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Q:  Which kind of reusable water bottle is better – stainless steel or plastic?

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A:  It’s great that you want to make the eco-friendly change to a reusable water bottle! Disposable plastic water bottles are clogging up the landfills at an unbelieveable rate. Even if all of the plastic water bottles used were recycled (and they aren’t), it still requires massive amounts of natural resources to produce the bottles and then ship them to stores around the world.

Most reusable water bottles are made of stainless steel or plastic. The plastic bottles can be made with a variety of different types of plastic. Hard, shatterproof plastic water bottles are often labeled with a Plastic #7 recycling number. But some plastics in this category can contain BPA, a chemical added to the plastic that can cause health problems in both humans and in marine life. Be sure to select a bottle that states it’s BPA-free.

Plastic water bottles don’t seem to last as long as stainless steel ones, though. And there is growing concern about the possibility of chemicals leaching into the water from the plastic during use.

Stainless steel water bottles will last longer over time. And there’s not as much concern about possible chemical exposure.

Whichever one you choose, though, you’re still making a massive stride in reducing landfill waste and reducing resource use! 

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