Happy Earth Day! Make Mother Nature happy with one of these reusable canteens. If you’ve ever wandered the aisles of any rec store, you’ve likely stumbled into the vast world of water bottles. Every shape, size and material line the aisles just to keep you hydrated throughout a sweat-burning workout. You want a purple BPA-free plastic bottle with a spouted nozzle and a handle? No problem. Or maybe a plain stainless steel variety with a removable cap? Sure thing.

With so many options, which is truly the best and safest choice? This Earth Day, do Mother Nature a favor. Instead of adding to the 38 billion non-reusable plastic water bottles piling into the landfills each year, start toting around one of these refillable thirst-quenchers.

Plastic water bottles vs. stainless steel water bottles

Plastic water bottles have received some negative press in the past for containing Bisphenol-A, a.k.a. BPA, a chemical linked to cancer. Fortunately, companies responded and most water bottles sold after 2010 are now BPA-free. However, it’s still important to acknowledge what type of plastic bottle you’re sipping from and also to take into consideration what those little numbers on the bottom of your bottle stand for. Disposable water bottles, which you can often pick up at the gas station or in packs of 24 at the grocery store, are labeled with a number 1 and are only meant for a single use.

Although washing and refilling these bottles seems like a smart choice for the environment, they are not durable enough to withstand multiple uses and often end up leaching unwanted chemicals into the water. To protect yourself and the environment, look for bottles labeled with the numbers 2, 4 or 5. Although these are prone to retaining odors and staining after constant use, they do not leach chemicals, are the cheapest bottle options on the market, and come in a variety of styles. So go ahead and be picky—there’s a perfect plastic water bottle out there with your name on it. No chemicals included.

Design for Living Stackable Water Bottle

This rectangular bottle stacks easily in the fridge and won’t roll around if you accidentally drop it in class (yes, we’ve all done that). Plus, the durable, commercial-quality plastic makes it odor- and stain-resistant.
Buy now: Amazon, $15

Brita Sport Water Filter Bottle

Now, you can have filtered water without the hassle of a pitcher. The built-in filter reduces the taste and odor of chlorine commonly found in tap water, while the contoured design and handle help you quickly grab for a sip in between circuits.
Buy now: Amazon, $18 for 2 bottles

Reduce WaterWeek

Fill these five BPA-free water bottles with up to have a week’s worth of water and have them conveniently waiting for you in the fridge. The lightweight bottles are easy to grab-and-go, and the bright patterns are sure to brighten up your office desk.
Buy now: Houzz, $20 for 5 bottles plus storing tray

Stainless steel water bottles

If you’re still concerned about BPA and the possible chemicals that could leach from a plastic bottle, opt for stainless steel. These bottles are constructed from culinary-grade stainless steel and are non-reactive, meaning they won’t shed harmful toxins when filled with H2O. However, be mindful not to confuse these canteens with their aluminum cousins.

Aluminum is reactive to acidic liquids, so the bottles are lined with an enamel or epoxy layer, which some scientists have linked to BPA. Yes, these bottles are lightweight and feature design-centric styles, but it’s safest to keep away from them. Stainless steel offers those same attractive features without the worry of dangerous chemicals.

Nalgene Backpacker

The brand, famous for its variety of plastic twist-top bottles, has introduced a stainless-steel option equipped with no lining and the same wide mouth to fit ice cubes or a filtration device.
Buy now: Nalgene, $29

Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Bottle

While many classic stainless steel bottles offer only a twist-off cap, Klean Kanteen provides a variety of options, including a polypropylene sport nozzle. But if you wish to stay away from all plastic, choose the full stainless-steel cap.
Buy now: Klean Kanteen, $21

Environmentally friendly water bottle options

If we take time out of our days to target certain muscle groups during a workout and prepare a meal with carefully selected ingredients, why wouldn’t we pay attention to the type of water bottle we’re hydrating our bodies with? Reusable plastic bottle manufacturers claim their containers haven’t contained BPA since 2010, but stainless steel has no need for any type of lining that could potentially leach harmful toxins.

Although stainless-steel bottles are more prone to denting when dropped, the material won’t crack like its plastic alternative. Plus, the polypropylene cap is one of the safer plastics on the market, though many bottles do have a stainless-steel cap option. So the next time you find yourself lost in a sea of water bottles, wade over to the group of stainless-steel options. Your body (and Mother Nature) will thank you.

Steel, Glass, and/or Plastic Bottles: What is the best choice?

How to determine the best choice for drinking bottles.

Earlier this year I published a three-part article series titled “What to do with all this plastic?” (Part One, Part Two, and Part Three), which looked at the global problem with plastics accumulating in different areas around the world and innovative concepts communities have adopted to help deal with the abundance of plastic products and manage the growing problem.

Some of the examples shared in Part Two looked at the creative reuse of plastic water bottles by communities in Uganda, the Philippines, and right here in Macomb County, Michigan. Plant pots, salt shakers, lighting fixtures, irrigation, and even walls for a greenhouse were concepts communities came up with. While the articles highlighted some steps international and local communities are taking to curb the plastic problem it also provided steps to help eliminate it from every day use. One of those steps is to simply carry your own reusable bottle, which we are seeing more and more of these days. In fact, traditional public water fountains are becoming equipped to refill personal water bottles as well.

But between steel, plastic and glass, which is the best? The truth of the matter is that there are pros and cons to owning each.

1. Stainless steel bottles have a number of pros and cons. Typically, they last longer than glass or plastic because they are corrosion resistant, and do not leach chemicals when exposed to sun/heat. They are generally more expensive than plastic, as the cost to produce them is much higher due to being energy intensive. However, stainless steel is 100 percent recyclable. The best option for selecting stainless steel water bottles is food grade #304 or 18/8, which means there are 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel. Additional information on stainless steel water bottles can be found online.
2. Glass is another option when choosing water bottles. Most of us know that just about every beverage tastes better out of a glass bottle or cup, but the downside is that they are breakable and less likely to last a long time compared to plastic or stainless steel. In addition, recycling rate is low and some public places do not allow glass too. However, in addition to tasting great glass does not leach when left in the sun/heat, but the cost of a glass water bottle is generally much higher than our other two options.
3. Plastic seems to be the most popular reusable water bottle, although glass and stainless are gaining in popularity for the reasons listed here. Plastic water bottles are cheaper to produce than stainless steel and glass, which makes them very attractive for consumers. However, the recycling rate of some plastics is low and the life cycles are short too. Plastic water bottles often end up in landfills and can take nearly 700 years before they start to decompose. One of the biggest downsides to plastic water bottles is that they leach, whereas glass and stainless steel do not. Consumers with apprehensions over plastics leaching chemicals may want to review the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for more information, such as the use of Bisphenol A (BPA)-a chemical component often found in polycarbonate plastic. Some manufacturers of reusable water bottles do produce products free of this chemical and typically note that on labels or the item itself. In addition, plastics made with BPA will often have a resin code of 7 appearing on the item. 

Additional information on plastics and problems associated with it can be found on Dr. Lee’s website devoted to health and sustainability related challenges.

Whatever reusable water bottle you decide to select in the end will be of overall benefit to you and our environment too. Reusing a water bottle will help keep plastics out of landfills, reduce your urge to purchase beverages in plastic bottles, and in the long-run save you money.

Michigan State University Extension offers a variety of programs to provide expertise, education and development of communities throughout the state of Michigan. By specialists, educators, program coordinators, instructors and associates all working together across lines of specialization, great things can be developed and from the input from citizens of Michigan, relevant and life-changing programs will be delivered.