A fixture from the past is making a comeback on UK streets due to the rising concern about single-use plastics. The famous British Milkman delivering milk in glass bottles from a milk float is back. It had been a dying breed but things are looking up for the profession.  

In 1980 nearly 90 percent of UK households had milk delivered by a milkman. Two years ago that figure stood at three percent, but increased concern about plastic pollution in the world’s oceans has prompted many UK households to make a change. 

Moreton Dairy of London has seen business grown 20 percent in the last six months. It employs 12 milkmen to cover north, east and west London but is about to take on one more with a new route in the south of the city.

Director Mark Hendy told CGTN he believes the dramatic increase in business is due to concerns about plastics.

“It’s because of the TV coverage which has done us a really good favor”, he told CGTN, adding, “It used to be like this years and years ago, my dad used to be a milkman, it was mainly most of the houses in the street, but obviously the supermarkets and the plastics usage grew, but now it seems to be swaying back to us so hopefully it can continue.” 

CGTN caught up with Mark as he was learning the route so regular milkman Gary Broderick can take a holiday. Gary, who has been a milkman for one year, hurtles through the streets of north London in the electric milk float, beginning deliveries at around 3:00 a.m., with the aim of having milk on all customers' doorsteps by 7:00 a.m. 

Gary says his round is now at full capacity after a recent upsurge in new orders, with most customers wanting their milk in glass bottles. 

He told CGTN the popularity of the glass bottle may be nostalgia for some, “particularly the older people, more senior people, definitely, but the new couples are coming on board now because they’re more organic and their children are more aware. So there’s definitely been an increase in bottles, massively.”

The industry body Dairy UK says it does not have sales figures for the past year but is hearing from many dairies that business is booming. Milk and More is the UK’s largest milk delivery service and says it has gained 30,000 new customers since the beginning of the year, compared to 10,000 in the same period the year before. Of those new customers, the company told CGTN, 90 percent are choosing milk in glass bottles.

Back on the milk round in north London, Gary tells CGTN he works through the night Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. He left a job in IT a year ago to become a milkman and says it’s the best job in the world in the summer, but a bit tougher in the winter. 

But does he mind working through the night?

“I don’t mind it at all, especially like now, you finish 7, 7:30 in the morning and then you’ve got the rest of the day. You can go and play golf.”