Case-less is the New Milk Packaging
August 4, 2008 by Holly
Walmart’s discount club store, Sam’s Club has recently come out with their way of helping out the Earth, cutting back on resources and materials used to package milk by selling their milk in square, case-less jugs. While Europeans have begun reintroducing their people to the pouch-style packaging I remember from my grade school days, Sam’s Club’s newest case-less milk jugs are now being sold in over 189 stores since their trend first hit stores in November.
Their eco-friendly packaging will not only cut back on resources and materials used to package milk, but more milk–9% more, in fact or 384 more jugs of milk per truck, will be able to be accommodated in shipping, cutting back on fuel used in trucks to drive the milk to its destination. Sam’s Club, and any other store that begins stocking these jugs of milk, can also fit more milk into the cooler with a casing that is more compact.
Not only does this change benefit the Earth, it will also benefit Sam’s Club customers. Sam’s Club estimates that this new packaging will save their customers between 10 to 20 cents per jug of milk and if you buy milk as often or in large quantities, as many people with children always find themselves doing, the savings of 10 to 20 cents is going to save you quite a bit in the long run; approximately $1 for every 5 jugs of milk you buy.
While I am not a Sam’s Club shopper, I haven’t come across the new milk jug design in order to try it out for myself, but an article on this topic from The New York Times comments on what I first thought upon looking at the new casing–Spillage.
The jugs have no real spout, and their unorthodox shape makes consumers feel like novices at the simple task of pouring a glass of milk.
“I hate it,” said Lisa DeHoff, a cafe owner shopping in a Sam’s Club here.
“It spills everywhere,” said Amy Wise, a homemaker.
“It’s very hard for kids to pour,” said Lee Morris, who was shopping for her grandchildren.
While Sam’s Club new case-less milk may be great for the environment, the consensus seems to be that adults as well as children cannot pour the milk without making a huge mess. Because of this, Sam’s Club is offering–get this–milk pouring classes. Just when you thought you knew it all, a huge grocery chain convinces you that you do not and in fact, the simplest of things, like pouring milk, may require classes. But if you need a class on how to pour milk, how many people are really going to be ecstatic about buying these jugs? If you’re spilling more than you’re getting in your glass or cereal bowl, how much of a savings are you really getting, when every time you go to pour it, you’re wasting a good amount?
I suppose we can all be the judge. If anyone has ever bought these jugs, tell us if they’re more convenient for your household and your wallet or if Sam’s Club landed on a flop, rather than an environmentally friendly way to package standard household items.
Bath and Body on Thu, 7th Aug 2008 2:45 pm
I’d hate to pour milk out of one of those jugs. I’m glad we don’t have these in Massachusetts!
Nursing Assistant on Wed, 13th Aug 2008 12:55 pm
I think this is a great idea. I’ve been trying to live green for several months now, and it can be really challenging. Large stores and chains should definitely make more of an effort to reduce waste and material usage.
Homemaker Barbi (Danelle Ice) on Fri, 15th Aug 2008 1:30 am
I have to say it’s a step in the right direction, since many retailers and manufacturers are more concerned with what ads profit and cuts their bottom line than what is really best for the environment. My guess is that since this is a first draft, revisions will be made to the packages which make them easier to pour and incur less spillage. My fingers are crossed!
Homemaker Barbi (Danelle Ice)
Calabria Real Estate on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 12:03 pm
This is really a great idea. My husband and I reallly loves Macey’s… and I can’t wait to see this new jugs of milk.
Dan on Tue, 19th Aug 2008 9:41 pm
I’ve bought some milk in one of these new containers, and so far my observations are:
1) They are more tricky to pour from, but its not something that a person can’t grasp quickly. Are you saying that you can’t be taught to pour from a new milk jug? I like to believe I’m not so old that I can’t be taught a new trick.
2) They fit more ‘efficiently’ in a refrigerator. Because they’re more tall and narrow, they fit in doors and take up a smaller footprint in the refrigerator. This allows more stuff to fit alongside on a shelf, or just use the door for your milk now. Kinda cool.
3) As far as efficiency goes, the only people who are benefiting from the extra efficiency are Sams execs. These things seem to use the same amount of plastic as a regular milk jug, and the only real benefit they provide is that Sams doesn’t have to return milk crates, and can fit more milk on trucks. Until we do away with plastic gallon jugs and go back to half gallon paper cartons, there is no real environmental benefit. At least as far as I see it.
Angel on Sat, 23rd Aug 2008 6:55 am
I think Dan is right it takes time to accept something new in our daily life. Once accepted and get used to it, I think these jugs will be doing the good what they are supposed to, conserving energy and money. It may be benefiting Sams more, but should be welcomed if it is cutting down the use of fuel and plastic.
natasha on Sat, 30th Aug 2008 6:14 pm
The new containers might help to save the environment but only to a degree. The plastic pouches used in Europe and Canada do a better job but are also difficult to handle. Once the jugs disappeared off the supermarket shelves, we had to learn to use the pouches. After several years, we don’t even think about it.
Piper on Tue, 2nd Sep 2008 2:44 pm
I think way to much money goes towards making packaging pretty.
I think we should have a milk container where you go to the store, buy your milk and pour the milk into a container at home in your own fridge. One that the whole family can use. Those tupperware containers always work nice and neat.
Orange juice in one… Milk in the other….
so Milk maybe should come in paper containers like it does…. then pour it out into a container in your fridge that the whole family is able to pour from.
What would be even cooler, is to have a way to refill your milk jugs right at the store. You can easily clean them out and take them w/ you to the grocery store.
It would save probably thousands on the landfill and the energy costs to re-heat the plastics down for recycling.
TS on Thu, 4th Sep 2008 5:14 pm
Great idea. I remember being so amazed when I lived in Italy about how everything was made to compact easy and create less trash. America needs to get on board.
Green Tip on Thu, 25th Sep 2008 3:24 pm
I love the idea behind the redesign but it sounds like it needs some more work. I hope the US continues with this trend and we see it applied in all packaging designs.
Packaging Crazy on Tue, 21st Oct 2008 4:32 am
I think this is a brilliant idea and should really help cutting back on materials and resources, especially in America and the UK. I know in Europe some countries already package their milk like this but in England we still use Plastic cartons. Originally having a milkman was the norm we all used glass bottles which where re-used, this is obviously the greenest method but atleast walmakr are trying,