We just started buying our milk through a new offering from a small Welsh dairy cooperative called Calon Wen. They now sell their milk in film pouches that you drop into a sturdy plastic milk jug designed to fit into the fridge door. It used 75% less packaging than regular milk jugs (many of which don't get recycled). It'll be interesting to see if this catches on (it's just in a regional test at the moment) and it's always hard to get consumers on to a new "system". Still, it's a nice improvement in a category that doesn't see a lot of innovation.
Also, I liked seeing the dual language of Cymraeg (Welsh) on pack and on the web site. At the next April fool's day, I'm going to put in a phony package brief to our creative team requesting dual English/Cymraeg packaging.
neat product - although I think you mean 'dairy' rather then 'diary' - could be wrong.
Posted by: matt lohkamp | August 30, 2007 at 04:06 PM
It is funny that, in the UK, it is consider as a new system. In Quebec (Canada), we have been using that system for over 25 years.
Posted by: yanick | August 30, 2007 at 06:13 PM
Thanks, Matt, for the typo catch. Although, I kind of like the sound of a "diary" cooperative. I hope they're free-range diaries.
Also, Yanick, appreciate letting me know that this has been a system in Quebec for so long. I'd never heard of it, but that would definitely bode well for this working in the UK (and hopefully the US).
Posted by: Tom Fishburne | August 31, 2007 at 12:55 AM
Glad you like 'Calon Wen' produce, my cousin (Iwan) is a member of the co-operative.
I really like their packaging following a recent re-branding. Although it's not uncommon in Wales, I do wish more companies would use both Welsh and English. Dual language packaging is common in Canada and many parts of Europe.
If any of your clients are marketing products which are aimed at customers in Wales, it may be worth pointing out to them that there's a grants available. It's towards design/translation/production of bilingual (Welsh/English) packaging and marketing material/website, via the Welsh Language Board (who also run an annual Bilingual Design Award)
Posted by: Rhys | August 31, 2007 at 04:44 AM
Good to see the cult of the milk bag is alive and well. It is indeed a Quebec+Ontario thing in Canada, although I do have some memory of it from growing up in Winnipeg, before they phased them out for cartons:
http://nothingheavy.blogspot.com/2006/04/milk-bag.html
Posted by: Ken Davidson | September 04, 2007 at 06:37 AM