Straus Family Creamery, Marshal, Calif., has introduced a 5-gallon bag-in-box organic milk product that is non-GMO Project Verified for the foodservice market. Straus launched the product at the University of California-Santa Barbara.

The bag-in-box milk is said to meet sustainable procurement priorities with organic certification. The bulk packaging is 100% recyclable and reduces food waste because students control the portion sizes. Straus said its milk fits into the growing sustainable food movement on college campuses, including the University of California system.

The bag-in-box product creates significantly less packaging waste. It also allows students to dispense just the amount of milk they would actually drink, thereby reducing food waste. All components of the bag-in-box system — including the liner, box and valve — are BPA-free and fully recyclable.

According to a Straus press release, UCSB’s Executive Chef Jaime Herrera was able to switch all milk served on campus from conventional to organic by finding creative ways to restructure the school’s foodservice program to lower its overall costs, which in turn, allows him to purchase sustainably-produced and certified organic foods.

Straus Family Creamery is a certified organic artisan creamery offering cream-top milk, yogurt, butter, ice cream, sour cream and a variety of wholesale and specialty dairy products distributed throughout Northern California.