Square milk jug
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| Inception | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Available | United states |
| Notes ;Color
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The square milk jug is a variant of the plastic gallon (3.785 litres) container of milk commonly sold in the United States .[1] The design was introduced in the summer of 2008[1] and is marketed as environmentally friendly because of the shape's advantages for shipping and storage (better cube efficiency). Square milk jugs are stackable and 9% more can be shipped in the same space.[1] They also eliminate the need for milk crates, which are required for traditional bell-shaped jugs.[2]
Critics of square milk jugs have noted increased spillage and difficulty pouring.[3]
Design
Proposed benefits
Environmental benefits and cost savings are the primary benefits of square milk jugs. Because more milk fits on each truck, shipping costs can be reduced by half; this reduces the number of trucks on the road each year by 11,000, as stores that require five shipments per week in traditional containers now only require two, resulting in lower fuel consumption.[4] Instead of being packed in milk crates, the square jugs are shrink wrapped[5] for shipment. This has cut water use by 67% to 70%, according to one dairy, since there are no crates to be cleaned. There is also the reduced cost with no crates to be stolen; Pennsylvania dairies alone spent US$6 million replacing milk crates in 2005, mostly from theft,[6] and less risk of the jugs being contaminated by dirty crates.[3] There are also cost advantages resulting from lower shipping costs for the retailer and these can be passed on to the consumer. The cost to a consumer of a gallon of milk in a square milk jug is 10¢ to 20¢ cheaper than a gallon of milk in a traditional milk jug.[3][5]
Because square milk jugs can be stacked, they require less labor at the dairy, and can be packaged more quickly, which allows the milk to be shipped sooner, providing fresher milk to the retailer.[7] The wide mouth is also easier to fill which reduces the likelihood of spillage and the sanitary issues caused by milk getting on the container.[1]
The shape of the jug also allows more milk to be stored in a milk cooler. One Sam's Club store reported fitting 224 square gallon jugs in an area that only held 80 traditional one gallon jugs.[3][5]
Pouring technique
The technique used to pour milk from a square milk jug is different from that of a traditional milk jug. A Sam's Club representative suggests "tilt it slowly and pour slowly"[3] and a dairy owner in Yerington, Nevada, where some square milk jugs are filled, described the pouring technique as "rock-and-pour instead of a lift-and-tip".[3]
Reception
Square milk jugs have been adopted by some Wal-Mart, Costco and Sam's Club stores.[3]
Consumers have criticized the square milk jug for being difficult to pour, especially for children.[3] When tilted shallowly, the larger opening (larger than a traditional milk jug), combined with its small lip, generates a wide stream of milk.[8] This causes spills and leaks onto the sides of the container.[8] Some Sam's Club stores offered lessons on pouring, complete with complimentary cookies.[3] Concern was also raised on the issue of the narrower base of the square jug, which allows it to be stored in the door of many refrigerators. Milk stored in this area may be more prone to spoiling due to frequent drastic changes in temperature.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Marks, Tod. "Love 'em or hate 'em: Those new-fangled milk containers at big club stores". Consumer Reports. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
- ^ a b Jackson, Matthew. "Costco's square milk jug curses milk consumers". Washington. The Daily. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Rosenbloom, Stephanie (June 30, 2008). "Solution, or Mess? A Milk Jug for a Green Earth". New York. The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
- ^ Hoffman, William. "Sustaining Sustainability". Florida Shipper. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
- ^ a b c Tracy, Ben (June 30, 2008). "Milk Jug Gets A Makeover". CBS News. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
- ^ Brat, Ilan (June 6, 2006). "Police ask: got milk crates?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via the Wall Street Journal). Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ a b Mick, Jason. "Cheaper, Stackable, "Green" Milk Jugs Cause a Stir". Daily Tech. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ a b Jackson, Matthew. "Costco's square milk jug curses milk consumers". The Daily. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
The handle on the opposite corner is both surprisingly slender and awkwardly close to the top. It is a container suited for fertilizer, gasoline, deicer or marbles. I would not use it for food.
External links
Media related to Square milk jugs at Wikimedia Commons
