Let T be a monotone conservative scalar update on a periodic grid. Since T(U∨V)≥TU,TV, one has (TU−TV)+≤T(U∨V)−TV. Conservation makes the sum of the right side equal to ∑(U−V)+. Reverse U,V and add to obtain ∥TU−TV∥1≤∥U−V∥1. On an infinite grid the same proof holds for summable differences with a Lipschitz flux on the state range.