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View all search resultsTote-and-tumbler trap: A new cycle of “green” overconsumption
Items once promoted to reduce waste are now collected, displayed and replaced at a pace that mirrors the very overconsumption they were meant to counter.
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Illustration of reusable bags and bottles once championed as tools to cut plastic waste. (Shutterstock/File)
O
n any given weekday, Jakarta’s commuter trains echo with familiar reminders to safeguard wallets, phones and other valuables. But recent videos circulating on social media show that one more item has now joined the list: a tumbler.
The topic resurfaced after a viral incident involving a couple’s complaint about their lost tumbler on a train, which unexpectedly sparked a nationwide conversation. What followed on TikTok was less about the incident itself and more about how society perceives tumblers today.
The refrain “just buy a new one” appeared repeatedly, highlighting a paradox at the heart of modern eco-friendly consumption. Hundreds of users responded by “flexing” their collections, color-coded rows of Corkcicles and Owalas, limited-edition Stanley cups and other premium branded bottles.
Experts noted that items once promoted to reduce waste are now collected, displayed and replaced at a pace that mirrors the very overconsumption they were meant to counter.
Amadea Nurhayyu, a Gen-Z office worker, admitted that she owns around 10 Starbucks tumblers “for display”, while relying on her Corkcicle and Frank Green bottles for daily use. Their compact design, colors and one-liter capacity help her avoid single-use bottles.
Millennial journalist Andira said she also collects Starbucks tumblers from different cities and countries “because each place has its own unique design”, but for everyday use she now prefers Stanley and Corkcicle.
Universitas Indonesia communication and digital marketing lecturer Harwindra Yoga traced the country’s tumbler culture back to the early 2000s, long before today’s premium brands emerged.
