I guess I thought that using a reusable bottle was as common as recycling at this point, but as I watched dozens of people roll out of Target with discounted cases of bottled water this past weekend, I discovered that perhaps the message has clearly not reached everyone.
Did you know that approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil are used annually to produce plastic water bottles in the U.S. alone—enough to fuel about 100,000 cars for a year. What an incredible waste of resources and a foolish threat to national security—all for a single-use bottle!
Like all plastic, these bottles will be with us forever since plastic does not biodegrade. Rather, it breaks down into smaller and smaller toxic bits that contaminate our soil and waterways and ultimately end up in the ever-growing Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Anything we can do to phase out their usage quickly would be good thing.
Along with plastic bags, plastic bottles are one of the most prevalent sources of pollution found on our beaches. Each year, over 500 billion disposable bottles and cups end up littering our soil, rivers, lakes and oceans, killing countless fish and animals.
There is also overwhelming evidence of adverse health effects tied to Bisphenol A, or BPA, a widely-used chemical in the manufacturing of food and beverage containers, including baby bottles, water bottles and aluminum cans. A reusable bottle is the only way to hydrate on the go while protecting yourself and the environment from this dangerous chemical. While nearly all major brands are free of the toxin now, make sure any bottle you buy is marked “BPA-free.”
There are many types of reusable bottles to choose from, and many different designs and colors to suit anyone’s taste. The most eco-friendly ones are made from stainless steel or aluminum. Some are thermal, allowing you to keep hot beverages hot and cold ones cold.
Choose one you like, and carry it with you so you always have it on hand at home, work, the gym, or on the town!
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