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I think the powers that be may have gone a bit strange in the midst of this glorious weather; first Supermarkets take plastic bags away from us and then they give them back…for us to carry our milk in. That’s right, front runners in the eco campaign Sainsbury’s have announced the introduction of ‘milk in a bag’, milk packaged in a recyclable plastic bag designed for use in conjunction with a specially designed jug for pouring adaptation at home.
It’s hoped that the pouches, produced in partnership with Dairy Crest, will reduce packaging waste by 75%, and although I have to say I find the idea a bit hard to swallow (no pun intended) I do agree that any way we can save waste should be welcomed with open arms.
I wonder how far this will go, though – what about our dawn deliverers, the milkmen, for example? Instead of pallets, will they have to update their floats to incorporate hangers, reminiscent of the drip bag holders usually seen on our hospital wards!? If the majority of us are trying to save the planet by buying milk in a bag then I don’t see why the privileged few should be allowed civilised glass bottles anymore!
Nick Gammage, from the environmental organisation Waste and Resources Action Programme speculates “Another innovation we think is on its way is having a self-dispenser in supermarkets, where customers can take their jugs and fill up with milk actually in the store itself.”
We’ve had several suggestions in the office today on how to cut back even further, all revolving around cows being placed either directly into supermarkets or on milk floats, (enabling us to cut out packaging all together) but that leads into a whole new post about the morals of genetically modifying cows to enable them to pasteurise their milk themselves and I’m just not ready to go there!
What are your views on ‘milk in a bag’ – is it more hassle than its worth, or a sign of the new, eco-friendly, innovative future in store for retailing and everybody else involved?
(Credited sources: BBC News)
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