Plastic Water Bottles are bad, but so are Reusable Water Bottles

Each year, the United States disposes 30 billion empty bottled-water containers. Two million tons of them end up in landfills. By consuming bottled water, we are increasing our carbon footprint. Plastic water bottles are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a flexible, durable, and light plastic, which uses more than 17 million barrels of oil to make enough PET to meet America's demand for bottled water—enough to fuel more than 1 million cars a year. It is estimated that each water bottle we buy consumes one-quarter of its volume in oil in production and transportation costs.

Bottled water is not as safe one might think. Most bottled water is actually tap water. The most harmful element of all is the toxin that leaches out of the plastic. Studies show that the accumulating phthalates in PET can interfere with our endocrine system at high doses, disrupting the regulation of hormones and leading to imbalances that interfere with reproduction. Have you ever drunk out of your water bottle after it has been in the sun for an hour, and it tastes a bit funny? That’s the taste of contaminants from the plastic that have leached into your water.

An alternative is to buy a reusable water bottle and fill it up with filtered tap water. A filter such as Brita does a good job of removing the chlorine from tap water. However, the problem lies in the reusable water bottle itself. The two reusable containers often seen on the streets are the 32 oz. Nalgene Polycarbonate Loop-Top Bottle ($9) and the Sigg Swiss-Made Aluminum Water Bottle ($19.99).

Sigg Aluminum Water Bottles

Sigg is an aluminum water bottle, available in 144 chic designs to fit every personality.

It is lined with brass and epoxy, which is questionable. Sigg would not release the contents of epoxy, saying it is a proprietary secret. However, it is FDA approved and independently tested to be taste and scent inert – and resistant to any leaching. Some suspect that leaching of BPA occurs, but in trace amounts.

Unlike Nalgene bottles, it is not as durable. The thin aluminum is susceptible to dents and dings, but it doesn’t affect the inside. It is inadvisable to place the Sigg into the freezer; no matter how full it is, as it will cause the bottle to crack.

Nalgene Water Bottles

The current Nalgene bottles are made of polyethylene. Their older version, made of polycarbonate, was pulled off the shelf because of strong concerns of BPA leaching into the water. Storing anything that is meant to be digested in plastic containers is never a good idea, especially if you are going to heat up the plastic.

In another sense, Nalgene bottles are eco-friendly. They are highly durable, lightweight, reusable, and recyclable. It also reduces the use of energy to produce and transport the disposable plastic water bottles, and waste in landfills.