The Green Co-op Consumer's Co-operative Union (with 330,000 household union members), consisting of 13 co-ops in Kyushu and the Chugoku district, has launched a new project under the slogan "getting back to real food, not commercializing it." This project prompted Green Co-op to switch the containers for non-GMO (genetically modified organism) pasteurized milk, one of its symbolic products, from cartons to glass bottles.

As a contract manufacturer of the bottled milk, Nippon Milk Community Co., which has taken over the milk division of Snow Brand Milk Products Co., set up a new production line in its Fukuoka plant. To raise funds of 1.5 billion yen (U.S. $13.51 million) for the equipment - ranging from sterilizer, bottle washer and milk filler to single-use containers and cold storage facilities - for this exclusive plant, Green Co-op called on all union members to invest in a Milk Fund, and in effect has nearly achieved the target figure. All investors were requested to provide 500 yen (U.S. $4.5) monthly for 12 months or a lump sum of 6,000 yen (U.S. $54), which will be refunded after the equipment has depreciated fully.

Full-scale delivery of the bottled milk started on November 17, 2003. The ultra light 900-milliliter bottle being used weighs only 305 grams and can be re-used over 30 times. It is expected to constitute a big step towards the revival of returnable glass bottles.




Posted: 2004/01/22 09:20:38 AM
Japanese version

TAG Eco-product/Business , Food/Water , Manufacturing industry , Material reduction , NGO/Citizen , Non-manufacturing industry