Square milk jug
Encyclopedia
The square milk jug is a variant of the plastic gallon
(3.785 litres) container of milk
commonly sold in the United States and Canada. The design was introduced in the summer of 2008 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. They also eliminate the need for milk crate
s, which are required for traditional bell-shaped jugs. There are also cost advantages resulting from lower shipping costs for the retailer and these can be passed on to the consumer.
Square milk jugs have been adopted by some Wal-Mart
, Costco
and Sam's Club
stores. 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.
Critics of square milk jugs have noted increased spillage and difficulty pouring.
ped 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, and less risk of the jugs being contaminated by dirty crates.
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. 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.
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.
Consumers have criticized the square milk jug for being difficult to pour, especially for children. When tilted shallowly, the larger opening (larger than a traditional milk jug), combined with its small lip, generates a wide stream of milk. This causes spills and leaks onto the sides of the container. Some Sam's Club stores offered lessons on pouring, complete with complimentary cookies.
The narrower base of the square jug allows it to be stored in the door of many refrigerators, but milk stored in this area may be more prone to spoiling due to frequent drastic changes in temperature.
, where some square milk jugs are filled, described the pouring technique as "rock-and-pour instead of a lift-and-tip".
Gallon
The gallon is a measure of volume. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use: the imperial gallon which is used in the United Kingdom and semi-officially within Canada, the United States liquid gallon and the lesser used United States dry...
(3.785 litres) container of milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
commonly sold in the United States and Canada. The design was introduced in the summer of 2008 and is marketed as environmentally friendly
Environmentally friendly
Environmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....
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. They also eliminate the need for milk crate
Milk crate
Milk crates are square or rectangular interlocking boxes that are used to transport milk and other products from dairies to retail establishments. Middle 20th century ones were made of wood, later ones were stainless steel, and those made in the latter part of the century were of heavy-duty...
s, which are required for traditional bell-shaped jugs. There are also cost advantages resulting from lower shipping costs for the retailer and these can be passed on to the consumer.
Square milk jugs have been adopted by some Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
and Sam's Club
Sam's Club
Sam's Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. , the Sam's Club chain serves more than 47 million U.S. members...
stores. 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.
Critics of square milk jugs have noted increased spillage and difficulty pouring.
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. Instead of being packed in milk crates, the square jugs are shrink wrapShrink wrap
Shrink wrap, also shrinkwrap or shrink film, is a material made up of polymer plastic film. When heat is applied it shrinks tightly over whatever it is covering. Heat can be applied with a hand held heat gun or the product and film can pass through a heat tunnel on a conveyor.-Composition:The...
ped for shipment. This has cut water use by 67% to 70%, according to one dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
, 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$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
6 million replacing milk crates in 2005, mostly from theft, and less risk of the jugs being contaminated by dirty crates.
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. 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.
The shape of the jug also allows more milk to be stored in a milk cooler
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is a common household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room...
. One Sam's Club store reported fitting 224 square gallon jugs in an area that only held 80 traditional one gallon jugs.
Criticism
The narrower base of the square jug allows it to be stored in the door of many refrigerators, but milk stored in this area may be more prone to spoiling due to frequent drastic changes in temperature.
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" and a dairy owner in Yerington, NevadaYerington, Nevada
Yerington is a city in Lyon County, located in western Nevada, USA. The population was 2,883 at the 2000 census. It is named after Henry M. Yerington, Superintendent of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad from 1868 to 1910. It is the county seat of Lyon County....
, where some square milk jugs are filled, described the pouring technique as "rock-and-pour instead of a lift-and-tip".