Apparently, necessity is the mother of invention but not always of good design. The new square gallon milk jug that’s been rolling out to groceries over the last year makes pouring milk into a glass instead of onto the floor challenging.
The new jug, which has a flat screw-top and pours by tilting, was designed to minimize packaging and shipping costs and to keep milk fresher longer. It’s better for the environment and less expensive – saving consumers 10 to 20 cents per gallon. But Abir Mullick, director of the Industrial Design Program at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, predicts people with limited hand motion or strength will find it awkward to use.
The tilt-to-pour design means no need to lift heavy jugs, but he says, “It seems to require a lot of control and attention.”
The solution: Buy milk in smaller containers, such as half-gallon or quart cartons, transfer milk to an easier-to-handle pitcher or water cooler with a spout ($10, www.rubbermaid.com) or place the new square milk jug on the Roll ’n Pour device ($25, www.rollnpour.com) to ease pouring.
