When you think of an environmentally friendly drinking bottle, do you think of stainless steel, such as the now so popular Stanley cups? Think again! A recent study shows that reusable plastic bottles are actually much more environmentally friendly. What’s up with that?
Research shows: plastic beats stainless steel
Six European consumer organizations, including the Consumers Association, conducted research together into drinking bottles made of different materials. Such as aluminum, stainless steel, silicone, glass and various types of hard and soft plastics. The complete cycle was examined: from production, transport and use to disposal and recycling.
And guess what? Bottles made of polyethylene and the harder polypropylene, which you may know from the popular Dopper bottles, have the least environmental impact. Polyethylene is a type of plastic that is strong and flexible, and it is also 100% recyclable.
Stainless steel bottles have a sustainable image, but is that true?
And those stainless steel bottles? These appear to be by far the worst for the environment, according to the Consumers’ Association. ‘To equalize the environmental impact of a stainless steel bottle with that of a PE bottle, consumers must use it for more than 36 years. For a double-walled stainless steel bottle, to keep water cool or warm, that is even longer than 70 years.’ Well, your Stanley bottle probably won’t last that long…
A surprising outcome, according to the director of the Consumers’ Association. ‘Stainless steel bottles have a sustainable image because they appear indestructible and last for years. But unfortunately, so many toxic substances are released during the production of steel that the final result is disappointing.’
How do you choose an environmentally friendly drinking bottle?
So: what to buy? When choosing an eco-friendly drinking bottle, the most important thing is to pay attention to reusability and durability. It is better to invest once in a quality item that will last a long time. And you would rather opt for reusable plastic materials, such as polyethylene and polypropylene.
It is best to avoid single-use plastic anyway. Apart from being bad for the planet, these single-use PET bottles would not be a smart choice for your own body. Research shows that you can ingest countless pieces of nanoplastic when drinking from such a bottle.
2024-01-19 07:04:52
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