Go Eco-Friendly: Ditch the Water Bottles!
Water bottles might be convenient, but they’re also taking a toll on the environment. Here are some of our tips on how to be eco-friendly by ditching your water bottle habit.
Why you Should Ditch the Bottled Water
Did you know that in spite of having easy access to clean water, the United States is the world’s largest bottled water consumer? In 2008 alone, the U.S. used enough plastic water bottles to stretch around the Earth more than 190 times.
Apart from the waste of the water bottles themselves, there are other natural resources expended in producing so many bottles. According to The Water Project, it takes over 1.5 million barrels of oil to meet the demand of U.S. water bottle manufacturing. This expenditure of oil isn’t exclusive either, because producers of water bottles also have to consider the fossil fuel and emission costs of greenhouse gases needed to transport the final product to the market.
A final consideration for ditching the bottles: According to the Food and Water Watch, while the plastic used to bottle beverages is of high quality and in demand by recyclers, just over 70 percent of plastic bottles are simply thrown away. Only about 28% of bottles manufactured in the U.S. end up being recycled, the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers said. The remainder of those bottles end up in landfills, or worse, our oceans.
Alternatives to Bottled Water
Drink tap water! As stated in the Mother Nature Network article “5 Reasons to Not Drink Bottled Water,” it’s only in theory that bottled water in the United States falls under the regulatory authority of the Food and Drug Administration. In practice, about 70 percent of bottled water never crosses state lines for sale, making it exempt from FDA oversight. That means that in all actuality, your tap water is just as healthy as bottled water. Concerned about taste? Try purchasing a filter. Averaging around $30, a filter will improve the taste of your tap water.
For those who drink bottled water for the convenience factor: try instead to use a refillable bottle. Some popular options include the Nalgene and Camelbak lines. For convenience (and to be sure you always have ice cold water on hand!) try purchasing a few bottles and keeping the spares refilled and ready in your refrigerator.
As the world continues to embrace the green movement, we recommend starting small with your own household and water bottle consumption. Try to use less by embracing tap water and reusable bottles, or at the very least: remember to recycle!
Have you gone eco-friendly on the water bottle front? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you’re doing to use less plastic and create less waste!
Plastic bottles are a major problem and for green living we need to think of something better