gogreen.motivators.comHello all!
Water bottles are a hot topic of conversation these days. Some people are switching to reusable water bottles to help save the planet; others are switching on principle that water should not be commodified, as it is a basic human right. The University of Winnipeg recently implemented a ban on the sale of disposable water bottles on campus.
However, when making the switch to a reusable water bottle, how do you know what kind you should buy?
My advertising team set out to find out more information about disposable and reusable water bottles in order to inform you, the public, about which bottle will serve you the best for the best price.
We studied four kinds of bottles: disposable, reusable plastic (polycarbonate) bottles, stainless steel and aluminum. We compared them based on their health and safety concerns, environmental impact, and price.
Our methodology consisted of both primary and secondary research. Our primary research included a survey to test college students' knowledge on water bottles, a discussion with Lisa Meisner at World of Water regarding water bottle safety and sales, and a phone call to Winnipeg's recycling information line regarding the recycling of bottles. Our secondary research consisted mainly of Internet research about health and environmental concerns, as well as a comparison of prices.
So here are some of the highlights of our findings:
Environmental ImpactsSomewhat obviously, disposable plastic water bottles are the least environmentally friendly way to go. But let's look at some of the facts.
According to back2tap.com,
- Only 23% of disposable water bottles are recycled in the US
- It takes up to 700 years for disposable water bottles to decompose in landfills
- It takes three bottles of water to manufacture one plastic bottle
- The amount of oil used in the production of plastic bottles per year is enough to fuel 1,000,000 cars for a year
A combination of production, shipping and lack of recycling, even though disposable water bottles are the easiest plastic to recycle (#1), add up to a huge toll on the environment.
Reusable water bottles are a much better alternative.
Stainless steel and aluminum are both 100% recyclable. Another benefit to these materials is that they can be created from 100% recycled content. If we recycle enough stainless steel and aluminum to never have to produce them from scratch again, they will be an extremely environmentally friendly alternative.
Reusable plastic water bottles are a little bit trickier. While they are often 100% recyclable, they are made out of #7 plastic, which is the most difficult kind of plastic to recycle. Some smaller recycling depots do not accept #7 plastics. Winnipeg's recycling program does, however.
Therefore, environmentally speaking, I would recommend any of the three reusable alternatives. They are much more sustainable products than disposable water bottles.
Health and Safety IssuesDisposable water bottles are only supposed to be used once. When they are reused, there are some safety issues to be concerned about. Extended use and washing can cause the plastic to break down and leech a cancer-causing chemical called diethylhydroxylamine into the water.
Most of the health concerns regarding reusable water bottles surround the chemical bisphenol A (or BPA, as it's more commonly known). The chemical was banned in baby bottles in Canada in 2008 because not much was known about its affect on humans.
According to a cbc.ca report, in mice, exposure to low doses of BPA increases the growth of breast and ovarian cancer cells in females and prostate cancer cells in males. BPA mimics estrogen, and is therefore of concern to pregnant women, infants and fetuses.
However, Health Canada recently released a report saying that the average adult would have to consume 1,000 litres of water from a plastic reusable bottle for the BPA to be of significant harm.
Nevertheless, if BPA is of concern to you, plastic reusable bottles are not your best option. Nalgene, however, has recently released a line of BPA-free bottles.
Stainless steel water bottles are BPA free, and have no negative health effects if they are kept clean.
Aluminum water bottles have recently been under scrutiny for the use of BPA in their liners. However, many brands, including SIGG, have released BPA-free liners.
To sum it up, if BPA is of concern to you, go with stainless steel or aluminum - just check to see that the liner is BPA free.
Price ComparisonDisposable plastic bottles are not an economical choice. A 24-pack of 500 ml Aquafina bottles can be purchased for $9.99. Based on this price, if you consume one bottle a day for about two-and-a-half months, you would have already spent as much money as it costs to buy a reusable SIGG bottle.
Reusable plastic bottles, such as Nalgene bottles are a cheap reusable alternative. Nalgene-outdoor.com sells 16 ounce bottles for up to $9.50 and 32 ounce bottles for up to $11.50.
The stainless steel brand Kleen Kanteen are more expensive, with an 18 ounce bottle selling for $16.45, a 27 ounce bottle for $17.95, and a massive 40 ounce bottle for $25.95.
Similarly, the aluminum brand SIGG is a more expensive option as well. 20 ounce bottles are priced at $21.99 and the 33 ounce bottles are $24.99.
With SIGG bottles in particular, the consumer is paying for a brand. SIGG is quickly becoming an accessory, not just a water bottle, so keep in mind that you are paying for that.
In Conclusion1. BPA seems to have a bad reputation. There are only trace amounts present in some water bottles, and we have determined that it should not be of particular concern when choosing a reusable water bottle.
2. Environmentally speaking, in most regions, aluminum, stainless steel and plastic reusable bottles are all recyclable. They are all much more environmentally friendly alternatives to disposable bottles.
3. There are a variety of reusable bottles, all in different price ranges. While more expensive ones, such as SIGG and Klean Kanteen, are often overpriced simply because of good branding and advertising, a better quality bottle may last longer, if one does not intend on replacing it every year or two.
My team would therefore recommend that consumers do not worry about health issues or environmental concerns when choosing a reusable bottle, but rather choose a bottle based on what they are willing to pay and how important quality and branding are to them.
