Sainsbury’s starts selling milk in a bag

The supermarket said the two-pints pouch, produced in partnership with Dairy Crest, would reduce milk packaging waste by 75%. It will be available in 500 stores within a year.

The “Jug-it” pack is made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and fits inside a reusable jug. It is opened with a spike that pierces the bag and forms a no-leak seal. Once emptied, the pouch can be put in recycling bins in Sainsbury’s stores, or recycled with other plastics at home.

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 that has been running for a year, while Asda trialled the Greenbottle, consisting of a recycled cardboard bottle with a plastic liner, at stores in East Anglia earlier this year.

A spokeswoman from Sainsbury’s said its move was a “revolution” in milk packaging, but a previous pouch launched by the supermarket in 2001 did not stir up much interest among consumers and was scrapped.

“Consumers are now ready for it. There is much more demand for products that are environmentally responsible,” the spokeswoman added.

“Milk in a bag is an incredibly simple way for families to reduce their environmental impact.”

The Jug-it pouch will be on sale across London and the South-East from Wednesday.

Sainsbury’s is also considering using bags for its own brand juice and is examining alternatives to the wine box using the same packaging technology.

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