Natural Energy Drink Case Study– Color Fading Due to Light Exposure

June 25, 2025

How We Solved the Natural Color Fading Issue in a Popular Clean-Label Energy Drink

Industry: Natural Beverages | Energy Drinks | Functional RTD Beverages

Focus: Natural Color Stability | Shelf-Life Improvement | Packaging Compatibility

The Background Of Natural Energy Drink Case Study

Natural energy drinks are becoming everyone’s go-to choice, especially the ones made with real ingredients like beetroot, hibiscus, and berries. People love them because they feel healthier, look vibrant, and come with clean labels—no chemicals, no fake stuff. Let’s get into the natural energy drink case study.

But making a product look great, stay stable, and remain natural is a real challenge.

One energy drink maker approached us with a common but serious problem:

Our drink looks amazing when it’s fresh… but after 2–3 weeks on the shelf, the color fades. It turns brown and dull. Customers are complaining. What’s wrong?

They were using real beetroot and hibiscus extract—a brilliant combo that gives a rich, red color naturally. But despite a good recipe, the color wasn’t surviving retail lighting.

This was more than just a cosmetic issue. It was hurting brand trust, sales, and retailer feedback.

The Problem: Color Fading in PET Bottles

Now this our turn to help them out with scientific and strategic solutions. The clock starts here. We immediately started looking at what might be going wrong. Let’s look into the challenges first:

What we found:

Within 10–14 days, the drink’s vibrant red color turned into a faded, dull brown under regular retail lights.
The drink was packed in clear PET bottles, which are common and cost-effective, but they don’t protect the drink from UV light.
The drink had no synthetic preservatives or stabilizers, which made it more sensitive to oxygen, heat, and light.

Do you know that this issue wasn’t just limited to this one drink? Many brands using natural colors face the same problem. It’s especially true with ingredients like:

These natural pigments are beautiful but delicate. This needs to be taken care of for the perfect execution. So here’s a clearly defined problem- natural energy drink case study.

Step-by-Step Diagnosis

Now the problem required strategic solutions. We started with our R&D team professionals about what we can do best to address this issue. We began with a full stability test and packaging study. Here’s what we did:

1. Light Sensitivity Testing

We placed samples under bright LED and fluorescent lights, similar to those used in retail coolers and shelves.

2. Packaging Impact Study

We tested the same drink in different bottles. Yes, packaging can make a big difference, and this is so important to test and choose the best packaging for your product’s safety. Here’s what we find:

The result was clear: packaging was playing a huge role in how the product looked over time.

3. Formulation Check

With our R&D team, we take a step and check the formulation ideation and complete process, and ingredients check as well. We reviewed the full recipe:

Our Three-Part Strategic Solutions

The goal was to protect the natural color, keep the label clean, and maintain visual quality on the shelf for at least 3–6 months.

Here’s how we solved it:

1. Color-Stable Natural Blend

We created a more stable blend using:

This blend maintained its red color far better than the original.

We didn’t use any synthetic colors—only food-grade, plant-based sources. But by changing the ratios and adding natural protection layers, the pigments lasted longer.

2. UV-Protection Packaging

Packaging was the biggest breakthrough.

We switched to UV-protect PET bottles:

With this change, even under strong shelf lights, the drink retained 85–90% of its original color for up to 60 days.

This was a big win and required no synthetic barrier or high-cost glass packaging.

3. Natural Preservation and pH Balance

To support the color and freshness, we also optimized:

What Changed (Before vs After)

Parameter	Before	After Implementation
Color on Day 30	Faded to dull brown	Bright red-pink, 90% intact
Consumer Complaints	Frequent returns due to a faded look	Almost none
Shelf Appeal	Weak by week 3	Strong even at 2 months
Retailer Trust	Low	High confidence in repeat orders
Label Claim	Natural but unstable	100% natural and visually strong
Shelf Life (Visual)	30–45 days	90–180 days

Why This Case Matters

Many new beverage brands dream of launching clean-label drinks, but natural ingredients need care.

This case proves:

Most importantly, consumers buy with their eyes. If the drink looks dull, they won’t pick it, no matter how healthy it is.

1. Packaging matters as much as formulation.

Even the best recipe can look bad in the wrong bottle.

2. Natural doesn’t mean unstable—if done right.

With clean preservatives, UV protection, and careful pH control, natural drinks can perform like synthetic ones.

3. Shelf testing is a must.

Simulate retail lights, fridge doors, and temperature shifts. Don’t rely on lab-only results.

4. Customers judge quality by appearance.

A faded drink is often assumed to be old or spoiled, even when it’s safe.

What the Client Said

We thought we’d have to compromise between natural and visual appeal. But your work helped us keep both. Our drink now looks just as good as it tastes, even after weeks on the shelf.

Though we can’t name the brand due to privacy reasons, this project has now become a benchmark for our beverage R&D teams. Many clients have approached us with similar challenges, and this solution continues to deliver results.

Final Note: Want to Fix Color Fading in Your Natural Drink?

If you’re building a:

… and you’re worried about color, shelf life, or preservatives — you’re not alone.

We’ve worked on dozens of beverage challenges, and this solution is tested, proven, and clean-label friendly.

Let’s make your drink look as good as it performs.
Contact us for custom formulation or stability testing.
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