Combat Plastic Pollution with…Milk?
Long-time readers of this blog will know that I started Seven In the Ocean a decade ago while in university. At the time, the blog was my attempt at holding myself accountable while I wrote my capstone research paper on plastics recycling as a solution to the growing issue of plastic pollution in the ocean. And of course, the only reason I was studying plastic pollution in the first place was because I had previously participated in a research expedition sailing across the Pacific, during a summer semester program.
The sails aboard the Robert C. Seamans 
Sunset over the Pacific
The Plastic Pollution Journey Continues
Following that series of events, I continued with the blog, ranting about plastic and sharing what I saw as solutions to the growing problem. Then, I went to Midway in 2012 and my entire life flipped inside out and upside down. Midway was where things got personal.
Life Before Midway, Life After Midway
Whereas before, on my sailing expedition, we had picked up plastic along our cruise track and seen its impacts in the bellies of fish, on Midway we were living amidst the chaos of plastics’ impact on Laysan Albatross and witnessing it every day. Endless streams of bottle caps, cigarette lighters, random bits of plastic…every. Single. Day. It was exhausting. Beautiful, tragic, and exhausting.
After Midway, I was left with many memories (both positive and sad) and a lot of plastic. I came home with 16 pounds of the stuff! All physical reminders of my time there and what I was working to fix.
Years after Midway, I ended up in BC, Canada, with a partner who has the same passion for plastic pollution – and also carries around a lot of plastic. It turns out he too journeyed to Midway (as a filmmaker) and what he saw fundamentally changed how he viewed the world. Together, we’ve used that plastic as a way to connect with people on the issue.
Connecting the Plastic Dots
When a newfound friend and entrepreneur asked me recently if I could contribute to her Instagram stories to share my journey towards low-waste then, it only made sense to share this story – and share the plastic. I’m not perfect and it hasn’t always been easy, but because of my sailing experience, Midway, and being with someone who is also passionate about the issue, I’m able to keep up with it.
One solution that has worked really well for me and allows me to feel like I’m having an impact and doing something to progress the ideals of sustainability, is buying out of the traditional milk/nut milk market and making my own non-dairy nut milk. I know, it seems so small and so specific but hear me out.
Combatting Plastic Pollution with…Nut Milk
I wrote about this last year in my post 5 Reasons To Make Nut Milk Right Now – and all the reasons still stand. For the purposes of this post, I’d like to focus on reason #1 (You are choosing to remove yourself from a vicious, non-renewable, resource-driven packaging cycle) and expand upon it.
Besides forgoing the excessive plastic packaging that comes with purchasing regular cow’s milk or nut milk (either in a HDPE plastic bottle or a multi-layered TetraPak container), DIY nut milk allows you, the maker, to source ingredients that are better for you and the planet. Going back to my entrepreneur friend – Allisha – she’s the owner and founder of Chickpeace Zero Waste, Kelowna’s newest refillery shop. Making my own nut milk means that instead of going to a big-box retailer for my milk, or even the ingredients, I can support her small, local business. It’s personal. I get to ask her where she sources her nut milk bags, almonds, and cinnamon. I can get personal and I love that. Going plastic-free brings people closer together!
Plastic-Free Milk, Full Circle
And beyond the milk itself – once it’s made, it truly has a circular lifestyle. After making my most recent batch of almond milk, I was left with a hefty portion of almond pulp. Rather than composting it, I dried it out, looked up a recipe, and made delicious, simple cookies. Every last scrap of the almond was used, the milk was albatross-approved (i.e., no plastic bottle caps!), and I was able to refuse, reduce, and reuse.
Did I mention the cookies were delicious?
Plastic-Free Milk & Cookies – Recipes!
I can’t claim to be the creator of the recipes but would love to share them with you, for your own zero-waste DIY nut milk experiments.
Milk recipe courtesy of Oh She Glows:
Coconut Chocolate Almond Meal Cookies courtesy of Minimalist Baker:
How to make almond meal courtesy of Minimalist Baker:
Share Your Milk Story!
Next time you reach for your favourite milk (dairy or non, I’m not discerning!) consider what it’s packaged in and whether or not you can source something better. Is there a glass bottle option in your area? What about a DIY project? Does your city/town have a refillery where you can source your ingredients?
If you’ve made alt milks or found a plastic-free product in your area, I’d love to hear about it – let me know in the comments!
