For the last five years, I haven’t drunk water out of a single-use plastic bottle.

I drag around a 3lb Thermoflask with me everywhere I go, refilling it at every opportunity. I do it because I believe that most single-use plastic is unnecessary, but also because, as an environmentalist and activist, I don’t want to be a hypocrite.

As I ordered my third coffee from the hotel this morning, I spotted the staff refilling the expresso machine with water from a single-use plastic bottle.

Out of sight, out of mind – I was reminded that even if I tried my best to live my values, I would always be complicit if I took part in a system that did not.

We are all hypocrites. The question is what we choose to do when reminded.

Do I stop ordering that coffee? Do I supply tap water for the machine? Or do I try to change the system by having a chat with the manager?