Don’t Coddle the Plastic Bottle

I get it. Completely cutting the use of plastic out of your life can be a difficult, even unrealistic task. However, swapping a few things here and there, if done by large amounts of people, can have a large impact, especially when it comes to plastic pollution in the ocean. More specifically, plastic bottle pollution. There are many low-effort ways to replace plastic bottles in your life.

What’s the Big Deal?

It might seem like no big deal to use plastic bottles every now and then, but when everyone has that same attitude, it becomes a big problem. Recycling can be helpful, but what happens when there is no recycling bin nearby? Odds are it ends up in a trash can, or on the ground.

According to the Container Recycling Institute, 86% of disposable water bottles used in the United States become garbage or litter, and a lot of that ends up in the ocean. This shows that the average person can’t be trusted to recycle their plastic bottles.

The United States in particular is bad when it comes to plastic bottle usage, as it has become an essential item in the lives of many. Believe it or not, around 1500 plastic water bottles are being used every second in the United States alone, making the US the biggest bottled water market in the world.

So what? Can’t the fish just swim around these plastic bottles? Well, it unfortunately isn’t that simple. According to Office H2O, disposable water bottle waste washes into the ocean and kills 1.1 million marine creatures each year. That’s a lot of innocent fish dying, and the blood is on our hands.

Alternatives

There are many great alternatives to replace disposable plastic bottles. If you’re not on board yet, just know that making these swaps can save you lots of money in the long run, and you’re doing a good deed. You can save money and save fish at the same time!

One alternative is a Hydro Flask. These stainless steel water bottles are built to last a lifetime, and they are very affordable. It will also keep your drink cold for longer than plastic will. If that’s not enough, they make drinking water fun by having customizable water bottles. You can check that out here.

If you are still attached to the idea of disposable bottles, there are eco-friendly options for you too. Boxed Water is a company that uses plant-based cartons to package their water. These bottles are 100% biodegradable and recyclable so that no matter where it ends up, it is not harming the environment like plastic does. While this option might be more expensive than a Hydro Flask, they have that convenience factor if you don’t want to be lugging around a metal bottle all day.

Whether you want a reusable bottle or a disposable one, there is an eco-friendly option for you. If the Hydro Flask or Boxed Water are not up your alley, there are still many other options to explore. Check out this article to find one that best suits your needs, but remember, anything is better than plastic.

Edited by Lauren.