Can Plastic Water Bottles Be Eco Friendly?

It seems like every time you turn your head, plastic water bottles are getting a bad rap. They have alot of things going for them: they are light, convenient and sanitary.  But are plastic water bottles eco friendly?  The short answer is “no.”  If you would like a more detailed explanation, read on. 

First, anything that is not reusable ends up in a landfill.  You might put the bottle in a recycling bin, but more than 70% of the US population does not. 

Creating the plastics uses natural resources.  Natural gas and water are used to create the bottle.  Gasoline and oil are used to transport it.  If you imagine half of that bottle being filled with crude oil, then you have an idea of how much of our non-renewable resources are used to create each bottle.  

Freshwater is necessary to create fill and transport the bottle.  For each one that you drink, you may as well be poring two more on the ground.  Our freshwater supplies are limited.  Saltwater intrusion is already becoming a problem in coastal areas. 

So, now what do you think?  Are plastic water bottles eco friendly? 

You might be thinking about the reusable ones that you can use for hiking or day trips.  You can fill them from your tap, save some money and save the planet’s resources.  Right? 

Although new regulations are changing the material that those canteens and jugs are made of, they still leach contaminants into any fluids stored in them.  If you put them in a dishwasher or microwave, the plastics are broken down further and more contaminants will seep out. 

After a while, you will start to notice that the smell and taste are not so pleasant.  What you may not notice is the damage that the chemicals used to create the plastics are doing to your internal organs. 

So, are plastic water bottles eco friendly?  Are they safe to drink from?  They are not an environmentally friendly choice, nor are they the safest option for drinking. 

The best choice is to buy a home purifier.  You’ll save money.  You’ll remove the contaminants that treatment facilities cannot.  You can buy reusable glass containers and shoulder bags to carry them in.  What you bottle at home will taste far better than anything that you can buy in a store and it will be better for your health. 

If you are still wondering are plastic water bottles eco friendly, then I have failed to make my case.  As someone that cares about the environment and future generations, I hope you will at least consider using less plastic.