Choosing Green: The Water Bottle Debate

We all know that the traditional convenience store plastic disposable water bottle is a big no no and does nothing to improve the size of your carbon footprint. But what is the best way to deal with that pesky hydration issues? Everywhere I look I’m being told that every “green” choice isn’t as green as I thought and plastic bottles cause cancer and offsetting and toxins and this and that and ….what to do?

I know the convenience store PET plastic bottle made from fossil fuel by products that off gas carcinogenic chemicals and spends centuries in a landfill are not for me. These disposable single use containers are so bad for the planet and our precious natural resources. No matter what the global corporate big wigs say, oil is finite and therefore running out and who wants to make the problem worse because they were too lazy to remember to bring a refillable bottle?

But which refillable bottle? There are a number of plastic reusable bottles on the market but how do they really help? Sure they reduce the amount of plastic but not the use of plastic. Not really a long term solution.

So the choices are metal or glass. Glass works great for the home but not really convenient or safe for travel. It certainly wouldn’t work in a gym bag or for little kids. Glasses and tap water stay at home.

With metal there are two basic choices: aluminum and steel. Aluminum is one of the most recycled metals on the planet, just look at the success of the can recycling program. But aluminum water bottles are kind of expensive and have suffered some bad pres. Namely, that the liners inside the aluminum outer cases can leach and off gas seeping chemicals into the water.

The smart green planet saving choice is the stainless steel reusable water bottle. Cheap and widely available at home stores and camping stores, the stainless steel container lasts. Its durable, contains no liner and doesn’t need any liner.

What about corn plastic I hear you say? Corn plastic is great but maybe not the best choice for a durable long lasting water bottle, at least not yet. Corn plastic usually cannot stand temps above 110 degrees. So you leave it in a hot car on a sunny day and well….

So a steel bottle will reduce carbon emissions, saves money and keep you hydrated. End of confusion and worry. It’s kinda funny though. Stainless steel canteens are nothing new. Neither are aluminum bottles. Sometimes we forget that green isn’t new, its always been the practical choice.