Maybe you’ve seen them around your work, your campus, or even your gym. Maybe you’ve only started to notice them, and it’s only because of the bright, colorful designs or the flashy, individualized stickers attached to them. Maybe you’ve been wondering, what is it with those bottles? Are they something special?
The answer: Yes.
Reusable water bottles have been on the market for a long time, but have been in existence for far longer. While there weren’t as many choices in the past, we now are living in a more globally and environmentally conscious society, and reusable water bottles are arguably now a staple in many peoples’ lives.
I’ve complied the top-five reasons why you should use reusable water bottles and ditch those single use water bottles for good:
1. They are environmentally friendly
- Every year, there are 50 billion disposable plastic water bottles used by the U.S. alone, and only 1 in 5 are recycled properly. A reusable water bottle has a longer shelf life than single use bottles, and saves anywhere between 300 to 1,460 disposable bottles a year from ending up in landfills or oceans. Talk about helping to stop pollution!
2. They are cost-effective
- While reusable water bottles may be more expensive upfront (a typical price ranges between $15 – $25), the average American can go through 5$ per week on disposable water bottles. Thus, the amount of money you save over just one month is enough to cover the upfront fee, and will save you money throughout the year(s)!
3. They are versatile
- Need water? Coffee? Tea? Smoothies? Reusable water bottles wear many hats, and most are able to hold both hot and cold drinks in one useful container. Newer technology on reusable water bottles even provide insulation so your drinks stay cooler or hotter for longer. Say goodbye to dripping condensation or cold coffee!
4. They protect your health
- Using disposable water bottles on the daily is not only harmful to the environment, but it can harm your health too! According to the World Health Organization, 90% of disposable water bottles tested contained plastic fibers in the water, which can cause a variety of health problems. Reusable water bottles can help you stay hydrated while keeping your stomach plastic-fiber free!
They are customizable
- Perhaps the coolest part of reusable water bottles is that they can be made to fit your style. Have you visited a cool brewery or national park lately or just have a ton of stickers lying around? Putting them on your water bottle is a great way to create your eco-friendly aesthetic and give your bottle a boost. The stickers on water bottles and the different styles of the bottles have always been great conversation starters.
Image: Two examples of my own reusable water bottles, customized to my own style! The one on the left is a Hydroflask brand ($39.95) and the one on the right is a Nalgene brand ($11.54).
There are many other benefits to using reusable water bottles. If you have any questions or want to share other ideas, let me know in the comments!
-Katie
Links to sources:
https://treetribe.com/blogs/tree-tribe-vibe/4-great-reasons-to-use-a-reusable-water-bottle
https://www.dailyinfographic.com/10-reasons-to-use-a-reusable-water-bottle