The adoption of plastics over the past decades has brought about serious ecological issues damaging our environment and also doing harm to our physical health. Some non-biodegradable plastics, after being buried in landfills, continues to poison the soil by releasing detrimental elements, which flows into the food chain and eventually hurts us. Many conscientious consumers, either for the reason of health or of environment, have taken practical measures to reduce the use of plastic products. From switching to reusable paper bags, people have gradually shouldered the responsibility of using less plastic bags. In addition, many people also start to use reusable stainless steel water bottles instead of disposable plastic ones.

Using stainless steel water bottles for hydration is a great way to make contributions to preserving the environment. Yes, although the convenience of plastic water bottles continuously lures people, their health as well as a clean living environment is way more important.

I. Plastic Water Bottles Contain Harmful Chemicals

Plastics originally comes from oil, and so does a plastic water bottle. Before the single-use water bottle is manufactured, it has to go through processes such as drilling and extraction so as to be further refined. And these processes inevitably have a severe impact on the environment. Besides, using plastic water bottles also triggers off the soaring price of gas. According to Printwand, annually there are 17 million barrels of oil used to meet the supply of making plastic water bottles, and it needs 10 oz of crude oil only to make a bottle of 40 oz. Here we return to the process of making bottled water. Researchers have reported that the process of bottling water makes up 2.5 million tons of CO2 pollution each year. Therefore, using plastics to carry water may be the least economical and efficient approach that has ever been adopted in history.

The above shortcomings of plastic water bottles appear before they come into use. And when these plastic ones remain in use, they would release harmful elements such as BPA as time goes by. BPA is a kind of chemical that is found in many plastic bottles. When you are drinking with such as a bottle, BPA will silently leach into your body. This terrible chemical would disrupt endocrine and influence the running of hormone function. Please do not underestimate the prevalence of it as it has been researched that 93% of people tested has BPA in their urine. 

Things become worse when these bottles are used and discarded. Often, plastic water bottles end up their lives in landfills or incinerators. But, after they are “dead”, plastics carries on poisoning the environment. Here are some cruel facts:

  • Plastic waste (bottles are included) kills 2.2 million marine lives each year.
  • Landfills in the United States are forced to accept annually 38 billion plastic water bottles.
  • Approximately 8 million tons of macromolecular plastics and 1.5 tons of primary microplastics end up in the ocean each year.

Since it takes approximately 700 years for degradable plastics to dissolve, landfills are expected to confront with an increasing handling pressure. And the accumulated plastics will exert negative impart on the environment for centuries!

II. 18/8 Stainless Steel Contains No BPA

Plastic water bottles are packed with toxic chemicals like BPA that leach into the water with time going by. If the bottle is loaded with hot liquids, the situation will be worse. So is there a water bottle that contains no BPA?

Here comes the savior — the 18/8 stainless steel water bottle. Water bottles made by food-grade stainless steel 18-8 (SUS304) are healthy for hydration. Food-grade stainless steel is a kind of alloy, which indicates that it never chemically reacts with liquids, and during the manufacturing of stainless steel water bottles, no harmful elements are added. Stainless steel water bottle is capable of containing hot liquids and reducing the pace of losing heat. More colloquially, this kind of bottle can keep water warm or cold longer. In addition, the authentic flavor of drinks can be obtained with a stainless steel drink bottle as it imparts no odors to them (plastic water bottles sometimes do).

III. Stainless Steel Is Better For the Environment

Drinking water with a Simple Flask stainless steel water bottle instead of a plastic one is definitely better for the environment. A quality stainless steel bottle can be used for at least 5 years, during which you may save 1 thousand single-use plastic water bottles! By using such a eco-friendly and sustainable bottle, you are actually contributing to protecting the ocean from further being polluted by plastic wastes. Also, landfills across the globe will enjoy a lighter work, thereby extending their service life.

It is reasonably guessed that as long as everyone in the world turns to get hydrated with stainless steel water bottles, the plastic bottle businesses may become less profitable and plastics manufacturers may accordingly adjust the priority of their production. As a result, less plastic waste is generated and nature can better restore its regulating capability.