In this world known for consumerism, it’s easy to overlook the small changes we can make in our daily lives that collectively have a massive impact on our environment. We don’t think that making one small change can help us as a society and help the planet. One way towards improvement is to rethink the use of plastic in water bottles. It may look like a small and insignificant adjustment, but it can lead to a very significant impact on our planet.
Single-Use Plastic
Single-use plastic bottles have become an ever-present part of our daily lives without us even realising it and it doesn’t come as a surprise that many people have pointed out the damage that they are causing not just to our planet, but also to us as human beings and animals.
Disadvantages
There are many reasons why you should stop using plastic bottles altogether. Some of them are more important than others, but let’s delve into more details and see why they are so harmful to the environment and us:
- Pollution – single-use plastic bottles contribute significantly to plastic pollution. Imagine if every person uses one bottle per day, how many plastic bottles are there on our planet right now? They are in the oceans, lakes and rivers posing a severe threat to marine life. They are in our forests and are overflowing the landfills, and depending on the material, they take up from 20 to 500 years to decompose, so all the plastic bottles we’ve used in our lifetime will stay on this planet long after we are gone.
- Microplastics – when left alone, plastic doesn’t break down, it breaks up, turning into smaller and smaller pieces until they become microplastics. These microplastics are just about everywhere now. They end up in our water, animals eat them, and they eventually reach humans. If they are dangerous and harmful to animals, we can be sure they are harmful to us humans too.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives
Since the need to replace plastic water bottles arose, there has been a rapid growth in reusable water bottles. They offer a practical and sustainable way to minimise the waste and help the planet out. There are many versions that you can choose from, whether it’s the regular water bottles or the colourful and triple-wall insulated Frank Green straw lid bottles option that’s more to your style and preference.
Benefits
Before we discuss the different types of reusable bottles and some of their features, we should mention the benefits that come when using these bottles:
- Better for your health – as mentioned before, plastic bottles carry microplastics and, therefore are harmful to your health. If you choose to use an eco-friendly option that is made from materials such as stainless steel or ceramics you won’t have to worry about microplastics.
- Cost-efficient – if you buy water even three days a week, you’re wasting your money. Getting a bottle that you can use every day and the only thing you have to do is wash it, will save you some money.
- Multi-use – another great thing about these reusable bottles is that some of them can be used for hot beverages too. They can keep your water cool in summer and your coffee or tea warm during winter, so that’s a win-win situation.
- BPA-free – BPA is a chemical that is present in hard plastics, like the ones used to make water bottles, but if you choose to buy an eco-friendly water bottle, you don’t need to worry about this chemical.
Types of Water Bottles
The type of water bottle depends on the material it’s made from, so we have stainless steel, aluminium, ceramics, silicone, and glass bottles. Each of these bottles has its own advantages and specific use thanks to the variety of features they come with. Some have push buttons where you press them open to drink, then press to close, others have screw tops that are just like any regular bottle. And then you have the fancy Frank Green straw lid which is removable and comes with a straw.
How to Pick the Right Water Bottle?
Think about what your needs are. Do you need it just for water or do you want to carry other hot beverages in it? If you want to carry hot beverages, get a bottle that can withstand the heat, and will also ensure that your drink stays warm throughout the day.
It’s also important to choose a trustworthy brand such as Frank Green that guarantees what goes into the bottles is truly eco-friendly, toxin-free and BPA-free and they offer all of the previously mentioned types of bottles. If you opt for this brand, there are many options, including of accessories like suitable Frank Green cups holders for car use.
Can I buy just the lid of a Frank Green? Yes, conveniently enough they provide you that option too, so you can buy the parts separately which is another great advantage. Lastly, be sure to think about the features you most appreciate in this purchase.
In a time when our environment is facing many challenges, we as a collective must do whatever we can to make a difference. Choosing a reusable water bottle is a small adjustment for us but a very powerful step towards a healthier life and a more sustainable future.
