Even Milk is Going Green!

For many coffee companies, Cafe Evoke Catering included, the milk carton is something we become very fond of. There are many ways we have seen milk - gallon jugs, half gallon jugs, cardboard cartons, glass - now square? Jenni sent me a link to an article yesterday by the New York Times's Stephanie Rosenbloom talking about the new milk jug. The new "jugs" are square with a flat top (no real pour spout) with rigid sides. A few of the main reasons for coming up with this? Shipping, packing and storage. A simple change to the design of the gallon milk jug, adopted by Wal-Mart and Costco, seems made for the times. The jugs are cheaper to ship and better for the environment, the milk is fresher when it arrives in stores, and it costs less. It seems, however, that people do not like change! While I gather that it may be difficult to learn to pour and will cause you to take a double take once it is in your frig, it doesn't seem all bad. Maybe I should try and use one before really talking. There are rants everywhere on the web about it but some (like the one I just mentioned) seem to be understanding the new system and are more concerned with how the new jugs are being packaged together at one of the stores that adopted the new style. (image credit to sustainable goods) Sustainable Goods wrote a piece about the product as well. It seems this product has been "on the market" since about 1998 while staying fairly localized to the OH region of the US. The company responsible for the design and packaging of the new jugs is Creative Edge, a division of Superior Dairy in Canton, Ohio. You can read a full profile of the company at Packaging Digest. I am excited to try the new jugs out. It will be interesting to see how this will change how we do business on the coffee catering side of things. We have several things to worry about with this new design. Mainly transport (in coolers)and cleanliness (we serve coffee drinks in people's living rooms). There are several other things I like about the idea other than the packaging and environmental stuff. I like the fact that the milk is fresher. From what I have read, the stores involved with the new milk jug are saying the milk arrives more often and stays fresh much longer than in the past. I am all in for fresher milk! All in all, I like the idea. I am going to hold off any in depth review until I have had a chance to try the milk out in person and on my own. Maybe I will go to one of those classes Costco is offering! ...be bold Our friends at Ideal Bite have free, fun eco-living tips! Delivered daily via email!