Home > Food

Get rid of plastic water bottles

  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Photo: istockphoto.com/Doug Cannell
Shelagh McNally

Are you one of the 88 percent who throw their bottle out? Collectively we are dumping 40 million plastic water bottles per day. Stop using plastic water bottles and reduce your carbon footprint. (You'll also save money.)

A good job of selling
True be told: 40 percent of bottled water starts out as tap water. Companies, like Coca Cola and Pepsi, take the water for free, running it through some filters, pour it into a bottle with a fancy name and then sell it back to us at a price 240 to 10,000 times higher than tap water.

Illusion of health
Clever marketing has made us believe that bottle water is healthier and much more pure than tap water. But a four year study by the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) found plenty of bacteria and chemicals in bottled water. Since there are currently no regulations in place for bottled water it's hard to know exactly what you are buying.

Check the label of your bottled water. If it is says "from a municipal source" or "from a community water system" it's plain old tap water.

Go with stainless steelSave money and reduce your carbon footprint: buy a water filer for home use and fill up your stainless steel bottle, which won't leak any chemicals. Some tried and true companies include:

  • Gaiam, stainless steel water bottles. You can buy direct from their website.
  • Klean Kanteen: Although manufactured in China, the company guarantees their product is safe and created in a factory with fair working conditions. Pick up yours from Life Without Plastic.
  • Multi-Pure's stainless steel 500 ml, 17 fl oz, H20 On the Go is another reusable bottle that's a great alternative. (Thanks to our reader, Laura, for the tip on them! )
  • New Wave Enviro Products: Founded in 1993, this company offers several styles of stainless steel bottles.
  • Triple C Sports: sells stainless steel water bottles with your favourite team logo on them.

    • Check the triangle
    If you still want to go with plastic then choose the safest kind. Check the bottom of the bottle for a triangle with a number in the middle. This tells you what type of plastic used to make the bottle. Check our handy chart to find the healthiest plastic.

    Quick reference: 2,4,5 = safe, 1,3,6,7 = unsafe. As safe as plastic can be
    Certain numbers are safer than others:

  • #2 HDP or HPDE (high-density polyethylene): This high density plastic is the most resistant to chemical leaching. Most commonly found in milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles. Easy to spot because it will be semitransparent or a solid white color. It's never clear.
  • #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene): Although resistant to leaching, it's almost never used in water bottles but is found in sandwich bags, cling wrap and grocery bags.
  • #5 PP (polypropylene): This semi-transparent or white plastic is also resistant to chemical leaching. More used in syrup bottles and yogurt containers.

    • Avoid whenever possible
    Try your best to turn your back on these plastics:

  • #1 PET/PETE (polyethylene terephthalate): Made for one time use, these bottles should be avoided since they more than likely leach the heavy metal antimony and the hormone disrupting chemical BPA. Don't reuse these bottles and don't purchase if they are over six months old.
  • #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride): Known to leach two toxic chemicals, DEHP (di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate) and bispehonal-A that are both known endocrine and hormone disruptors, this is the most common plastic used in water bottles, baby bottles and cooking oil.
  • #6 PS (polystyrene): Known to leach styrene, a carcinogen that causes headaches, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, this plastic is most commonly used in disposable coffee cups and take out containers.
  • The winner for worst plastic goes to…#7 PC/PLA: Polycarbonate: Since this plastic is made with BPA, it's going to leach and is probably the worst plastic to use. Unfortunately it's found in baby bottles, reusable water bottles, 5-gallon jugs (used for the office water cooler) and food-storage containers.

    • Tips for bottled water

  • If your water smells like plastic, even just a hint, don't drink it. Dump it or return it.
  • Keep your bottled water away from heat or sunlight. Hot plastic leaches chemicals more easily.
  • Don't buy water that has been on the shelf longer than six months. Ask the store how long it's been on the shelf. Dust is usually not a good sign.
  • Don't reuse bottles made for single use. They are breeding grounds for bacteria and will also start to break down quickly, easily releasing chemicals
  • Go with stainless steel or glass whenever possible.
  • Buy in bulk and stay away from the individual bottles.
  • Drink tap water. Buy a home water filter and start carrying tap in your stainless steel bottle. Save money and the planet.


    • Delicious
    • Digg
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Comments

    I have found an amazing line of Stainless Steel water bottles called EarthLust. I own an Eco-Chic Boutique, and I came across these great bottles. EarthLust is a very small company with a big dream - eliminating waste from single use bottles. EarthLust bottles are made from high quality #304 food grade stainless steel which is naturally safe unlined. They use non-toxic paints and BPA-free safe polypropelene caps. BPA free. Phthalate free. EarthLust bottles are a custom design - not stock bottles. Most of their line is limited edition. Check them out at: http://www.gorgeousandgreen.ca/category_s/30.htm And I also found this wonderful Stainless Steel Baby Bottle, called OrganicKidz, also great! http://www.gorgeousandgreen.ca/category_s/43.htm Just thought I would pass that along, as I know they can be hard to find. Warmly, Lenka Hawrys Gorgeous and Green http://www.gorgeousandgreen.ca Fernie, BC
    Submitted by Lenka (guest) on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 23:27.
    Bottled water has always seemed silly to me. Why pay so much money for something you can get by turning on your faucet. if you want it in a bottle, buy one bottle and reuse it. http://www.geothermalproducts.net
    Submitted by Mark (guest) on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 13:45.
    I read with interest the above article written by Shelagh McNally. The piece contains a plethora of errors about bottled water and plastic, in general, and, unfortunately, none of the claims are footnoted with sources, credible or otherwise. For example, according to the stewards responsible across Canada, 60% of plastic beverage containers, including bottled water, were recycled last year -- not 12% as the article claims. Further, according to independent market research firm A.C. Nielsen, 92% of bottled water in Canada comes from spring sources on private property and only 8% emanates from municipal sources -- not 40% as the article claims. Finally, bottled water is held to the same scrutiny as tap water. By law, Health Canada regulations for bottled water must be as strong and protective of public health as provincial regulations for tap water. Bottled water is regulated as a packaged food product by Health Canada through the Food and Drug Act. The Natural Resources Defence Council, an American environmental activist organization, drew conclusions about a handful of U.S. bottled water brands based on a non-scientific study that is irrelevant to the Canadian marketplace as none of the brands tested is sold here. Environmental organizations like NRDC frequently mischaracterize substances found in bottled water products and discuss them out of context with accepted scientific determinations. In general, the study is based on the faulty premise that if any substance is present in a bottled water product, even if it does not exceed the established regulatory limit or no standard has been set, then it’s a health concern. On that basis, the same misleading concerns could be raised about tap water. In closing, most of the data written in the sections, "Check the triangle," "Avoid whenever possible" and "Tips for bottled water" is incorrect, but space does not permit correction by me of that material. Clearly, the editors at greenlivingonline.com did not perform due diligence when reviewing this article before it was published. Their readership deserves better. John Challinor II APR Director of Corporate Affairs Nestlé Waters Canada
    Submitted by John Challinor II (guest) on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 10:53.
    There are now so many stainless steel bottles on the market, but many are not very well made and won't last; or are difficult to clean or to sip from. As an online eco retailer, we've looked at so many but still stick by the original that we were selling when we launched our business almost two years ago: the Klean Kanteen. Our entire family uses them and i think they are the best on the market: -durable (they are made of one piece of stainless steel and so never crack or break and believe me, Klean Kanteens have taken our sons from infancy to preschooler and ours have taking a lot of throwing and bashing and although dented, are still working fine -easy to clean: the wide mouth bottle of Klean Kanteen is easy to clean with a baby bottle brush or spoon and washcloth. Plus you can fit ice cubes inside easily. -although they are made in China, i'm very comfortable with how they are manufactured, as Klean Kanteen discloses every thing about them, and closely monitors their production. -they have no mysterious lining, just plain, food-grade stainless steel. I like that. No wondering about what is in the lining (as with SIGG, who won't disclose this) and no lining to crack or chip. Just my thoughts. We have plenty of stainless and coloured Klean Kanteens at our store, prices reasonably if you are looking! Free pickup in Toronto and flat fee $8 shipping in Canada! cheers, Nancy DeHart Kai Kids: Eco-friendly gear for baby and mama www.kaikids.com www.blog.kaikids.com twitter: @greenmum
    Submitted by Nancy DeHart (guest) on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 12:07.
    Why waste your money on bottled water when you have good water at home,you just need to filter it properly. I have a culligan drinking water filter installed and it is great,I do play it safe though....fill up my water filter jug(tupperware) and put it into my fridge to keep it cool.This way it is double filtered and being in the fridge (for 24 hrs) helps reduce the harmful ingredients that may be in the water. Remember spring water is free in a number of locations around Ontario,if you prefer spring water...it is the safest water to drink.
    Submitted by Betsy Gimblet (guest) on Sun, 04/12/2009 - 10:58.
    Fundraising with www.lunchwithoutwaste.com might be a good way to get everybody on board!
    Submitted by Jana (guest) on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 16:15.
    Another great option for an eco-friendly water bottle is a PerfectBottle (www.perfectbottles.com) .... the best thing about PerfectBottles is that unlike bulky stainless steel options, they collapse to the size of a hockeypuck... making it easy to toss in my purse, briefcase, gym bag and go..... Plus, they're recycle #4 and BPA free!
    Submitted by Anonymous (guest) on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 14:47.
    Please cite the publications or study for these points -- why are our health markets still carrying 80% known toxic containers?
    Submitted by Anonymous (guest) on Fri, 03/06/2009 - 16:14.

    Post new comment

    The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.