20 pledges for 2020: What the zero waste influencers don't tell you
The curious case of my missing milk means I've slipped up already; am I really going to last the year?
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Your support makes all the difference.Before pledging to give up single-use plastic I took to social media in a bid for inspiration from zero waste, eco-friendly “influencers”.
With over 2.2 million posts in the plastic-free tag on Instagram, and photos of porridge oats in glass jars clocking up thousands of likes, this trend has taken social media by storm.
Although these single-use plastic-free bloggers have been useful in my times of need, I can’t help noticing the similarities they share to those of the #CleanEating movement; promoting their namesake branded water bottles in the same way people endorsed their juice cleanses. Both equally promising a more fulfilled life.
While I'm unsure whether posts of bloggers collecting their packaging-free fruit and veg from a farmer’s market will become as "inspirational" as attending a Barry’s Bootcamp class, what I am certain of is that plastic-free living is, thankfully, growing in popularity.
Even Kim Kardashian has jumped on the bandwagon. After enlisting the help of the Home Edit (the US-based home organisation company), she shared an Oprah-inspired pantry tour of her plastic-free fridge. (Who knew 2020 was the year of plastic-free fridge goals?)
View this post on InstagramA post shared by THE HOME EDIT ® (@thehomeedit) on
I have no shame in admitting though that my cupboard in my shared house in south London does not resemble anything like the colour coded ones in LA that litter my Instagram feed. And I'm even less afraid to admit that despite a relatively self-righteous start to the year, the trials and tribulations of no single-use plastic living have hit hard, because February has brought, quite literally, fresh new challenges.
On the back of the advice of a blogger, I signed up to a weekly visit from the milkman, a novelty I was excited to embrace, so much so my mum sent me reusable milk tops. But, the truth is over the past four weeks, I have not had the honour of using them. Every Monday morning when I’ve gone downstairs, full of anticipation, prepared to collect my milk, I’ve been greeted with nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Week on week I've attempted to conjure up a new successful solution. I have considered getting the milkman to call me at 2 am, but securing 8 hours of sleep is more important to me. I’ve trawled the web for a milk safe, but they’re mega expensive and slightly absurd. I’ve even joked with friends about getting a camera installed to spy on the culprit, vlog-style.
What's worse is that while any blogger worth their weight in beeswax wraps (a great alternative for clingfilm, FYI) has posted everything from plastic-free beauty hacks to the best lunchbox recipes, I’m yet to come across a post on this missing milk phenomenon (but I suppose that wouldn’t be very Instagrammable).
Having discovered a Mumsnet thread (don’t ask) and several news articles, I know I’m not alone in this. So, I’m here to tell you that solutions are limited. So limited in fact that I caved and bought milk from the corner shop, please don't judge me.
With buying plastic the newest form of shame in my friendship group (and this new social media echo-chamber I’ve found myself in), I can only hope that my milk from the milkman appears, the Home Edit offers to curate my kitchen cupboards and the joy of plastic-free living returns. Until then, I’ll continue to try and remember (and often fail) to make a packed lunch.
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