The most common material in milk packaging is high density polyethylene (HDPE), recycling code 2.
Small individual containers of milk and cream are often thermoformed or injection molded and have a peelable lid.
The shelf life of pasteurized milk in HDPE bottles and LDPE pouches has been determined to be between 10 and 21 days when stored at 4–8 °C.
A volume insert attaches to the inside of a mould, creating a circular indentation on the side of the finished bottle.
Different size inserts can be used as manufacturing circumstances change, for example mould temperature or cooling rate.
[8] Many potential factors are involved in environmental comparisons of returnable vs non-returnable systems.
Researchers have often used life cycle analysis methodologies to balance the many diverse considerations.
A key factor with glass milk bottles is the number of cycles of uses to be expected.