<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border:0 none;" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/PC/mooko-solutions.jpg" alt="Mooko vending milk design" width="450" height="364" /></p>

Sometimes I think I am too much of a design snob, then I rather snobbishly excuse my snobbery for being totally justified. Like most, I really enjoy pleasing aesthetics and I get frustrated with poorly executed design or when something looks pretty but serves little to no purpose. Maybe I am just a sucker, cos goodness knows I've bought many a product based on packaging design alone.

One thing I never really thought I would be lauding the design praise of is Milk, that is until I encountered Mooko.  <a href="http://www.designigniteschange.org/projects/105-mooko-sustainable-milk">Mooko</a> is a concept organic line of dairy products designed to tackle the sustainability issues in the dairy industry. Designed by participants from the <a href="http://www.designigniteschange.org/participants/10-academy-of-art-university">Academy of Art Institute</a>, their aim is to reduce the waste and pollution caused by the dairy industry while presenting the consumer with a rather niftily designed package.

<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border:0 none;" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/PC/mooko_products.jpg" alt="mooko products" width="450" height="300" /><strong>products include milk and printed materials explaining the benefits of sustainability</strong></p>

I can't say that 'sustainability' is the first thing I think of when I hear the words 'dairy industry'. That being said, I grew up at a time when the milkman dropped off your milk needs every week and picked up your washed milk bottles for reuse. However today the supermarket refrigerators are filled with rows upon rows of paper and plastic cartons.
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border:0 none;" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/PC/mooko_vending.jpg" alt="mooko vending machine" width="450" height="340" /><strong>vending machine concept</strong></p>

Mooko's approach is to design a reusable bottle and milk vending machine. Placed outside supermarkets the vending machines offer a spot for consumers to refill their empty milk bottles. A novel idea to reduce the impact on natural resources and to minimize waste - but will it work? If it's implemented time will tell..In an age where 'green' and 'sustainability' are going from being mere buzzwords to being the way many are choosing to live their life, I could see this doing rather well in some cities. Maybe not everywhere, but it would be a start. I for one think its an idea that definitely deserves a trial run and for us, the consumer to welcome it into our lives with an open mind.

Now if only they vended almond milk...

<em>all images via <a href="http://www.designigniteschange.org">design ignites change</a></em>