A million bottles a minute (and other reasons to ditch plastic bottles)
A million plastic bottles are bought worldwide every minute. I guess many people think that the majority of these bottles are being recycled, since they are made of PET, which is a highly recyclable type of plastic). But truth is, seven out of ten are not being recycled and are incinerated or end up in landfills and oceans. Plastic bottles are so convenient for many that it is estimated that over half a trillion plastic bottles will be sold in 2020. If the environmental impact alone isn’t enough reason for you to switch to a reusable bottle, there are many other reasons to do so quickly.
Health risks
Plastic bottles contain several chemicals that may leach into your drink. For example, plastic bottles with code “7” contain Bisphenol A, or BPA, a chemical that is linked to a number of potential complications for pregnant women and the fetus. It can lead to chromosomal errors in the developing fetus, causing spontaneous miscarriages and genetic damage. BPA is used in the production of a hard and transparent form of polycarbonate plastic used to create food and drink containers and other consumer goods. It is also used to line the inside of cans, and for the production of plastic tableware and cutlery, popular for babies and toddlers. Three billion kilograms of BPA is produced annually and because it is used in so many products, our exposure to BPA is such that over 90 % of us excrete BPA metabolites in our urine at any given time. BPA is not listed on food or drink labels so millions of people have no way of knowing their daily exposure. BPA leaches from the packaging and into the products, especially when they are scratched or heated during cooking and in the dishwasher (or when it is heated by sunlight). Not something you want your kids, or you, to ingest. The danger in BPA lies in its ability to mimic the hormone oestrogen and to bind to the oestrogen receptors in a cell. As such, studies have found that it can affect the development of mammary glands and it has been linked to breast cancer and prostate cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Although the European Food Safety Authority has conducted an assessment in which they acknowledge that uncertainties around the potential health effect of BPA on the mammary gland, reproductive, metabolic, neurobehavioural and immune systems, they concluded that BPA poses "no risk" to human health. A conclusion conflicting with the outcomes of many scientific researches that show that even a low daily dose can have adverse effects.
Another type of chemical that is very often used in plastic bottles is PET (labeled with #1) or polyethylene terephthalate which is a type of polyester. It is widely used in the clothing industry (it is wrinkle-free) and is also used for insulation (pillows, upholstery), carpet and mouldings. Many food and drink packages are also made with PET for its strong ability to create a liquid and gas barrier. PET may leach antimony trioxide that is considered a possible carcinogen. The potential for release increases with time and warm temperatures (which is why this kind of plastic should not be reused).
The environmental impact of the production of plastic
The production of plastic requires crude oil, a limited resource, and water. It actually requires a lot more water to manufacture a plastic bottle than to fill it. Add to this the cost of transporting bottled water to areas where they will be consumed and you see that you can really decrease your environmental footprint.
You can save money
Even though you have to invest some money in a reusable bottle or a filter system, in the long run you will be saving money if you fill your own bottle versus buying bottled water.
Reusable bottles
Now that you are convinced to go reusable, here are some of my favorites, that I use for myself and for my kids. Some are made of stainless steel and some of glass. The pro of stainless steel is that it keeps your water cool and they are not so heavy as glass. The pro of glass for me is that the taste is more pure.
The bottles from Klean Kanteen (1.) are one of my favorites. They sell stainless steel bottles in different sizes with different lids. The interior is electropolished (safe and non-toxic) and the caps are made from polypropylene (pp#5, no BPA or toxins), silicone or bamboo and stainless steel. The bottles can be washed in the dishwasher but it is better to clean them by hand (the paint on the bottle will fade away in the dishwasher). Other products they sell are sippy cups and baby bottles.
Also check out the bottles from S´well (2.), sleek, stainless steel bottles with beautiful designs. S´well works together with UNICEF and many other charities. Other brands I like are Simple Modern (3.)(bottles, tumblers and food containers), Frank Green (4.) (cups and bottles) and 24Bottles (5.)(customizable bottles).
Lifefactory (7.)makes glass bottles with a silicone sleeve for durability and superior grip and a polypropylene cap. And they are dishwasher safe. Lifefactory also sells baby bottles and sippy cups.
I also love the ones from Mybkr(8.). These beauties are made from glass and have a silicone sleeve and a cap made of BPA-free, phthalate-free plastic with silicone seal. They are a real eye catcher and they are dishwasher safe.
But what if you are traveling and there is no clean water available. You will need a filter. There is the LARQ (6.) bottle. They are quite expensive but they neutralize up to 99.9999% of harmful, odor-causing bacteria using UV-C light so you always have clean water at your hands. I am not sure though if it works on really dirty water and another downside is that it uses a battery, so if you don’t want the environmental impact of that, you can opt to use the bottles by Lifestraw, Lifestraw Go. These protect against bacteria, parasites and microplastics, chlorine and organic chemical matter such as pesticides, herbicides and improves water taste. Another option are Katadyn Pocket Water filters, which use a ceramic depth filter that removes bacteria, protozoa and other disease-causing agents, or the SteriPen, which is smaller and thus easier to carry around.
sidenote: Silicone
I noticed that these bottles have silicone elements and was wondering myself if it is a safe component, so I looked it up and it is not toxic to aquatic or soil organisms. It is not biodegradable, but it is quite durable and can be recycled after a lifetime of use (The Soft Landing).
Recently, I have discovered there are ceramic travel mugs, like the ones at Live Vessel. Beautifully designed, handmade of ceramic with a wooden lid, they instantly purify your water. I haven´t tried them yet, but if anyone has, please share!
