
In Austria, the transition from glass milk bottles to cartons led to some confusion among consumers who found the new packaging hard to open. This prompted the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) to release a video demonstrating the correct way to open a milk carton. The video was likely in response to an incident where a manager or designer of the packaging company NÖM was challenged to open a carton on live TV, which he was unable to do.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Austria |
| Milk Carton Type | Gable top carton |
| Difficulty | Hard to open |
| Solution | Squeeze the two sides to pop the spout out |
| Source | Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) |
| Company | NÖM |
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What You'll Learn

Austrian milk cartons are hard to open
Austrian milk cartons are notoriously hard to open. In fact, even the CEO of the company that makes these milk cartons struggled to open it on live TV! This led to a lot of skepticism among Austrians about the new milk containers.
The issue seems to be with the amount of adhesive used, which can make it difficult to open the cartons without cutting them. Some people have even resorted to cutting the entire top off and pouring the milk into a pitcher or different container. This is not an ideal solution, as it creates unnecessary waste and can be messy.
Another issue with Austrian milk cartons is that they may be DRM-protected, meaning they can only be poured into a specific type of glass. While this may be a convenient way for companies to ensure the use of genuine products, it can be frustrating for consumers who just want to drink their milk.
There are some hacks and workarounds available online for opening stubborn milk cartons, including a video demonstration by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) on how to properly open a gable-top carton. However, it is clear that Austrian milk cartons could benefit from a more user-friendly design to avoid these common frustrations.
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$7.29

Tetra-pak cartons were invented in Sweden
In the 1940s, Ruben Rausing observed his wife, Elisabeth (or Elizabeth), making sausages by tying off the ends and wondered if a similar system could be applied to milk. He came up with the idea of an innovative box with four triangular faces, a tetrahedron, and named his company Tetra Pak. In 1944, Rausing filed a patent for the idea, and in 1946, the company introduced the first prototype tetrahedron package filling machine.
AB Tetra Pak was established in Lund, Sweden, in 1951 as a subsidiary of the original company, Åkerlund & Rausing. The first milk carton was produced in 1952, and the first filling machine for tetrahedron-shaped cartons was delivered to Lund Dairy in the same year. This machine enabled the safe packaging of bacteria-free milk, creating new possibilities for making food safe and available globally without the need for refrigeration.
Tetra Pak continued to expand and innovate, with exports to Germany in 1954 and further expansion into France and Italy by 1956. The company also developed new packaging designs, such as the Tetra Brik Aseptic package introduced in 1969, which was light, strong, and easy to handle and distribute. Over the years, Tetra Pak has become one of the world's largest packaging firms, providing a range of packaging and processing products and services. The company has also made efforts towards sustainability, with recycling programs for its containers and partnerships to increase recycling rates and reduce environmental impact.
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Austrian TV demonstrates how to open milk cartons
In a hilarious turn of events, Austrian TV demonstrated how to open milk cartons, with the CEO of the company that introduced the cartons in Austria showing how it's done. The ORF show "Wir" ("We") invited the manager of the company NÖM, which had started selling milk in new packages, to demonstrate how to open the cartons on live TV. The CEO claimed that the cartons were awesome and easy to open, but then proceeded to spill the milk all over the table.
The new milk containers were tetra-paks, invented in Sweden, and the CEO may have been the first to bring them to Austria. However, the transition from glass bottles to these new containers was met with skepticism from Austrians, who found the cartons hard to open.
Many people have struggled with opening gable-top milk cartons and squeezing the two sides to pop the spout out. Some have even resorted to cutting the top off and pouring the milk into a pitcher or better container. The struggle is so real that there is a video demonstrating how to open a milk carton like a professional, courtesy of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF).
While some have suggested that the cartons are too difficult to open, others have argued that it is not rocket science. One person commented that where they are from, you simply rip a hole with your teeth in the corner and drink directly from the carton.
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Austrian company NÖM sells milk in new packages
In Austria, the company NÖM once started selling milk in new packages. People were complaining about the new packaging. However, the manager or designer of the packaging defended the new design, stating that they thought it was "awesome". During an ORF show "Wir" ("we"), the manager or designer was asked to show how it's done on live TV. A clip of this moment was posted on Reddit, where users discussed the switch from glass bottles to cartons and speculated about the identity of the person in the video. Some users mentioned that they had also experienced difficulty opening milk cartons, with some cutting the top off or switching to buying milk in bags as a result.
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Austrian Broadcasting Corporation shows how to open gable-top cartons
The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) has shared a video demonstrating the correct way to open gable-top milk cartons. The video was created in response to the difficulty many Austrians faced when transitioning from glass bottles to gable-top cartons. ORF's video provides a step-by-step guide to opening these cartons with ease, addressing a common frustration among consumers.
In the video, a professional demonstrates a simple and efficient technique to open the cartons. It is unclear if the presenter is the CEO of the company that introduced the new milk cartons to Austria, or a manager/packaging designer from the dairy company "NÖM". Nevertheless, the presenter confidently showcases the convenience and ease of using gable-top cartons.
The presenter begins by holding the gable-top carton in one hand. Instead of attempting to pry open the carton by squeezing the sides, as many people might instinctively do, the presenter demonstrates a different approach. With a confident motion, the presenter uses their thumb to apply pressure to one side of the gable top, near the pointed end. This action creates a slight indentation on the side, without puncturing the carton.
Then, with their other hand, the presenter gently pulls down on the gable top, using the indentation as a leverage point. This motion smoothly opens the carton, revealing the handy pouring spout. The presenter may also emphasize the convenience of the spout, which allows for easy and mess-free pouring. By following these simple steps, Austrians can now enjoy their milk without the frustration of struggling to open the cartons.
The video, which can be found on YouTube, has garnered attention from both Austrian and international audiences, with many expressing relief at finally learning the correct way to open these cartons. This lighthearted yet practical demonstration by ORF not only provided a solution to a common problem but also added a touch of humor to the challenges of adapting to new packaging designs.
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Frequently asked questions
If you've been having a hard time opening the gable-top carton and squeezing the two sides to pop the spout out, you can watch this clip from the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) on how a professional opens a milk carton.
If your milk carton still doesn't open, you can cut it open and pour the milk into a pitcher.
Milk cartons in Austria switched from glass bottles to tetra-pak cartons, which are harder to open.











































