You may have seen plastic bottles littering beaches and parks. It’s pathetic, right?
Yes, the environmental impact of single-use plastic water bottles is awful. But the good news is, you can stop this nightmare just by switching to reusable water bottles.
Read the full article to learn about the environmental benefits of reusable water bottles and why it’s high time everyone should stop using plastic water bottles.
How Do Plastic Water Bottles Harm The Environment?
To answer the question, let’s first talk about where our plastic waste goes. Even if your plastic water bottle is recyclable, only a small percentage actually ends up being recycled.
A recent report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reveals that only 2% of plastics transformed into products of the same functionality.
Also, 8% of recycled plastics are “downcycled” into lower-quality items. So, yes, you guessed it right, the majority of plastics end up in landfills, where they decompose slowly or are and release harmful chemicals into the environment. The chemicals cause air pollution.
Discarded plastic bottles contribute to ocean pollution and harm marine animals that ingest or become entangled in plastic waste. Not only this, producing plastic bottles is energy-intensive.
The process requires using almost 2,000 times more energy than producing tap water.
Using more energy means burning more fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other gases into the air. These steps eventually lead to climate change.
Environmental Benefits Of Reusable Water Bottles- 5 From Many More
Let’s get into the core of our discussion.
1. Decreases Plastic Production and Waste
Recent studies by environmental researchers have highlighted some concerning facts about plastic bottle pollution.
According to Surfers Against Sewage, plastic pollution has been discovered on every beach worldwide, even on uninhabited tropical islands.
In 1950, the global population of 2.5 billion produced 1.5 million tons of plastic; by 2016, with a population of 7 billion, over 320 million tons were produced. Experts predict that this figure will double by 2034.
Reducing plastic bottle purchases and switching to reusable water bottles can impact the gas and oil industry.
2. Solves the Ocean Pollution Crisis
Switching to reusable water bottles can significantly reduce ocean pollution, more than you can imagine. Every year, millions of plastic bottles end up in the oceans. According to a scientific study, it will take about 270 years for our oceans to become overwhelmed by plastic from our modern society.
So, yes, this simple switch helps stop marine animals from eating plastic and keeps our oceans clean and healthy for future generations.
3. Reduces Energy Use and Emissions
Switching from single-use to reusable bottles greatly reduces the need for plastic bottle production. It eventually saves energy and lowers carbon emissions. Moreover, it reduces the need to transport bottled water, which again saves fossil fuels and decreases air pollution and global warming.
4. Reduces Environmental Cost
The production process of plastic water bottles starts with extracting fossil fuels, such as oil, which is a primary raw material for making plastic. Also, manufacturing plastic bottles from these fossil fuels requires a substantial amount of energy.
After producing plastic bottles, manufacturers transport them to various locations, using even more fossil fuels. Disposing of plastic water bottles again increases the long-term environmental and financial burden.
So, yes, the overall process costs a lot.
Since reusable water bottles are made from durable materials like stainless steel or glass, they do not require frequent replacement and reduce the need for constant manufacturing processes.
5. Reduces Wildlife Threats
You already know how plastic waste poses a severe threat to wildlife. Animals can ingest or become entangled in plastic debris. Using reusable water bottles will help reduce the risk of harm to wildlife. It will protect biodiversity and ensure healthier ecosystems.
Conclusion
That’s all about the environmental benefits of reusable water bottles. Switching to reusable water bottles will reduce plastic production and waste and lower energy use.
This simple change helps keep oceans clean, protects wildlife, and promotes sustainable habits. We hope that you’ll choose reusable bottles to make such a massive impact on the environment and ensure a better future for generations to come.
