A few months ago, Wal-Mart and Costco debuted a brand new design to an old product. The familiar milk jug has been redesigned to make it easier to transport and store; effectively cutting cost and reducing its carbon-footprint.
The new design, however, may take some time to get used to. The New York Times reported that many consumers find the new jugs harder to pour:
“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.
Though the new jug may frustrate milk-drinkers, retailers will continue to push the cost-cutting redesign.
Per cubic foot, the new jugs can transport 50% more milk than with the previous design. With more milk being carried per load, delivery trucks will make far less trips reducing the amount of fuel needed.
So what?
The benefits to retailers and producers is obvious, but why should anyone else care?
Besides the fact that the new jugs can greatly reduce the amount of carbon emissions during its process, milk will be cheaper! If saving the environment does not interest you, the price drop certainly will.
The new jugs also eliminate the need for crates which required several trips to stores as well as labor and water to clean.
The elimination of the crates cuts the amount of time needed by producers. According to the New York Times article, milk from cows can reach stores the same afternoon.
The same great milk that you've grown up with is fresher and cheaper. I think you can deal with the square jug.
LINK: Solution, or Mess? The New York Times
-Matt Mesa
2 comments:
I don't see a problem in this really. If using this jug is an inconvenience and more people speak up to manufactures, I'm sure there's a way to resolve it (looks to me like pretty much the only reason why milk would spill is because of the wide opening).
I haven't seen milk jugs like this yet. Is it out in all WalMarts and Costcos?
A good example of necessity being the mother of invention. I love it: businesses going "green" to reduce costs and increase profits.
As for the complaints, isn't that just a case of crying over spilled milk? Those mothers should be happy to lose a few drops of dairy, so that their kids can thrive with cleaner air, water, and food.
Also, I haven't seen these new milk jugs either. (But, then, I drink rice milk from Trader Joe's.) Matt, do you know if there's a recycling component to these new jugs, where customers can return them back to the store, to be picked up by the supplier on their drop-off?
This reminds me of the old image of the local milk-man dropping off fresh milk in sterilized, recycled glass bottles. An old idea made new?
- Misako M.
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