Drink From a Reusable Bottle

water bottles

On-the-go beverages have become a staple in our lives. We've grown accustomed to picking up a disposable bottled beverage at our convenience. But then we throw it away. Choosing and using a reusable beverage container is one of the easiest and impactful changes you can make, particularly if you use one made of real materials. 

That being said, there are plenty of reusable water bottles and coffee cups on the market today that vary in size, functionality and materials. The big difference is between single use plastic, reusable plastic and aluminum bottles and those that are made with real materials for optimal health and long term use. So, how do you know which one to choose?

Let's start with water.

Image of takeya 0A vast majority of water bottles on the market are plastic, many of which contain the harmful chemical, Bisphenol A. BPA is an endocrine disruptor with estrogen-like effects. Even BPA-free plastic bottles are suspect as there hasn't been sufficient testing on the synthetic chemicals used for these bottles.  And recent studies have shown other endocrine-disruption chemicals can leach from even BPA-free plastic food storage containers.

And as for the unnecessary negative impact bottled water creates for the planet--bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year and up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce, not to mention the energy for disposal!

Image of sippAnd for coffee.

It's become custom for many of us to pick up coffee at a local cafe.  Well, the paper cup used for to-go coffee has some unsavory and unhealthy side effects. Unfortunately, the glue used to hold those paper cups together partially dissolves when the coffee is poured into the cup, releasing trace amounts of toxins, such as melamine, into the coffee. The resin lining is made of polyethylene, also referred to as #1 or PET plastic, which has some health concerns. It's possible for antimony trioxide to leach into beverages if left in the cup for too long. Who wants to think about that while sipping a delicious cappuccino? And further, the plastic lids are made out of polystyrene and known to leach styrene, the newest member on the US List of Carcinogens.

According to Sustainability is Sexy, "23 billion coffee cups were used in 2010. This equals about 9.4 million trees." Studies show that after 24 uses, a reusable mug breaks even with the environmental impact of manufacturing a paper cup. And since the reusable mug is designed for upwards of 3000 uses, it's clearly the better choice for both our own health and that of the planet.

This article is part of our 4 week get real drive.  Here are three other changes you can make to keep your family healthy and safe and to help the planet.

About MightyNest:

Founded by two parents, MightyNest  is an online store, resource center, and community dedicated to helping parents create healthy, safe homes.  Our mission is to give families the ability to research, get advice, and buy natural, non-toxic products all in one place.  From kitchenware to skin care, MightyNest's safety experts have built the web’s broadest selection of products that are free from known toxic ingredients such as BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Lead, Melamine, Formaldehyde, Parabens, and more.  MightyNest is a place where people feel motivated and welcomed, not discouraged or judged; somewhere people are empowered to make changes in their lives, whether large or small.  For the growing number of parents seeking high quality, healthy and safe alternatives to everyday products for their family, MightyNest  is their most trusted resource.