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Forget milk in a bottle, it's now in a bag
Mark Prigg, Science Correspondent04.02.08
Supermarket customers could soon be popping out for a bag of milk instead of the traditional glass or plastic bottles or containers.
Following a successful trial, Waitrose announced today it is to sell milk by the bag in dozens of its stores.
Customers can also buy a £1.99 reusable jug to pour the milk into.
The environmentally friendly plastic sacs, called Eco Paks, were tested last year. The response was positive and Waitrose now plans to promote the milk bags in more than 50 stores around the country, including several in London.
The bags use 75 per cent less plastic than bottles. Milk in an Eco Pak costs 99p per litre, compared with about 86p per litre for milk in a plastic bottle. The milk is sourced from organic farming group Calon Wen.
Experts believe that the milk bags could make a significant impact on recycling rates.
At present, most supermarket milk comes in cartons or bottles made of high-density polyethylene, a type of plastic that can be recycled, although mainly in China.
Recent figures showed there are about nine billion plastic bottles sold in Britain, of which only seven per cent are recycled.
A Waitrose spokeswoman said: "Customers are increasingly aware of packaging issues and want to lead a greener lifestyle. Since we tested Calon Wen last summer customers have embraced the new concept."
It has not yet been decided which stores will be the first to get the Eco Paks but the spokeswoman said a significant number would be in the capital.
Richard Tomlinson, chairman of Calon Wen, said the response to the bag had been enthusiastic.
"People are increasingly aware of the packaging that they use, and the Eco Pak delivers the greatest reduction in plastic of any format currently available to the dairy industry," he said.
"We are now in discussions with several major retailers about rolling out the concept, so that the Eco Pak is more available for people to buy."
Calon Wen, a co-operative owned by more than 20 farming families from across Wales, was the first dairy in Britain to achieve the Soil Association's Ethical Trade Symbol.
Several other green ways to deliver milk are also being developed.
The Greenbottle, used by Suffolk dairy Marybelle, consists of a recycled cardboard bottle with a plastic liner.
It has already been tested in Lowestoft by Asda and the company is hoping to launch nationally later this year.
An Asda spokeswoman said the multiple was working with local dairies, because shipping around the country would defeat the object of having an environmentally friendly container.
Reader views (7)
Growing up in Canada (in the 80's) we bought milk in pouches, you could buy a pouch holder at the grocery store which meant you put the bag in the holder and cut the top corner. They still buy milk this way.
- K Davison, Southend on Sea, Essex
Support your local milkman instead, they clean & re-use the glass milk bottle (you can recycle the bottle top foil), and fresh milk everyday. Most milk floats are electric as well.
We've switched from supermarket milk to milk delivery 8 months ago, the milk tastes fresher and creamier (even with semi-skimmed), it's a bit more expensive, but it's worth it, both in terms of being greener & taste.
- My, London
We've had bagged milk in South Africa ever since I can remember. They work a charm. You get a free jug which they fit into and pouring isn't a problem. Nor is contamination etc...if it was, then I wouldn't be here now...
- Michelle Norman, London, UK
What goes around comes around. When I was kid in the Dundee area 40 years or so ago milk came in plastic bags. The Diary gave you a free jug holder to put it so it was supported when you poured the milk out. It would be a great idea if the plastic itself is biodegradable and it could be put in the compost bin
- Ali, London UK
Stupid idea. I rinse and recycle my plastic and Tetrapak milk containers - much easier than trying to rinse out a floppy bag effectively. Bagged milk must also be decanted for storage, opening up the possibility of contamination due to poor hygiene during opening the bag and of the container into which it is poured, people will forget the use-by date and the bag is vulnerable to puncture during transit home (because, to be truly green, one should cycle to the shop!).
- Clare, Cambridge, UK
Calon Wen is Welsh for 'White Heart' if anyone is interested.
- Squiz, Islington
I would definitely buy them next time I'm at Waitrose. Milk has been sold in plastic bags for many years in Argentina. In fact, not only milk, yoghurt also comes in bags. Most of the items in my recycle box are milk plastic bottles so I welcome the bags.
- Peggy May, London
