These days, it’s common to see people carrying reusable water bottles on the street, but also plastic ones. A recent study by Fox31 reveals that these bottles can harbor bacteria that are harmful to our bodies. Alternatively, it’s better to use glass bottles that can be recycled, thus mitigating the environmental impact of plastic. According to the United Nations, plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose.
Which is the healthier option: plastic or glass?
“Storing alcohol in glass bottles preserves the taste and quality of the beverage, as plastic may change the taste and doesn’t have a long shelf life. That begs the question, if plastic is not an ideal beverage container, should we drink water out of glass? Which is the healthier option: plastic or glass?” This is how Fox31’s report begins on the importance of focusing on glass bottles.
The container does not adequately protect the liquid inside
Plastic bottles are usually cheaper than glass water bottles; this is a fact. Also, anyone who has ever drunk water from a plastic bottle knows that after a few hours, especially if it has been kept at high temperatures, an unpleasant odor is released when opening the bottle. This is because the container does not adequately protect the liquid inside. This attracts bacteria and therefore causes health problems. Furthermore, it is now well known that plastic is one of the main sources of pollution in rivers and oceans due to its slow decomposition.
When plastic bottles decompose, they create harmful microplastics
As we noted earlier, if a plastic bottle takes about 500 years to decompose, that means that if our grandparents threw a bottle in the trash, it’s still out there. Furthermore, when plastic bottles decompose, they create harmful microplastics that seep into the environment, end up in drinking water, and eventually reach our bodies.
The best option is to try not to use plastic bottles. If you have no other option, it’s best to use them only once. That is, don’t reuse the same plastic bottle by refilling it every time you run out of water. This will make the bottle an ideal storage environment. It’s also recommended that whenever you use this type of bottle, or any other plastic container, you recycle it properly to minimize its impact on the environment.
Glass helps keep water fresher and doesn’t release or add odors to drinking water
It’s true that glass bottles also pollute, but they’re easier to recycle and have a much smaller environmental impact than plastic. On the other hand, glass helps keep water fresher, doesn’t release or add odors to drinking water, and can be reused as long as proper rinsing is performed. Keeping it clean is essential.
In any case, there are brands that have become incredibly famous for selling water bottles that celebrities have started carrying around on the street. This has made them popular, and now “almost everyone” wants their stainless steel water bottle. On the one hand, consumerism, yes, but on the other, if this can help people use fewer plastic bottles and also encourage them to drink more water, it could be a good deal.
We should try not to fall into fashions and end up covering a lot of stainless steel bottles in different scents and sizes, as is becoming popular on social networks. When in doubt, the best option will always be the one that protects our bodies and the planet, which is responsible for keeping us alive.
