Remember the Milkman?
There was a time when nobody thought twice about glass bottles on the doorstep. The milkman came, left your pints, took the empties away and that was that. No plastic, no waste, no fuss. Somewhere along the way we swapped all of that for plastic bottles in a supermarket fridge and we’ve been throwing them away ever since. It turns out that one of the best things we can do for the environment in 2026 is simply go back to the way things used to be.
The problem with plastic milk bottles
There was a time when nobody thought twice about glass bottles on the doorstep. The milkman came, left your pints, took the empties away and that was that. No plastic, no waste, no fuss. Somewhere along the way we swapped all of that for plastic bottles in a supermarket fridge and we’ve been throwing them away ever since. It turns out that one of the best things we can do for the environment in 2026 is simply go back to the way things used to be.
Is it more expensive?
Honestly, yes, a little. Doorstep delivery typically costs slightly more per pint than supermarket milk. But it’s worth thinking about what that small extra cost actually represents.
You’re paying for milk that has travelled a fraction of the distance of supermarket milk, often sourced from local or regional dairies rather than large scale suppliers hundreds of miles away. You’re paying for higher welfare standards, with many delivery services sourcing from smaller farms where cows are grass fed and have access to pasture. You’re paying for zero emissions delivery on an electric float that has been trundling quietly around British streets since long before anyone was talking about carbon footprints. You’re paying to keep a small local business going, often a family run operation that has served the same community for decades. And you’re paying to never bring another plastic milk bottle into your home again.
When you put it like that, the extra money starts to look like pretty good value for the impact your having.
How do I find a milkman?
Head to milk&more.co.uk or findmeamilkman.net, type in your postcode and you’ll find local delivery services near you. Many offer more than just milk too including eggs, butter, bread and other essentials, all delivered with minimal packaging.
Is it worth it?
This is totally up to you. In the current state of the world we understand that spending extra money on something isn’t totally essential isn’t possible for everyone and if that’s you don’t worry! There are plenty of free or even money saving ways to help the planet (check our other posts!) so no pressure to make this change but if you have the abilty to spend a little extra, this can be a simple, sustainable alternative to supermarket milk!
