, Pouchlink vending acts like a mini drinks bottling factory, with everything carried out inside the machine."

Pouchlink vending process
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 said that the pouches were fully recyclable and represented 75% less material than bottles. 

Because the water is only chilled when it is needed, the machine is said to use 80% less electricity than a conventional vending machine.

"The flexible pouches can be packed in very high densities up to 1,000 at a time. These are then stored in the machine with the juice concentrates meaning it needs to be re-stocked less frequently," said Ian Bidmead.

The machine also cleans 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," he said.

Tewkesbury-based Green Drinks Company is now looking to develop table-top versions for fast-food outlets and smaller sites.