Design

RPC Containers in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire is making the PP jug for Sainsbury's "Jug-it" milk packaging, which the supermarket started to sell in 35 of its stores last week.

The Jug-it pack consists of a two-pint pouch, made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by Canadian firm Glopak, and the re-usable jug. The packaging is the culmination of an 18-month project with Dairy Crest.

Dairy Crest innovation controller Richard Pryor said he was involved in Sainsbury's first attempt at persuading British consumers to switch from plastic milk bottles to pouches in 2001.

"There are now more environmental pressures, particularly from Courtauld Commitment signatories, who are driving material reduction, with consumers also demanding more environmentally responsible products," he added.

"UK consumers are used to plastic bottles with caps and to them the idea of a pouch and jug seems quite primitive, but the bag is strong and a reliable pack for milk."

Pryor claimed issues with previous products that required scissors to open them have been resolved with the Jug-it pouch, which is opened with a spike that pierces the bag and forms a no-leak seal.

"Our aim is to encourage more people to try the pouch. It's on prototype tooling and we'll assess the trial in 35 Sainsbury's stores to see if consumers like it," he said.

"I'd like to see 5% of consumers switching to the pouch."

If the trial is successful, Sainsbury's could introduce the packaging nationwide.

Rival Tesco started selling milk from Welsh organic milk co-operative Calon Wen in low-density "Eco Pak" polythene bags in 43 stores across Wales in April.

The Tesco move followed Waitrose's trial of the Calon Wen offering, which is currently in 60 branches.

Waitrose said it would launch Waitrose Select Farm Milk Pouches in more than 100 branches on 29 September. All Waitrose branches will have either Calon Wen Milk Pouches or Waitrose Select Farm Milk Pouches at this time.

The supermarket also sells a refillable jug for £1.99; the Sainsbury's jug is £2.49.

Sainsbury's is also considering putting its own brand juice in pouches and is examining alternatives to the wine box using the same packaging technology.