1/27 - Welcome, Printed Milk
And the avian flu.
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Housekeeping:
A few weeks ago, I started doing writing at Food52.
Earlier this week, I wrote about why eggs are expensive and hard to find right now. If you’re interested in eggs, money, bird flu, war, and/or smuggling, you’ll enjoy this quick article. Click the title below if you want to check it out.
Eggs Are Expensive Right Now—Will This Last Forever?
Welcome, Printed Milk
Soon, you might find yourself buying a ream of milk. Well, a ream might be too much. Let me explain.
Vitiprints–a sustainability focused New York City startup–is currently printing two-dimensional sheets of dissolvable milk. A gallon of milk is now a sheet of construction paper.
This ream contains five hundred gallons of milk.
Although strange, milk paper seems to address some key environmental issues. According to its press release, Vitiprints milk produces 75% less carbon dioxide than typical milks packaged in plastic bottles, reduces water usage, and eliminates plastic packaging altogether. Also, milk paper doesn’t waste easily—the product has a two year shelf life.
While milk is Vitiprints first notable commercial endeavor, the print-food-tech company claims to be capable of printing other beverages like coffee, tea, and sports drinks. That’s why–according to milk paper people–the future is flat.
Let’s hope so. Let’s hope I can walk into a coffee shop and overhear someone inquire if the shop carries printed milk alternatives, then witness them order a printed oat latte with an extra shot, and ultimately watch that same person impatiently wait as the barista struggles to blend a sheet of paper with water.
Let’s hope I can find myself at the dentist, flipping through a Sports Illustrated that was published nine months prior, and find a whole page gallon Powerade advertisement that I can rip out, take home, and rehydrate with.
Let’s hope that I can buy a ream of oat milk so that I never have to stuff a heavy, traditional, liquid gallon into a structurally weak grocery bag that only rips as I’m walking towards someone I kind of know, but don’t want to acknowledge.
Let us hope for a flat future.
Thank you all for reading. This remains the most fun part of my week, every week. You are all the absolute best. If you liked milk paper, consider sharing with a friend. Hope you all have a great weekend!