To All Of You Bottled Water Snobs, It's Time To Ditch The Plastic
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

To All Of You Bottled Water Snobs, It's Time To Ditch The Plastic

The Earth will thank you for it.

634
To All Of You Bottled Water Snobs, It's Time To Ditch The Plastic
Youtube

After taking a course on corporate social responsibility and sustainability this semester, I am now filled to the brim with all sorts of knowledge about our Earth and what we, as consumers, can do to help save it. Something that really stuck with me was how many plastic water bottles we consume on a daily basis.

I was definitely one of those water snobs that would never drink tap water. I only drank bottled water and was very set in my ways about it. I would rather be thirsty than consume tap water.

Wow did this class change my mind about that.

Here are five reasons you should NOT consume bottled water:

1. It's probably just tap water, anyways.

Most bottled water companies do not have any specification purification standards, which means, in most cases, you usually are just drinking bottled tap water. It has actually been shown that approximately 40 percent of bottled water comes from the city and municipal water reserves.

2. 50 billion.

Every year Americans use about 50 billion plastic water bottles. On average we only recycle about 23%, meaning 38 million water bottles are wasted every year. This is completely unsustainable. Plastic water bottles are filling our landfills, our oceans, and our water supply. Our Earth can't take much more of this pollution.

3. 190,000 homes.

The energy that is wasted in creating and distributing bottled water is enough to power 190,000 homes. Think of all the people in poverty that could be helped by the sort of resources the bottled water manufacturing wastes.

4. Human rights.

Peter Brabeck, current Chairman and former CEO of Nestle, has said that water is not a human right and that he supports its privatization. Privatization, for those wondering, means that there is a right to buy or sell something to the highest bidder. This means that while California was in a serious drought and covered in wildfires, Nestle had no problem continuously pumping water out of those neighborhoods.

5. Cost alone.

Americans spend about $16 billion a year on bottled water. A reusable water bottle runs about $15-20. I just cannot justify spending money weekly on plastic water bottles when I can simply buy a reusable water bottle one time and never have to worry about it again.

Overall, despite what your reasoning is for drinking bottled water, one should really do some more research to make sure that what you are supporting is actually worth supporting. With just a little digging, many of the companies I thought were solid actually made decisions that were mind-boggling.

Spend the $15 and invest in a good reusable water bottle, the Earth will thank you for it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

92275
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

70899
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments