Powdered plant milk reduces packaging, transport emissions

Bare*ly Mylk, a startup founded by Monash University alumni, has developed powdered plant milk to reduce packaging and related transportation emissions.

The company was a participant in the university’s Generator Accelerator program, designed to challenge startup founders to accelerate traction and achieve significant and sustainable growth for their business.

According to the company, plant milk packaging has two problems: first, liquid plant milks are over 90% water by volume, increasing the packing and transportation emissions produced; and second, that water means long-life liquid plant milks need to be packed in aseptic cartons that cannot be easily recycled in Australia.

“Aseptic cartons are made from a composition of paper, foil and plastic, making liquid contents shelf stable. They require specialised hydropulping processing facilities very few recycling facilities in Australia are equipped with, and therefore the cartons are sent to landfill,” the company said.

The new powdered alternative is said to be lighter to transport, reducing energy, resources and emissions as well as the problematic packaging. It also greatly increases the shelf life, without needing refrigeration.

According to the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) Australian Packaging Consumption & Recovery Data 2021–22, this year 55,000 tonnes of aseptic polymer-coated paper board (PCPB) will go to landfill. Bare*ly Mylk estimates that 25% (13,750 tonnes, or 344 million units) of this is from plant milk cartons. A Tetrapak life cycle analysis of aseptic cartons shows that this will create 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ this year, amounting to a total of 180,000 tonnes of packaging waste by 2034.

Bare*ly Mylk founders Mark Prewer (Monash Alumni, Business and IT), Kaylee Jones (Monash Alumni, Commerce and Global Studies) and Ryan Gan (Monash Alumni, Commerce and Finance) are on a mission to reduce this waste and make plant milk even better for the planet and for people. Their vision is to make plant milk ‘barely packaged’.

Jones said, “Our powder importantly reduces the environmental impact of liquid plant milks, and is made with the planet in mind. But our product is also made for people; it’s great-tasting, versatile, convenient and long-life without any need for refrigeration. Just add water, shake and enjoy.”

“The Generator Accelerator Program has given us a framework to develop our product and business strategy. It will put Bare*ly Mylk in a strong position to go to market,” added Prewer.

“Bare*ly was born from our desire to learn, grow and make a positive impact — we’ll always push ourselves and never want to let off the innovative throttle,” he said.

Gan concluded, “Powdered options are all taste and less waste. Not only can we put greater volumes of milk in less packaging, but we can use packaging materials that can go in your mainstream recycling bins.”

Bare*ly Mylk’s first product, available in 2025, is powdered oat milk. It has the same flavour, taste and froth-ability as typical liquid versions, but with a longer shelf life. The versatility also makes it perfect to take travelling or even camping.

Image caption: Barely Mylk founders Ryan Gan, Kaylee Jones and Mark Prewer. Image: Supplied.