One of the first things that people notice when they go to Canada is that milk is sold in bags. Shelves full of clear bags instead of cardboard boxes or plastic bottles surprise many visitors. In fact, this habit has been going on since the 1960s. Moreover, it is not only in Canada, but also common in many countries around the world.
But why? Let's see...
Back then, milk was sold in glass bottles, but these bottles were both costly and at risk of breaking. DuPont's 'pillow pouch' plastic milk bags offered a lighter, cheaper, and more easily transportable alternative.
The real turning point, however, came with Canada's transition to the metric system in the 1970s. The old bottle and can sizes needed to be redesigned, but bags adapted much more easily to the liter measurement.
Thus, Canada decided that selling milk in bags was the most practical solution. Over time, this habit became a part of daily life, especially in the Quebec, Ontario, and Maritimes regions.
One of the biggest reasons for this is economic efficiency. Plastic bags contain about 75% less plastic compared to traditional milk bottles. This results in significant savings in both production and transportation costs.
They also have major environmental advantages. Thinner plastic means less waste. According to Eater, bagged milk is one of the most efficient milk packaging methods in reducing carbon footprint. Moreover, since it is easier to transport, less energy is consumed in logistics.
Milk is sold in bags in India, China, Russia, Israel, Hungary, South Africa, and even in some states in the USA.
However, this method is so widely adopted in Canada, especially in Ontario, that approximately 80% of the population still drinks their milk from a bag.