Tuesday Tip: 4 Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles

Tuesday Tip: 4 Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles

Summer heat is on its way, and it’s important to stay hydrated. You could grab a bottle of water at the store, but chances are the bottle will be made of plastic – and the trouble with plastic is well-documented.

Trouble for the planet: Plastic litters our landscapes, oceans and waterways by the kiloton, and plastic bottles are a major contributor to the problem. Around 38 billion non-reusable plastic water bottles are tossed each year.

Trouble for you, personally: Many plastic bottles leach the dangerous hormone disruptor Bisphenol A. You can buy bottles that are BPA-free, yes, but many of them instead contain BPS, BPF or BHPF, which are hormone disruptors that may be just as harmful as BPA.

As CREDO continues to fight for the elimination of BPA and other toxic chemicals like it in our food supply, right now, your best option for a water bottle is a refillable bottle that is not plastic. Here are five different choices from chic to rugged. None contain BPA, BPS, BPF or BHPF.

Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask makes over 100 different products in four categories: hydration, coffee, beer and food. Its stainless steel vacuum-insulated bottles come in standard- and wide-mouth versions and in a lot of sporty colors. They’re double-walled to prevent condensation and keep beverages hot or cold. They’re powder-coated to make them easy to grip and they come with a lifetime warranty. The cap has a handle, too, which makes the bottles easy to carry. In 2017, Hydro Flask launched Parks for All, a charitable giving program that supports the development and maintenance of public green spaces in the United States and beyond.

Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen boasts a new Climate Lock technology that it says will keep liquids cold up to 100 hours and hot for up to 30 hours. Bottles come in a wide range of sizes, from an 8 ounce tumbler up to a 64 ounce growler. All are stainless steel and insulated. Many of the bottles wear a chip-resistant finish that’s durable and colorful. Drinking spouts are made from food-grade silicone. The company supports a variety of nonprofits dedicated to causes like cleaning up plastic pollution, advocating for safe consumer products, and protecting and preserving wild places.

Lifefactory

If you’re looking for a good glass bottle, look into Lifefactory. The bottles have a medical-grade silicone sleeve to make them easy to hold and a wide mouth to accommodate ice, fruit slices, tea bags and whatever else you might like to put in your water. All components are made in the United States or Europe, and the bottles are assembled here. Baby and toddler bottles are also available as well as food-storage containers for your fridge.

S’well

High-design “hydration accessories” come in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes. There are the nine, 12 and 40 ounce versions. There are bottles in floral prints by Liberty London. All of them keep your water or other liquids hot or cold. All are triple-walled stainless steel with a copper layer to prevent condensation and keep your bottle from sweating in your bag. S’well is a partner of UNICEF USA and has committed $800,000 since 2015 to help provide clean water to the world’s vulnerable communities.