It might seem that when it comes to water bottles there isn’t much to decide except, if anything, between designs and sizes. But even if they’re reusable, many bottles may not be as eco-friendly as they appear.. To find out, you not only have to think of the bottle as a product that will prevent us from becoming dependent on bottled water, but also see it as a manufactured product whose production can have more or less impact on the planet.
That’s why it’s very important know the materials they are made ofto find out which of the reusable water bottles on the market are the truly greener option.
For this we must know what is the life cycle of the materials of each reusable water bottle, and the environmental impact that each one has. In 2011, the Green Lifestyle portal He did a comparative research between the three most common materials for making water bottles, and this was the result.
Reusable water bottles: steel, aluminum, plastic or…?
Both the aluminum and steel bottles turned out to have great impacts during their manufacture, because although they are 100% recyclable, a large volume of energy is used to process the product. In fact, the metals industry, including steel and aluminum, is one of the most polluting: that’s why countries like China are reducing their production of these. Also, many of these bottles have inner linings that can eventually flake off and can be inadvertently swallowed.
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On the other hand, plastic water bottles turned out be the ones that generate the least impact, both for its materials and their density and for the production process in general. This is good news, since plastic water bottles are the ones we find the most on the market and the ones that most easily adapt to our way of life, due to their weight and versatility.
The bad thing is that they are less resistant, and that some of these bottles might not be good for the health of human beings: it has been proven that plastic generates small particles that in the long run can intoxicate us and that are present in disposable plastic bottles, but also in reusable ones.
so actually the best and most durable option is glass bottles, since they do not alter the chemical composition of the products or release any type of particles; They also do not transmit flavor and serve much better to preserve the freshness of the water. In addition, glass is 100% recyclable.
Some glass bottles on the market have attachments made of other materials; for example, lids or silicone covers. But they are also recyclable: you just have to separate them when you go to dispose of your bottle. Just make sure that all additional materials to your glass bottle are recyclable.
Of course, reusable water bottles are not eco-friendly if we don’t give them a very long shelf life. That is why the most important thing is that you try to keep your bottle for a long time, keeping it clean (buying one that is easy to clean) and being careful not to lose it.
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