Was the Milkman the same as the Circular Economy?

When I was a kid, we had a milkman. He would come each week in a truck and put several bottles of milk in our milk box. We drank the milk through the week and my mom would put the bottles back in the box for pick up and he’s leave the new ones.

The concept of the milkman began in the early 1800’s, primarily in urban areas where people living in cities didn't have direct access to farms so farmers started delivering milk in pails or churns.

Glass milk bottles were invented in the United States around the 1860s, enabling more hygienic and practical milk delivery. The first patent for a milk bottle is attributed to Dr. Hervey D. Thatcher in 1878 who was a pioneer in the dairy industry.

Milkmen delivering bottled milk became more common as urban populations grew. Advances in pasteurization (Louis Pasteur's process) in the 1860’s made milk safer to drink and extended its shelf life, further boosting demand.

Milkman as a Profession:

By the early 20th century, the milkman had become an established profession in many industrialized countries. The service evolved to be a cultural norm by the mid-1900s, with reusable glass bottles becoming a hallmark of the trade.

The milkman was a common essential service during this era for several reasons. Many households either did not have refrigerators or had small ones, making regular milk deliveries necessary. Milkmen would collect empty bottles and replace them with fresh ones, making the process sustainable, and door-to-door delivery was a convenience for families, especially in suburban and urban areas.

The 1950s and 1960s were times of economic growth in many countries, and services like milk delivery thrived as part of a growing consumer culture. For many people, the milkman was a routine and trusted part of daily life.

Decline of Milkmen:

By the late 1960s and into the 1970s, the number of milkmen began to decline due to widespread refrigerator use and larger refrigerators reduced the need for frequent milk deliveries. Grocery stores offered cheaper milk and one-stop shopping convenience. Cartons and plastic containers became popular, replacing reusable glass bottles.

A Resurgence of Milk Delivery Services

The resurgence of local milk delivery services reflects a growing consumer interest in convenience and supporting local businesses. Some international companies like Oberweis Dairy in the United States have maintained home delivery since 1927.

The difference between the Milkman System and the Circular Economy

By delivering fresh milk, collecting the empty bottles and reusing them for future delivery, the milkman system minimized waste and created a closed loop cycle for packaging.

The Circular Economy proposes to go beyond just reusing packaging—it encompasses repair, refurbishment, recycling, and sustainable design across industries and products. For example, a circular economy approach would include sustainable farming practices for milk production (which was probably the case originally). In essence, the milkman system is a slice of what the circular economy seeks to implement on a much larger and more systemic level.

Are we trying too hard to reinvent the wheel?