United Diary Inc. has saved 1.7 million pounds of high density polythylene during the production of 80 million of its new Ecojug milk jug design since January 2013.
United Dairy is based in Martins Ferry, Ohio, and has milk plants in Charleston, W. Va., and Uniontown, Pa.
Mid-America Machining Inc., a maker of blow molds in Brooklyn, Mich., invested heavily in the design and developed its patented milk jug and tooling over a two-year period.
The average milk bottle ranges in weight from 60 to 62 grams. The new Mid-America design weighs only 52 grams.
“Having a customer as committed to making the new bottle succeed as United Dairy has been is the key to this industry breakthrough,” said Peter Lobbestael, vice president of sales for Mid-America machining.
United Dairy has integrated Ecojug through all of its beverage lines, including white and chocolate milk, orange juice, teas, water, orange drinks, fruit punch Tampico beverages and mixes.
The process also is used to make half-gallons, quarts and pints in addition to the signature gallon jug.
Tel. 517-592-8988.