A considerable number of fruit juices and milk are sold in 1 liter containers (tetrapak). It is very common that I buy 1 liter of orange juice or milk in container, drink less than half of it, put it in the refregirator and after a week or later throw it away because it must have been consumed within 3 days or so after the package was opened. Especially if you are living alone it is very common that you don't consume all 1 liter juice at once and the odds are quite high that the second time you will want to drink the rest it will be too late.

A common solution to this waste problem is buying in containers with less than a liter: 0.5 liter or 0.250 liter containers (tetrapak). Although this largely eliminates the waste of drink it is a waste of packaging material. And some people don't like to buy in such small containers. Because it is not convenient to store many small containers, it gives a childish feel, it makes you feel small packages are more expensive (and they are) And most of the time you think you will be able to drink 1 liter anyways...(but later you find out that you won't and will be upset that you wasted)

My solution to this problem is making containers with internal segragation, dividing the liquid into 2 or 4 (or whatever) parts. On the top of each segment there will be a seperate lid. By this technology you can buy your 1 liter drink/milk as you are used to, come home, open one of the lids, drink a glass and forget about it until the next time you will want to drink it again. You may even not put it back to the refregirator, no problem, the rest of the juice is still as good as it was when you bought it.

This idea can be implemented not only for drinks but other food items sold in containers (tetrapak), like cheese, ready food and etc.

It is also possible to serve different juices in each partition. You can buy a liter of juice, inside is divided into 4 parts, under each lid you have different juice: peach, orange, cherry, apple and etc..

I believe this idea can also be applied to pet bottles. (2 liters carbonated drink may have 4 lids serving each partition inside)
-- can1073, Nov 26 2007

similar idea (different rationale) Doubledrinks_21
[phundug, Nov 26 2007]

Tetra Pak http://www.tetrapak.com/
The Swedish company (note spelling) that makes a lot of drink containers. [jutta, Nov 29 2007]

Tear Away Pringles Canister Tear-Away_20Pringles_20Canister
by DeserFox - same idea different application [sprogga, Dec 01 2007]

I don't know what a "tetra pack" is, but I take the idea as an internally segregated drink container.
-- phoenix, Nov 26 2007


Thanks for the correct wording, I will change the name accordingly
-- can1073, Nov 26 2007


So this is basically four bottles glued (or formed) together?
-- ldischler, Nov 26 2007


Idischler, No, the outside of the container is one. But there is an inside wall dividing each segment. Each segment has its own lid.
-- can1073, Nov 26 2007


So this is basically four bottles glued (or formed) together. With no printing costs on the partitions?
-- 4whom, Nov 26 2007


It adds a lot of packaging which I think we can agree is bad.

Also the not opening thing might work OK for juice, but your milk is still going to go off.

3 days?? Either your fridge is unplugged or you are way too fearful of food spoilage.
-- Texticle, Nov 28 2007


Texticle, the idea if implemented will save packaging in comparision to buying in small volume containers.

Internal seperating walls and lids are very little addition to packaging cost and I believe the food waste it will prevent will easily justify this.
-- can1073, Nov 29 2007


How do you propose to manufacture these internally-segregated containers? I think it will result in much more packaging than those of conventional manufacturing techniques. Even when compared to multiple smaller containers which are made with fairly frugal folding (in the case of cartons) and blow moulding (in the case of bottles) processes.
-- Texticle, Nov 29 2007


This should be self-explanatory, but:

Tetrapak containers are a simple die cut and fold process. Die cut, for cuboids, leaves little waste, as ldischler insinuated. Partioning the shape will leave holes in your net diagram (die) and therefore loss of material.

Extruded containers are usually one recepticle configurations, due to the blow-mold manufacturing process. However, we have tackled bigger problems on the 'bakery, Seirpinski macaroni, and Mandel Brot, Mobius tagliattelli, to guess a few. Also a quick guage of the components should illuminate the fact that the majority of plastic (or wasted packaging) is found in the lid and sealing process. Adding more lids and more sealing points negates the perceived benefits of partioned containers.
-- 4whom, Nov 29 2007


Thanks Texticle and 4whom about your comments on the manufacturing aspect of my proposal. I am not familiar with the technology of such production but I agree that it is not easy (if not feasibily impossible)

If the lid is a big cost, I propose either no lid containers where consumer cut the tetrapak from the corners. (this is common with low cost tetrapaks)

If the technology allows another alternative can be horizontal segregation. Consumer starts drinking from the top and punch a hole to the lower segments by reaching through the lid.
-- can1073, Nov 30 2007



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