





Environment
Why Investing in a Reusable Water Bottle could be the Easiest Eco Choice Ever
At REV we champion the small decisions that send out ripples and have the power to make a big impact. Our every day choices do matter, and even the most mundane purchases we think we are making can end up being something that either negatively or positively impacts our planet. With the global pandemic resulting in a rise of disposable everything, today we want to focus on the truly positive effects that can result from investing in a reusable water bottle. Plus we share three of our favourite brands!
“Humans buy about 1,000,000 plastic bottles per minute in total. The reality is that many of these are never even put in recycling bins, and even fewer are ever actually recycled into new plastic.”
The rise of disposable everything.
We at REV believe the small changes can send out big ripples of effect. Our every day choices do matter, and even the most mundane purchases we think we are making can end up being something that either negatively or positively impacts our planet. So today we wanted to talk about something so simple yet so effective as an eco friendly choice – investing in a reusable water bottle.
With the arrival of Covid-19 we have seen the rise of disposable everything – single use face masks now pollute our streets, disposable coffee cups have become the norm again over keep cups, and people are drinking from single use plastic frequently. Whilst we appreciate the need for sanitation, we also know there is an incredible need to get away from this idea of disposable plastic that is polluting our oceans so badly that we know have plastic islands floating in the middle of our seas and plastic particles have been found within the deepest part of our ocean.
Single-use-plastics frequently do not make it to a landfill or are recycled. A full 32% of the 78 million tons of plastic packaging produced annually is left to flow into our oceans; the equivalent of pouring one garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute. This is expected to increase to two per minute by 2030 and four per minute by 2050. By 2050, this could mean there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans [source: Earthday.org].
Companies are also now trying to siphon off more oil into creating plastic (plastic is made from a petroleum base, so do also consider that you are supporting oil companies when you purchase anything in plastic!) as demand has slumped within the classic oil markets. As we fly and drive less, the carbon footprint of our lives decrease but that oil needs to be used so now it is being marketed to us in different ways.
Small purchase, big impact.
Today we want to focus on the truly positive effects of reusable water bottles. This may seem like a very small purchase, but again it really stacks up when you look at the impact against single use. Humans buy about 1,000,000 plastic bottles per minute in total. Only about 23% of plastic bottles are recycled within the U.S. [source: Earthday.org]. A lot of companies think that by putting a recyclable symbol on the plastic water bottle you are drinking from they are doing enough – but the reality is that many of these are never even put in recycling bins, and even fewer are ever actually recycled into new plastic.
Your choice when it comes to your drinking water does matter. Americans alone purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, averaging about 13 bottles per month for every person in the U.S.! That means by using a reusable water bottle, you could save an average of 156 plastic bottles annually [source: Earthday.org].
Also, we know there is an argument that bottled water is better for you, that it’s cleaner, but there are also doubts as to this. According to Elizbeth Royt, who authored Bottlemania: How Water Went On Sale and Why We Bought It, tap water is actually better regulated than bottled water. “Tap water providers are required to reveal the results of their tests to consumers,” she says. “Bottled water companies, though held largely to the same standard as tap water, aren’t required to reveal the results of their testing.” Also, as the water stays in these plastic bottles for long periods of time there is evidence that microparticles of plastic leak into it. Our suggestion? Where you can, get a water filter and refill from that!
So we hope this has inspired you to think about reusable water bottles as a great way to help the environment, a way to save money (a one time purchase versus possibly one every day!), and to help reduce our demand for oil. We wanted to share three amazing reusable water bottles below to help you on your journey towards a more zero waste lifestyle below!
Ocean Bottle
The Ocean Bottle is made from upcycled ocean-bound plastic, stainless steel, and for every bottle sold they fund the collection of 11.4kg of plastic (equivalent to 1000 plastic bottles) whilst investing in people-powered waste management. The clever design means these bottles double up as flasks too – and is what we use for our takeaway coffee! The stainless steel interior will keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cool.
Drink Big
These stylish stainless steel bottles will keep drinks hot for 12 hours and cold for 24. Drink Big are committed to being honest and transparent throughout their supply chain – they acknowledge they are not be perfect, but are committed to improving and learning on how they can operate in the most sustainable way. On a mission to ‘close the loop’ they’ve also launched a Re-Use program which means any damaged bottles can be sent back to be properly recycled and you will receive a replacement one! Our REV audience can get a special 10% off their first purchase as well with the discount code REVEENVERT10 to be used on their website!
S'well Bottles
S’well bottles feature a triple-layered, vacuum-insulated construction, designed to keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12 hours. They are made from 18/8, food-grade stainless steel with superior construction and come in a range of beautiful designs which also makes them ideal for conscious gifting!