Get the Feed

customize your newsletter

Choose what you receive and when you receive it!

hagl_survey
hagl_da
'
Notice: This weekend Care2 is upgrading our servers to a green platform. To enable this change, functionality is currently limited. We apologize for the inconvenience. Read the details »

Easy Greening: Water Bottles

posted by Melissa Breyer Oct 11, 2006 3:26 pm
Easy Greening: Water Bottles
  • Print

By Melissa Breyer, Producer, Care2 Green Living

It is estimated that Americans will drink more than 30 billion single-serving bottles of water this year. Since these bottles are non-returnable, two million tons worth of that everlasting plastic will end up in landfills…and roads, and beaches, and streams. Refilling used plastic water bottles offers a number of safety risks; so just how are we supposed to responsibly quench our thirst on the go?

Plastic water bottles are non-returnable and since they are generally used away from the home they rarely see the inside of a recycling bin. Most water bottles are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and have a lower recycling rate than any other common packaging materials, according to a report by the Container Recycling Institute (CRI). The quick solution many have adopted is simply refilling plastic water bottles from the tap—but alas, these bottles are not made or regulated for reuse and quite possibly don’t have the physical characteristics required to be safely reused.

Along with the possibility of bacterial contamination is the risk that PET is likely to leach some ugly little phthalates (known hormone disrupters) into your water. Harder polycarbonate (PET 7) bottles, like those used by hikers, can leach a known endocrine disruptive chemical, bisphenol-A (BPA), according to research published by the journal Current Biology.

Solution: Get yourself a nifty eco-friendly, safe, reusable water bottle. Look for one made from aluminum or stainless steel, inert materials that have 0.0 percent leaching. Fill it up with filtered water from your tap, and you’re good to go. Is it as convenient as buying a frosty plastic bottle of water when your thirst summons? No. But will it save you money, protect your health from leaching toxins, and make the planet a better place? Yes! So go ahead, quench in peace…

Sigg Swiss Engineered Water Bottles

Klean Kanteen

More on Green Home Decor (141 articles available)
More from Melissa Breyer (130 articles available)

  • Print

69 comments

add your comment »
69 Comments       add a comment »
Ron Stephen

I agree with Denise Tankha.

What about glass bottles?

Are they as safe as I think they are (which is I think they are completely safe)?

Does anyone know and, if so, please reply!

Pam O.
  • Pam O. says
  • Apr 23, 2008 5:58 PM

Brittany. "They" change their minds every day about what's safe and what isn't. I think glass and stainless steel are safe. Otherwise, you just have to do what you think is best. And trust your instincts. I have never liked water and seldom drink it. Never carry it with me. I am in good health with no major illnesses and I just had my 70th birthday. All my life I have drunk coffee, green tea, and Pepsi. Of course, when I started Pepsi came in glass bottles. Pam

Brittany Q.

I never knew that it was bad to re-use plastic bottles beacuse like many things, "the man" didnt tell me of any dangers. Also my daughter had been using the #7 baby bottles and I heard that those are the worst. How do we know really whats safe?? Maybe these bottles are partly to blame for my seizure disorder?? Does anyone know a book that will tell me what products are "green" and what are harmful for people and the environment??

Lauryn Slotnick

"Non-returnable" is misleading; you just mean that there is no bottle deposit on water bottles. They are definitely "returnable" in the sense of returning them to the recycling stream.

I do have a question about Sigg bottles; how can we be so sure that their "secret" formula liner is safe?

Racheal Limpus

Great idea!
keep spreading the word.

Thanx alot!
-Racheal

L C Tolbert

I have a metal water bottle, and I have a clear glass one that I use at work, I love them both, and have used them for a long time now. Great idea, spread the word, stop the waste.

Paul Combs

we love ours they work so well

Rob Stradmeijer

ok

Denise Tankha

What about glass bottles, like we used in the old days. are thosesafe to use. I'd love a reply.

Manuel De Seabra

O.K. I like this idea.

Please enter your comment.
1500 characters remaining

Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

3458

Gaiam_may_waterbottle_300x250
Click Here!