Ditching Bottled Water For A Greener Alternative
We've all seen the VSCO girls with their glass straws and aluminum water bottles, but what if this fashion trend is actually an eco-friendly alternative to single use plastic?
Single use bottled water is convenient when you're on the go. In 2019, Americans consumed more than 13 billion gallons of bottled water. However, bottled water is rarely any different than tap water. Plus, many of these beverage containers are not recycled. Even with industrial and government campaigns urging citizens to recycle, only 10% of plastic is actually recycled. Why is this?
Plastic is NOT a renewable resource. Producing new plastic products using oil and petroleum is more cost effective for companies than recycling used materials. Plastic also degrades over time. For example, many plastic bottles can be recycled into fabrics and carpeting. But once it has been turned into these new products, it has degraded to a point that it cannot be recycled again. So, what you're left with is yet another product that goes to a landfill.
Can We Reuse Single-Use Water Bottles?
Yes, but there may be health risks. These products are not designed to reused by the consumer. Plastic bottles like those used to bottle filtered water are generally composed of various substances and chemicals such as Bisphenol-A (BPA). According to Beth Terry’s “Plastic Free: How I Kicked The Plastic Habit and You Can, Too”, plastic bottles can break down due to use and exposure to heat. Once the materials begin to break down, BPA can be released into the liquids and then ingested. The risks associated with consuming products contaminated with BPA include but are not limited to reproductive issues, developmental delays in children, cancer and neurological issues (Baker, Michael and Chandsawangbhuwana, Charlie)
What Are Microplastics?
Most of us already know plastic waste is not biodegradable. Nor is it compostable. The reality is plastic, once it has degraded beyond the point of recyclability, is only broken in smaller bits. We are often not aware of this phenomenon, because plastic can break down into microscopic pieces invisible to the naked eye. Our over-reliance on plastic has resulted in us literally living in it. Microplastics have been found in soil samples, in our oceans, littering our beaches and even in our food.
Dismantling the Difficulties of Going Green:
There are a quite a few arguments against putting the responsibilty of creating a cleaner, greener future on people who are just trying to get by. After all, the harm corporations that produce plastic products cause outweighs that of the average person.
Indeed, these companies are creating more waste than a single person can create in a single lifetime. This is a just and accurate argument. Governments also hold responsibility for environmental protection. Some actions that have been taken in previous years include: incentives to companies to reduce waste, banning plastic bags and straws, and creating jobs in renewable energy sectors.
However, it's difficult to take personal responsibility for our impact on the environment. I always say, that guilt and shame has never helped anyone. There's no use lamenting your past lifestyles and berating yourself for every time you use single-use plastic. It's all about making changes in small ways and working your way up to an entire lifestyle change.
The best alternative to bottled water are the reusable containers you already own. I don't encourage people to buy new, but please recycle something already in your closet. Old water bottles and thermoses that you rarely use can be placed in your car, school bag or at your desk to remind you to refill rather than purchase bottled water.
What Should I Avoid?
While the VSCO girls may be flaunting their aluminum flasks and straws, aluminum bottles can have some drawbacks. Oftentimes, these come with resin inner coatings. These inner linings can leach toxins and plastic like chemicals into your drink. Be sure to check if your aluminum products have inner coatings that appear orange in the light. This is a sign that the inner lining is unsafe. Stainless steel flasks and water bottles are a much better alternative to aluminum.
While reusable plastic water bottles are common, it's best to avoid these as well. (Unless, you have a plastic bottle on hand and choose to reuse what you have, then go for it!) Be aware, that these are generally made with the same materials of single-use bottles. These plastics will degrade over time and cause BPA and other chemicals to gradually mix with your drink as the plastic ages.
What are Some Alternatives to Purchasing Single-use Bottled Water?
- Use the water fountains in your school or workplace rather than purchasing bottled water.
- Use water containers you already have: thermoses, mason jars, used water bottles.
- Stainless steel water bottles and straws: these can be used to transport hot or cold liquids. Stainless steel materials are readily recycled and can last many years.
- Glass water bottles: glass can be recycled and is long lasting. It’s also much more aesthetically pleasing than a plain plastic bottle and straw.
- Glass and stainless straws are beautiful pieces when well cared for. They are also much more eco-friendly than their plastic alternatives which are not easily recycled.
Cons of Switching to Stainless Steel or Glass:
- Glass and steel containers may retain the heat from your beverages. Nobody likes cold coffee, but be sure to use fabric or a beverage holder before handling.
- Stainless steel bottles and straws must be hand in washed. These are not dishwasher safe and can be prone to rust.
- Reusable straws can be difficult to clean. Luckily most glass or steel straws come with cleaners upon purchase.
Some suggestions for reusable straws:
Stainless Steel and Glass Water Bottles:
Floral Glass Water Bottle (Help support shelter animals)
Hopefully this article has inspired you to make greener lifestyle choices!
works cited:
https://apnews.com/article/c1b6f8666138441d9af6054d8c096086
Terry, Beth. Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and You Can Too. Skyhorse, 2015.
Baker, Michael E., and Charlie Chandsawangbhuwana. “3D Models of MBP, a Biologically Active Metabolite of Bisphenol A, in Human Estrogen Receptor α and Estrogen Receptor β.” PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, 10 Oct. 2012, journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0046078.