Isle of Man Creamery has eliminated single-use plastic bottles from its milk packaging.

In 2018, Isle of Man Creamery was the first dairy in the British Isles to introduce plant-based cartons for its 500ml and one litre products. Sustainable, renewable and carbon neutral to produce, the cartons are made using only plant-based materials and contain no fossil fuel.

Over the year that followed there was a dramatic shift in milk buying habits from Isle of Man Creamery customers. Before the introduction of plant-based cartons around 70% of people were purchasing their liquid milk in single-use plastic bottles: 12 months later that had shifted to 80% now buying their milk in cartons.

This shift away from plastic packaging meant that Isle of Man Creamery needed a more environmentally friendly solution for its larger two and four pint plastic bottles.

Managing director, Findlay Macleod said: ’Isle of Man Creamery is dedicated to reducing single-use plastic in our packaging. We had already made great steps in this area with the introduction of plant-based cartons but the positive reaction and buying decisions of our customers resulted in us now being in a position to remove plastic bottles altogether.

’At the start of 2021 we commissioned a new carton filling machine that could produce larger 1.75 and two litre plant-based cartons to replace two and four pint polybottles. We are once again leading the way and are the first dairy in the British Isles to offer milk packed into these larger sized sustainable cartons.’

As well as replacing two and four pint plastic bottles that are sold in local stores, all catering plastic bottles will be replaced with a new two-litre catering carton.

Mr Macleod said: ’The elimination of plastic bottles from our milk packaging will save the island more than 100 tonnes of single-use plastic every year. It will also help reduce the number of lorries coming onto the island as it would take nine lorry loads of plastic bottles to pack the same amount of milk as one lorry load of flat-packed, plant-based cartons. This will save around 30 articulated lorries travelling to the island every year. Since 2018 we have invested over £1.5million to help us achieve this goal.’

The 1.75 litre cartons are available now in both whole and semi-skimmed and at £1.80 it is the best value way to buy Manx, grass-fed milk.

Findlay said: ’By supporting local food producers and choosing to buy Manx milk in more environmentally friendly, plant-based cartons you are helping to reduce the amount of plastic coming to our island and supporting 30 local farming families, 90 members of staff at the Creamery and more than 200 farm workers.’