Why You Shouldn’t Buy Plastic Water Bottles and Choose Glass Water Bottles Instead

We're just going to say it right now: plastic harms us in its entire life cycle. It's toxic to us and our planet from the moment it's manufactured up to its degradation. That's why you always hear and read many talks about ditching plastic water bottles for good.

Let's talk about the dangers of plastic water bottles and reveal why glass water bottles are a safer alternative.

First of all, plastic is made from non-renewable energy sources, such as petroleum and natural gas, that emit greenhouse gas (GHG). Producing 1 kilogram of plastic releases 6 kilograms of carbon dioxide (C02) into the air! And since Americans drink water from 50 billion plastic bottles a year, we're leaving a MASSIVE carbon footprint on the planet!

  In 2019, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the University of Santa Barbara estimated 860 million to 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, most of which are from fossil fuels used in making plastic. It's suffocating to even think about how much air pollution and climate change that causes.

  Second, plastic is not entirely recyclable. We can only reproduce plastic into a lesser-quality item that doesn't serve its original purpose (e.g., single-use plastic water bottles are downcycled into fiber instead of recycled into a new bottle) until it becomes waste.

Also, we're not very fond of recycling plastic. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. recycled only 8.7% of used plastic.

Third, even if we were a fan of recycling plastic, the idea of endlessly doing it is a fantasy. Used plastic is often thrown in landfills, incinerators, and even the ocean, making it harmful to marine life. Have you seen some footage of those poor seals and sea turtles that barely survive after ingesting plastic?

As it turns out, sea animals are not the only creatures ingesting plastic!

  A study conducted by the State University of New York revealed that bottled water contains plastic debris; LOTS OF IT! These microplastics are about 5 millimeters in size, and the researchers found them in 93% of the 259 water bottles sampled from 11 different brands. These bottles were gathered from 9 countries, including the U.S. How disgusting and alarming is that?

Also, let's not forget that we breathe in the GHG emitted during plastic manufacturing. Inhaling these emissions can cause health problems and disabilities over time.

But here's another health threat that's a bit more concerning that involves harmful chemicals in plastic water bottles: cancer!

Plastic contains polycarbonate, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. When your plastic water bottle is exposed to extreme heat, these materials leak bisphenol A (BPA), styrene, and vinyl chloride (respectively) and mix with the water inside your bottle in a process called leaching. Notice how different your water tastes when you leave it in the car in direct sunlight and then drink it afterward?