Monday 30 June 2014

Tell us!

Hi All! Another weekend over. They seem to just fly by during the summer months, don't they? We spent ours watching Glastonbury coverage while sipping on bubbles of course! Did you get up to anything special? 

While our desks are filled with spreadsheets and to do lists, yours can be filled with competitions - this week is Competition Week at SodaStream. We are living away 10 machines with over 50 flavours this Friday, as well our Del Monte Range along with a new Play machine every day this week. Get over onto our Twitter page to enter another fantastic competition - it will run all week long. We are thrilled to see how great our Del Monte range is doing and are loving it here in the office. 

Having said that, we are always eager to know what flavours you're liking and what you'd like to see more of.  We've had a discussion here in the office and have created this poll of our favourites to see if you all agree. If you have a few spare minutes today, give us some feedback :-)

Thanks and good luck if you enter our competitions x


What is our best flavour?
Classic Cola
Pink Grapefruit
Del Monte Range
Cherry
Lemon&Lime
Other
Please Specify:
Poll Maker

Friday 27 June 2014

Friday Favourites..

Friday has come quick this week - yes! Whether you're at Glastonbury or home in bed we hope you enjoy the weekend. 




Favourite Drink: Ice cold sparkling water with fresh orange




Favourite Invitation: How sweet is this wedding invitation? Check it out here





Favourite Fact: Found here



Favourite Smile:  Found here



Favourite place:  Image found here








Have a good one everybody and don't forget to enter our #FizzyFriday competition!

Wednesday 25 June 2014

Can you have fun and save the world at the same time? Eh..yes you can.

Hey everyone! Just a quick blog post today. As you all probably know Glastonbury is about to kick off and although none of our SodaStream team were lucky enough to get a ticket, we will be watching from home - can't wait! We know a lot of you must be packing your festival packs as I write this. It's easy to imagine thousands of people up and down the country queuing up to buy wet wipes and dry shampoo but we are interested to know if you think it is easy to be eco-friendly at a music festival?

Ghetty images - taken from guardian.com


As everyone knows, music festival sites soon become covered in rubbish and plastic waste and in the past Glastonbury has been no different. However, this year we are thrilled to see that they are encouraging all you festival goers to bring reusable bottles and food containers. This is a fantastic step for the music festival in becoming more environmentally friendly. 

The festival will be giving out 2,000 reusable bottles to road crews and band members as well as offering more for sale. If you're going to Glastonbury, either bring your own reusable bottle or buy one of these. Or, better yet bring your SodaStream along :-) . Think of all the fun drinks you could make in your tent!  We would really love to see some photos if you do bring yours. 

Have you any eco-friendly tips which can be used at music festivals? Definitely let us know in the comments here or across our Facebook and Twitter profiles. 

Do you think reusable plastic bottles are easy to find? Let us know!!


Read more about what Glastonbury have planned this year here.

Friday 20 June 2014

I scream for SodaStream - do you?

Big, big news ! Tonight is the start of our #FizzyFriday competition. It's really simple to win, simply take a photo of your summer drink and share it with us across our social media platforms. You need to follow and like our pages to be in with the chance to win. 

We will be giving away 5 summer party packs a week - that's right, 5! There are so many chances to win as this competition will be on going until August. 

In order to win though, you will need to get creative - think outside the box! We want you to wow us; whether you have pretty glasses or exotic recipes, a fun location or even just funny straws - showing us something different might make a big difference.

Get your thinking caps on and your cameras out - we can't wait to see what you come up with!




Friday Favourites...

What a week! We've been busy in our offices getting ready for a packed schedule next week - be sure to keep an eye on our Instagram and Twitter as our SodaStream team will be out and about around England. Until then, spend your coffee-break looking over some of our favourite things this week.


Favourite Location:  Members of our SodaStream team traveled to Guernsey to meet some of our retailers.





Favourite Activity: Zara sale is on - be rude not to.




Favourite News Story: Leo donates $7 million dollars to help preserve our oceans while Obama plans to ban activities endangering our waters. (Image found on Daily Mail)



Favourite Weekend Lunch: Mango & Zucchini Lettuce Wraps from Love&Lemons (we've just discovered this blog and cannot get enough - just amazing!) Photo from Love&Lemons.



Favourite Laugh: Joseph Gordon Levitt can always make us smile.









Thursday 19 June 2014

Currently Craving..

Hi All! 

Today we're just going to share some flavours we're really, really excited about here in the office - they are from our new Del Monte range and are just so perfect for the summer months. 



We are stocking 3 flavours: Del Monte Orange, Del Month Caribbean and Del Monte Tropical. All three are amazing and can be mixed with other flavours to make them even better - dare we say it! Our personal favourite flavour to mix with has to be our Lemonade. You end up with a drink so fresh and different to regular soft drinks.

If you're hosting a weekend party, or even a World Cup party tonight why not try out a new Del Monte flavour? We absolutely love the Caribbean flavour served with ice and rum - yum! If ever there was a drink to make you feel like you're on holiday - this is it!


If you think Caribbean won't be the flavour for you, you can't go wrong with mixing our Del Monte Orange with fresh lemons, ice and a touch of gin. And, for a true fruity, tangy experience, it has to be our Tropical with a dash of vodka.


The Del Monte range really does offer something different and is perfect for a BBQ or special dinner with the family. They are all available on our website and in stores. 

Have you tried the range yet? Let us know! We always love to hear your recipes and ideas about our products. Also, don't forget we have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - you'll be able to find other hint and tips along with other customer recipes in comments. Follow or like us :-)

Ps, if you would like the chance to win from SodaStream - this summer is your chance! We will be launching brand new competitions via our social media platforms in the very, very new future - don't miss out! Get following.

Bye for now x
         
Instagram

Wednesday 18 June 2014

What do our staff and Leonardo DiCaprio have in common?

Big news everyone - don't know if you all saw this on the morning news but Barack Obama, John Kerry and Leonardo DiCaprio all met yesterday to discuss the health of our oceans. 

The SodaStream team are massive fans of Leo, not only for his acting talent, but also for his environmental voice. Leo has been an activist for our environment, and in particular our oceans, for many years now. It is wonderful to see someone use their celebrity profile for the good of others and his passion for our environment has definitely inspired our team today.

During their conference, the group discuss the damages seen to our oceans around the world to date. DiCaprio discussed his own personal experience, having witnessed a change in ocean health whilst diving;

''Since my very first dive in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia 20 years ago to the dive I got to do in the very same location just two years ago, I've witnessed environmental devastation firsthand...What once had looked like an endless underwater utopia is now riddled with bleached coral reefs and massive dead zones,'' he said.




While these comments have been reported as being blunt, our environment is changing and this is something which can be no longer ignored;

"If we ignore these problems, if we drain our oceans of their resources, we won't just be squandering one of humanity's greatest treasures" said Obama. "We'll be cutting off one of the world's major sources of food and economic growth, including for the United States. We cannot afford to let that happen".

 Leo continued with an announcement; his donation of $7 million to help further this cause and make a change.

Kerry also commented on the importance of understanding the damage we do to our natural oceans;

"Most people think the ocean is larger than life, an endless resource impossible to destroy. But people underestimate the enormous damage that we as humans are inflicting on the ocean every day," he said. "We run the risk of fundamentally breaking entire ecosystems."

As SodaStream is an active-green solution, producing up to 85% less carbon emissions than pre-packaged alternatives, we care deeply about our impact on the environment, and are excited to see this news this morning. It has helped highlight crucial issues and brought the announcement of change with Obama planning to create the largest ocean preserve in a massive stretch of the Pacific Ocean in the world. His aim - our global aim- is to protect marine life and habitats against activities which are harmful. These include banning, drilling and fishing. 

Often when reports like these come up in the news, the plans are thought to be too big for everyone to get involved with. Sometimes, they can be seen as something for those in power to think about, instead of something we all actively participate in. This needn't be the case. We definitely can all help reduce environmental changes in our own lives by taking simple steps. We here at SodaStream are very, very passionate about the reduction of plastic waste around the world. According to Kennth. R Weiss, 90% of ocean litter is plastic. We think this is just unacceptable and believe we can all make a difference; whether it means taking our own canvas bags to the shops, asking for a paper bag, going to the recycling plant at the weekends or even choosing to buy a SodaStream instead of hundreds of fizzy drinks in plastic bottles. 

People tend to forget that the ocean is bigger than what we see. There are huge amounts of waste polluting our oceans, covering a space larger than the state of Texas. This is known as the Secret Continent . It is a scary reality which is true. Although we don't see this mass level of pollution when we look out at the ocean, it does not mean that our plastic waste is not doing irreversible damage to our water. Take a look at the video below and have a think - all this plastic waste had to have been going somewhere? You can find it in our oceans.



As a company committed to helping everyone reduce their impact on the environment, we're really interested in hearing from you - what do you think about all of this? Have you any other ideas as to how to help people cut down on their plastic waste? Do you feel this is as important as we do? Let us know!


Tuesday 17 June 2014

Cocktail Class - Russian Crush

We know it's summer. We know it's World Cup time. We know you're all throwing parties and want to be the host with the most. But, do you know that when throwing any summer party, your Sodastream will be your best friend.

We have just launched our new Recipe Site so if you're looking for inspiration, we've got you covered. There are a range of recipes so you're sure to find one that suits your occasion and taste but we just thought it would be fun to share one of our favourite alcoholic cocktails here on our own blog to get you started.

This recipe is a firm favourite of ours for office nights out. Pink Grapefruit is always tastes like summer to us and the lemon vodka really brings it to life. We tend to pack ours up with strawberries but get adventurous and add whatever you like. . Comment if you like the recipe or if you have a drink you'd like us to make using Sodastream, let us know in the comments :-)


Russian Crush:



Monday 16 June 2014

Hot On Our Wish List - XO(Eco)

Happy Monday Everyone - hope you've all had a brilliant weekend and are ready for another Summer week. With that in mind, we here in the SodaStream offices have been talking about our favuorite Summer products and the different things we suddenly need when the weather gets warmer (would like to say hotter but we do live in the UK after all..!) 

Casserole carrier
The main things thought of were sunhats, sun- cream and picnic gear! The Sodastream team love a good picnic on a warm Summer's day but absolutely hate  to see plastic bags and wraps being used to carry food around, as too often they are left behind on beaches or in forests. Lauren Conrad's XO(Eco) range has quickly become our absolute new favourite way to carry food around this Summer.

Lunch



 Check it out below and let us know what piece if your favourite - it's between the 
pie carrier and the lunch kit for us, too sweet.
Lunch kit - we love the drink holder !
Cute Pie Carrier




Do you find a need for good picnic wear during the Summer months and find it hard to see good, eco-friendly options? Do let us know in the comments, we'd love to hear if you've found some other amazing products we could try.











The range can be bought directly from Blue Avacado or found on Ebay. Take a peak here and here.










Friday 13 June 2014

Friday Favourites

Another Friday - can you believe how quickly this week went? We've had a busy one here in the office; filled with team meetings, retailer visits and even a work night out (lucky us!). The weather here in Cambridge has been absolutely amazing so lets hope it  lasts the weekend. Check out our Friday Favourites below and let us know if you've found anything nice this week.

Favourite Activity:  Punting last night in Cambridge:



Favourite Food:   Creme De La Crumb (Ehhhh, yes please!)




Favourite Weekend Idea:  Pinterest



Favourite Advice:



Favourite Flavour: With rum and ice - yum!


Don't forget to share your favourite things and weekend plans with us! 



Friday 6 June 2014

Friday Favourites

Another working week is over. We are so ready for this weekend and are sure you feel the same. We want cocktails, BBQs and lots of sleep...

Take a look at some of our favourite things we've seen this week online in our Friday Favourites below. 


Favourite Company
:  Gandys Flipflops





Favourite Treat: Rosie's Salted Chocolate Popcorn




Favourite Idea:





Favourite Summer Hair: (found this on Pinterest)




Favourite Gift: (Etsy)




What were your favourite things this week?

Ps, surely the best thing about this week was the news of a 5p charge on plastic bags. We are beyond thrilled about this and hope to seed our plastic waste being cut down. See here for our top 5 cutest reusable bags to celebrate.

Wednesday 4 June 2014

Top 5 Cutest Reusable Bags

Hi Everyone! We, in the office, are all so excited about the big news today - our country is finally introducing a charge for plastic bags in shops. We couldn't be happier to see this change happen as it means we will cut down on our plastic waste substantially with a tiny bit of effort. Many might think that there isn't an issue with the use of plastic bags in our country, but one quick drive in the country side will soon show the amount which get thrown out of cars and littered in our natural environments. According to The Daily Mail (http://dailym.ai/1p5Pcwa);
"More than eight billion disposable bags are used in England each year, or a staggering 130 per person. Environmental campaigners say the carriers, each used for just 20 minutes on average, take up to 1,000 years to degrade".
We all think this is unacceptable and hope you agree! Everyone can help make a substantial change here, all we need to do is bring our own canvas, recycled or reusable bags with us when shopping. Like everything, it just needs to become part of our daily routines. However, just because it needs to be a routine, doesn't mean it has to be boring. We have searched high and low and have found the Top 5 Cutest Reusable Bags which will make every shopping trip more enjoyable - you won't want to go without them.


Cath Kidtson: Cotton Spot Bookbag:
This bag is really sweet and perfect for rolling up in your handbag. Reusing bags allows us to create a fashion statement and bring some colour into our look. They don't have to be boring or plain. This bag would be perfect for bringing whilst you run errands or even just to carry 2 pints of milk home. It retails for about £16 pounds and can be bought online on Asos (http://bit.ly/1kJLUJK)

Image 1 of Cath Kidston Cotton Spot Bookbag


Talented Totes:
I personally love this bag. It can take you to the shops, to the beach, on country walks and on holidays. It is undoubtedly cute, grabs attention and is a good size. We can imagine taking this on our next work outing to hold all our bits and pieces. Again, it can be found on Asos (http://bit.ly/1h7XlQA) and is available for £20. We want.

Image 1 of Talented Totes You Float My Boat Shopper Bag



Zazzle Totes:
Every once in a while, one of those really bad jokes are actually really cute and funny. This tote from Zazzle is perfect, it is cute, funny and would still look great on your arm. Even better, it won't break the bank as it's only £7.75. Whether you bring your lunch to work in it, send your kids off to school with it or just bring it to and from the library, this is the bag for you! We love it. Chuckle Chuckle. This website also offers you the opportunity to customize their tote bags, ehhh..perfect present? We think so! Check it out , they have over 42,000 to choose some. That's your morning sorted then! (http://bit.ly/1hZaDty)







Gruffalo:
Looking after the environment is a forever promise. It is not something that kicks in with you hit your 30s or 40s or 50s, so why not get your kids to learn how they can help while they're young? Adults and kids alike will both love this reusable tote to carry their bits and pieces around. It will encourage them to reuse bags and won't break the bank either. It's available on Amazon for £6.50. Check it out (http://amzn.to/1o8Z34M)






Dotcomgiftshop:
Favourite. Favourite. Favourite! Some of us in the office already have bags from DotComGiftshop and all agree they are amazing. Practical (they can be wiped clean), good sizes and cute as pie. They are made from recycled plastic bottles and are exactly what we want to see come lunch time. They come in a range of sizes and colours and can be folded neatly into a handbag if needed. They are only £3.95, brilliant gift for yourself and your friends.  Take a look at their website and find a colour you like, you can't help but love them. (http://bit.ly/1uhk0MI)








 Right, you've seen our picks. What one do you love the most? This 5p charge is brilliant - we can all make a difference, and look good while doing it.

If you know of any other brilliant reusable bags, please let us know in the comments. We'd love to discover more.
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