Plastic Bottled Water vs Reusable Water Bottles

For many years, anytime we thought of hydration the norm was to buy plastic bottled water. They were everywhere and felt easy to get from any store from any shelves. Also naturally, with the new cap system they seem extra convenient as it reduces the litter seen on the streets and eventually landfill. However, there are some things that are important to know, especially in regards to health, wallet costs and the planet.

Health

Plastic bottled water carry many risks many never consider on a daily basis. For starters, they degrade quite quickly , trap bacteria more and were not naturally designed for multiple uses. Additionally, plastic bottled water can contain an average of 240,000 plastic particles per litre; many of these particles invisible to the eye but still with high dangers once they enter the body.

One important fact is when exposed to heat, plastics can undergo leaching; where they release BPA and other chemicals. On the environment leached chemicals can contaminate soil, water sources which eventually find their way into the food chain, affecting wildlife and the ecosystem at large. On health, it can be linked to various health concerns by affecting hormone functions and affecting reproductive health, development and various other bodily processes.

BPA free water bottles ensure that whilst hydrating, there’s safety from leaching and degradation because they’re made to last for a long time. And with them being easily to clean, that also prevents bacteria trapping which equally ensures your health stays top notch.

Wallet Costs

It would be wrong to say plastic water bottles aren’t initially cheaper than reusable water bottles. Are they cheaper at purchase? Dramatically so.

The average UK adult spends £200 to £300 a year on bottled water. That means if each plastic bottle of water costs £1, the average UK adult purchases 2oo to 300 bottles a year. When you then factor summer time with higher heat levels, this increases drastically. Additionally, all bottled water prices aren’t the same as some charge higher than £1. Add in spots with high human traffic such as train stations, bus stations and airports, the prices rise by 125% at times. That’s money that could be used on so many other things.

A reusable water bottle pays for itself within weeks and continues saving money year after year. Plus, having a reusable water bottle serves as a daily reminder for water intake so it’s never deemed last moment. And with a bottle that lasts 10 years like ours, you’re not just protecting your health, you’re massively protecting your budget. In many ways, you could see it as saving anywhere between £300 every year to get that sofa you like or even call it your insurance fund.

Planet

The legacy of plastic lasts far longer than the few minutes or moments we use it. It takes the average plastic bottle up to 450 years to decompose. Which means in this timeframe, that’s 450 years of microplastic polluting the ecosystem longer than any of us will be alive (unless you were immortal then in which case fair enough).

The life cycle of a plastic bottle usually involves sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, use of the bottle and eventually the end of life disposal. With all these processes, due to the perceived demand, the entire life cycle harms the environment with the continuous production and lack of proper disposal where with every million bottles roughly, you have a high portion not disposed properly.

Using reusable water bottles can replace loads of plastic bottles every year and so much more over the span of a decade. That reflects the true nature of what a circular economy stands for; one simple switch generating hundreds of years of impact.

Bottom lines to consider

• Using a Circular&Co reusable water bottle every day, the break-even point in terms of cost is very quickly reached within a few weeks
• Our reusable water bottles are made of stainless steel which reduce exposure to microplastics & leached chemicals significantly
• More features to brag about with insulation, leak resistance and durability

So make the money efficient, healthier and impactful switch today.