Dear Mr Muriuki,
Unfortunately, our researchers are all working for the wealthy corporations who pay for the research .... And many of them are not concerned with improving anything, except their own reputation and number of publications - and budget. Many of them live in a closed world and are not interested in the nitty gritty of actually getting things done, getting milk to poor markets and so on.
Best regards
Nancy Abeiderrahmane
On Apr 4, 2013, at 3:38 PM, FAO-Dairy-Outlook wrote:
Dear FAO Dairy Out-lookers,
Eduardo has some points but he has focused more on global level costs away from an individual consumer. I also hope the costs are not purely speculative. Some of the issues raised can also be raised about other forms of packaging and the best is to have evidence based concerns. I said at one time that the Researchers can help us get some conclusive comparisons and cost benefit analysis, both at an individual consumer's level and on a global level.
A major the me in most discussions on dairy is the contribution to diets and livelihood of and access to dairy products (milk) by the unfortunate populations of the world. And the main issue is how to deliver the product to these people at a price they are able to pay for the minimum amount. There are however many issue on this.
But on the other hand, if the alternatives to pouch can be made competitive, so be it or the better for the consumers.
It is not the issue of pouch verses other milk packaging alternatives but rather the issue of improving access of milk to those who need it most.
Where are our researchers?
Hezekiah Muriuki
Nairobi, Kenya
Hola Eduardo & DOL,
I understand that in the 1990s, Amul Coop (GCMMF) in Gujarat, India, successfully used the plastic milk pouches, and also were able to meet HAACP and/or ISO9000 hygiene standards in their cow-to-consumer cold chain. Perhaps someone in India could provide more information.
Best wishes,
Bruce Scholten
Dairy Geographer
Durham University, UK
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2013 16:11:26 +0200
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Comments: Milk Bags
To: [log in to unmask]
At a glance, plastic pouch seems to be something good enough and cheap for milk.
But if you analyze it deeper, there are some other hidden costs that should make you think:
- If there is no good milk quality, bacterias will start growing faster and faster
- What is the cost of cold distribution?
- What is the cost of children with disease due to ruin milk (this is something that cannot be measure)?
- What is the cost of accumulating plastic bags that will not be absorbed by the Earth or being recycled?
- What is the cost of the inefficiency spoiling milk in the distribution?
- What is the cost of energy in the fridge in retailers?
- ......
Regards
Eduardo Fernández Durruty
Argentina
From: Newsletter on production and trade development in the dairy sector [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of FAO-Dairy-Outlook
Sent: miércoles, 27 de marzo de 2013 10:05 a.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Comments: Milk Bags
If there is cost benefit to the consumer with out effecting the quality what is the harm . If the supply chain is effcient , there is nothing cost effective then pasteurised milk in polyopouch . That is the reason it is a popular option in Indian markets.
Regards
K K Bhadra
Noida
From: FAO-Dairy-Outlook <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 8:46 PM
Subject: Comments: Milk Bags
Goats eating milk cartons with plastic liners ? That is not the best stuff to eat even for goats. And then there are cartons with metal foils and several layers of plastics.
Plastic pouches in India are recycled as there is a market for recycled plastics. That is not a bad option.
Ram Aneja
On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 8:19 AM, FAO-Dairy-Outlook <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Dear members,
A plastic bag weighs less than a carton, but in places where there is no plastic-bag-recycling, cartons are much more biodegradable, and goats eat them happily, while in most places where there is recycling cartons can be put in the recycling bin.
Glass is lovely, but developing countries cannot even consider importing bottles, retrieving them, washing them, etc....
Nothing is simple.
Nancy Abeiderrahmane
===================================
Milk in bags eh?
101 uses for milk bags… if you can get to the end there is a good demonstration of the robustness of the bags
Rick Phillips
Agreed, kids love chewing on straws. I remember a few “spit ball” fights with straws when I was in middle school.
Donna Berry
Consultant, Editor, Food Guru
Dairy & Food Communications, Inc.
From: Newsletter on production and trade development in the dairy sector [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of FAO-Dairy-Outlook
Sent: March-12-13 10:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Milk Bags - part2
Milk bags have become popular in many countries including Europe and Canada but has as yet to really take off in America. The bags tend to need jugs to be placed in, however Daylesford in the UK came up with a sleek and simple designed biodegradable bag with an integral handle which gave another option for the consumer. Waitrose, one of the sellers of this product, ironically stopped its own milk pouch and jug concept claiming there was not enough demand for this type of product.
<image001.png>However Sainsbury’s promotes it’s Jug It scheme nationally. The milk was able to be sold at least six pence less in bags as it used 75% less packaging than plastic bottles. The jug, which has a built in spike to pierce the milk bags and serves as a spout, was initially given away free to boost sales. A report states 3% of its 24 million weekly customers, the equivalent of 720,000 shoppers, have switched to regularly using milk bags. Although the scheme proved more popular than Sainsbury’s initial projections it still hasn’t replaced the plastic bottle. Milk bags are also used by companies like Costa Coffee which estimates it can fit 25% more milk in fridges as it takes up less space. Costa’s parent company Whitbread believes it uses 70% less plastic now they buy milk bags instead of plastic milk containers.
One store in the US that has made milk bags popular is Kwik Trip, which in addition to plastic bottled milk, sells Milk Moola which is milk in a bag similar to the Sainsbury’s Jug It scheme. This has become popular in part thanks to its charity fundraising scheme. Schools and communities can send in Milk Moola bottle tops from selected products to redeem for cash for their cause.
So what next? Cardboard cartons are still popular worldwide. I buy lactose free milk which is sold in recyclable cardboard cartons. Easy to stack on shelves but usually limited to 1 litre packages which makes them impractical for larger families. The Jug It scheme, though popular, does not have the mass appeal to make people ditch the plastic bottle. Clearly we have not seen the last of the plastic bottle but can we create a more environmentally friendly bottle which can be biodegradable? I think this is the future. Coca Cola are already investing heavily in plant based bottles maybe the solution is closer than we thought?
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STATS
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OUR BIG IDEA
Consumers seem to still favour plastic bottles for their milk and without a mass marketing campaign or the dairy community committing to cease using the bottles this is unlikely to change. However despite popularity and usability of the bottles, there is a drive from governments to cut down landfill waste which helps the industry look to more environmentally friendly materials to create the bottles from. Surely technology can create a bottle which degrades naturally and quicker than the current 500 years?
If such a material was developed in pouch form, gallons of milk could be sold in individual servings connected together. When you want one, tear if off the ream and stick straw in it! Drink it like a juice box, toss it like a banana peel. Easy to drink on the go!
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HOW CAN WE HELP?
Hereat Tilt we are Innovators. In our product innovation workshop we discuss our own formula for success.
We have worked with many companies to help to design and brand products such as Kwik Trip’s Kwikade and Calvert Street Cellars wine range. If you need help with branding your product whether it is an established name in need of a revamp or a brand new range – get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
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