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Here’s my water tip for the week: buy a stainless steel water bottle and, whenever you leave the house for more than an hour, fill it with filtered water and take it with you. This will prevent you from buying a plastic bottle of water when you get thirsty — taking one more plastic bottle out of the recycling stream or landfill. Best of all, it will help keep you hydrated and healthy. (More about those nasty plastic bottles next week.)
How do YOU stay hydrated without plastic? Do you avoid particular types of plastic bottles or containers? Click on “Comments” below and join the conversation.
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I have a Sigg water bottle (aluminum core) that I carry with me, filled with filtered water from my home faucet. I never buy bottled water.
March 1st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I really like the glass tea bottles (think Snapple, Honest Tea, etc.) and they are only slightly heavier than plastic and just as durable. They are easier to recycle and I can rinse them, put them in the dishwasher, whatever!
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I reuse the glass bottles from Cindy’s Kitchen salad dressings that I buy at Whole Foods. They look alot like old fashioned milk bottles and are much sturdier than most glass bottles. Easy to grip and take in my lunch bag. I have shared my extras with friends and co-workers who have admired them. The cap works great for shaking up protien powders or green drinks.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I take my stainless steel bottle everywhere I go. Look for ones without linings to be toxin free.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I don’t feel the need to carry water with me, unless I am going hiking and it’s warm out. I work out at the gym a couple of times a week, and run 5 miles per day, without water. I just don’t get the need to constantly be rehydrating.
Not that this answers the question, but my tip would be, drink enough water before you leave the house. Start using water fountains again- they DO exist, I used one in a museum just the other day. Ask for a water fountain. If enough people do that, maybe we’ll see them come back and people won’t need to carry water everywhere.
March 6th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I use stainless steel bottles as well…I have a water filter pitcher, and use filtered water….so much less waste than using plastic bottles…and the more they are finding out about what is in the plastics…..well, all the more reason to use a refillable stainless bottle….haven’t convinced anyone else at work tho…I also use pyrex glass containers for my lunch food, and pack my own silverware, and cloth napkins…no plastic bags or utensils!
March 6th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
We reuse our organic maple syrup glass bottles as water bottles. We’ve acquired a few over the years, and we always put some in a cooler with an ice pack when we go somewhere. The bottles are sometimes mistaken for liquor bottles so they are often a conversation starter! I bought a stainless steel water bottle for my child for situations when a glass bottle would be “dangerous”.
March 6th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Good point, Annie. Despite the occasional news story about polluted wells, etc., the municipal water supply in the U.S. is among the safest in the world. How have we become conditioned to taking water with us everywhere we go? Have we taken this hydration thing too far?
March 6th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I live in Florida .It’s warm and humid, therefore I carry a bottle of water all the time. I bought it from Nikken a Japanese company. It’s got it’s own filter . I fill tape water where ever I go and drink ionic filtered water. Whether your body is hydrated or not depends on the kind of water you drink.
March 6th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Finding alternative to plastic water bottles only requires a little effort and innovation, like all other going green efforts. I’ve discovered that I can find drinkable water in many places without lugging around any type of water bottle. In addition to drinking fountains, how about stopping in at a cafe to ask for a glass of free tap water or leaving a mug in your school locker or office cabinet to refill during the day? Once you start looking, drinking water is everywhere – after all, about three-quarters of the world is covered in water!
March 6th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Idea – how to be eco-friendly in preparing your child’s lunch (or your own lunch). I bought reuseable “bento boxes” for my children’s lunches. No more plastic baggies filling the landfill from this house! In addition I use cloth napkins for their lunches. I haven’t lost one yet and my kids are only 7 & 9! They also use refillable water bottles everyday.
March 6th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I like the suggestions of glass bottles I reuse my Gus’ Soda bottles. They are made of glass with a screw cap and are small enough so they are not too heavy to cart around. This is an alternative that is better for short trips. One could also store a four pack at work with filtered water in them to use throughout the day.
March 6th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Alas, Nadia, very little of that water is fresh and only a small percentage of fresh water worldwide is suitable for drinking. Check out this U.S. Geological Survey site for details: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater.html
But you’re right, good quality water can be found nearly everywhere in North America, so why are we using all those plastic bottles?
March 6th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Do you folks actually know what is in the tap water you are so willing to drink out of any fountain? We have an RO filter at home and it is a much better option than relying on whatever is available on tap anywhere for free. Glass and Stainless steel are the way to go when out and about. Bring your own and know what you are drinking.
March 6th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that we drink ocean water or anything of that sort! It was intended as purely facetious…
March 6th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I’m in the health profession and I NEVER drink from water fountains. Every person that I have come across in the last 10 years that has come down with “mono” drinks regularly from water fountains. Also, pay attention to how some people drink from them, they put their entire mouth on the faucet. Yuck! The mouth is “one” of the dirtiest places on your body. Just ask anyone who’s been bitten by another person and then has had to spend 30 days in the hospital getting IV antibiotics.
As for water bottles, I have a bunch of plastic ones that I have collected in the past and I just refill them from my filtered tap water. I don’t actually drink from them while at work, I just pour the water into a larger cup. That way I don’t have to waste water washing them. Another “green” idea!
And a comment to the person who can’t understand why people need to be drinking water all the time. Personally, I dehydrate very quickly because I don’t retain water. And if I do anything that makes me perspire I dehydrate even quicker, so I’m one of those that can’t go to the gym without several bottles of water. And I use plastic because consequently it is much lighter and than glass.
March 6th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I “put away” the plastic quite a while ago and have both Sigg and stainless water bottles. I prefer the stainless ones because of the cost factor and also because I don’t have to wonder when or if the Sigg’s FDA approved liner will be “un-approved” in the future. We use filtered water and I pack it whenever I go out. I don’t need to drink constantly because my digestive health is excellent but I pack water so that I won’t ever need to buy it in plastic. We also use ceramic lunch containers and wax paper to wrap. No more plastic for this family. It’s really cool that we can do the safe thing for health, the right thing for the planet and in the long run the economically wise thing because we buy once and reuse. EXCELLENT!
March 6th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I bring a sun tea jar filled with filtered water (from my fridge) to work. It usually lasts 2-3 days. I just refill my drinking glass throughout the day. No plastic necessary!!!
March 6th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
If you have a full Sigg or aluminum water bottle with you at all times, you’ll never have to worry about buying a plastic bottle. But what happens when you are out all day and run out of your home-filtered supply? For me, tap water and fountain water from most public places is undrinkable. Rather than dumping a $1.25 in a machine and another plastic bottle in the recycle bin, try a portable filter. Many companies now make small filters that fit right over the head of a faucet, and I have even seen ones that snap onto a drinking fountain spout! This way you can have fresh, clean water from anywhere to either refill your bottle or drink from the fountain.
March 6th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Beware of any Stainless Steal containers from China. I had mine tested and found it was made with toxic materials.
March 6th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Like many others who posted, I love using my stainless steel (SS) water bottle by Kleen Kanteen, and I fill it up with my own filtered water from home. I love it so much that I got a SS Kleen Kanteen sippy cup for my baby (couldn’t bear to have him drinking out of plastic!). Kleen Kanteen does have a lining on the inside of the SS, so I’ve always wondered if it’s ok. But hey – I figure it’s better than all the phthalates & toxins in plastic!?! I feel much better knowing that I no longer add to the waste generated from all the plastic water bottles out there.
If I am out without my own water and absolutely desperate, I’ll only buy glass-bottled water (Pellegrino, Perrier, etc). I absolutely LOVE Whole Foods (I actually used to work there before I had my baby); however, I am disappointed they carry so much water in plastic bottles. I’ve noticed lately in my WF store that there is very little (or no) option of GLASS bottled water – particularly in the chilled section. I’d appreciate having this option, esp for times when I’m eating there.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Our family uses thermal stainless steel drinking cups for our water to go. We never leave home without it. The great thing about these cups is that they keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. Living in Florida, the interior of our car gets extremely hot during most of the year. So when you return to your hot car and reach for your cold cup of water, it is still cold! The added benefits is that you can refill at a local water fountain and they are easy to keep clean.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I save almost all of the glass jars we use, everything from salsa to applesauce. When the kids and I are going to be out and about during the day and I know we are going to need a drink I have everyone fill up a jar with filtered water. They all look different so nobody gets theirs mixed up with anyone elses. We bring them home and wash them out and back into the cupboard for whatever we need to use it for next. My absolute favorite water jar is an old mason jar with a handle. I get a lot of “is that your moonshine” comments, but I don’t care. I know I am doing my part to make this a better place for my kids to live. I honestly don’t know why anyone buys glasses with all of the glass jars that go in and out of our homes on a weekly basis. Anyway that’s my two cents worth.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I buy (glass) 32 ounce R. W. Knudsen juices at Whole Foods. When the bottles are empty I wash them out and stash them on top of my fridge.
Every morning I take 2 of them, toss one green (organic/fair trade) tea bag into each, and fill with water. I take them to work and drink all day, thus avoiding the water out of the plastic bubbler at work, and also saving money by not buying a bottled tea. And it’s healthy.
I also brew my own hot tea in my coffeemaker, (one teabag per every 3 cup mark on the carafe), and after drinking one mugful at home, I put the rest in another of the bottles, along with organic milk and organic Florida (sugar) crystals. I keep a mug at work, so I am not wasting styrofoam cups every day by buying tea at a coffeeshop. I also control the ingredients that way. Everything I drink is organic, because I make it.
I take all my lunches in Pyrex bowls, and wrap my sandwiches in wax paper lunch bags. No plastic for me!
I take empty glass salsa jars and toss in a peeled, sectioned orange, and top off with some frozen berries. By lunchtime it’s thawed and yummy.
People laugh at my collection, but I am reducing, re-using, and recycling, and shrinking my “footprint”!
Try it, you’ll like it!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I make a 2-qt. pitcher of flavored water. Then I take a plastic bottle, fill it half to two-thirds full, and put it in the freezer. In the morning, I fill it with the refrigerated water, and I’m set for the day. The water stays cold all day, and there’s usually still ice in it in the afternoon.
I prefer the plastic, as the glass is too heavy and breakable for my long commute on public transit.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
My Water Purifier is wonderful in so very many ways. I take water straight from the tap and run it through my purifier to replenish the pitchers that I keep in the house, and the water bottle that I keep in my car. I do have a plastic container that I use at work, but that is constantly refilled and has been in use for at least 3 months now….that’s at least 75+ bottles that I did not have to add to the landmills and did not have to spend money on either. All in all, good for me and better for the planet!
March 6th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
This topic is something I’ve been debating recently. My fiance and I use refillable Nalgene water bottles, with water that we filter at home. I’m concerned about the potential toxins, and recently read an article that said warm liquids leached more of the toxin than cold liquids. I have considered aluminum bottles but have also read that patients with Alzheimer’s often have an elevated level of aluminum in their system and that avoiding the metal may help reduce levels in your body. Are there any risks with stainless steel bottles? I think glass is great, but we need something that won’t break so easily. Thanks!
March 6th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
My sister is an environmental engineer who now works for the U.S. Air Force. When she was studying water pollution and water supply in Colorado, she found that some bottled water had more contaminants than tap water. She, however, still uses a Nalgene bottle. My mom likes to use jam jars or pepperoncini jars because they are easy to wash and refill. And me? I am currently drinking from water fountains, but planning to buy a metal sigg bottle soon.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
In the United States, public drinking fountains are really taken for granted. The only places I have ever seen them in Europe or the UK is in the airports! I have really learned to appreciate them. I can hardly walk by one without taking a drink. The colder it is, the longer I drink. Grant it, the water may not be perfect, and sometimes it is truly awful, but it still beats using plastic water bottles and adding more plastic to the already overflowing landfills. And it also beats carrying around a bottle all the time just for “perfect” water!
March 6th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
We had a water purification system installed last year under our kitchen sink($400). We not only save money not purchasing water but we’re conserving by not using plastic bottles. I also offer my friends & family to come on over and take our purified water and they fill up their jugs also. Pretty good investment, saving 2-3 households from buying bottled water.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I live in Tucson where it’s hot and very dry so it’s imperative to have an adequate supply of water with me everywhere I go. I refill a one liter glass Gerolsteiner (mineral water) bottle with distilled water and carry it with me. The bottle is pretty (I’ve had many people ask where it came from) and it’s an easy way to track my fluid intake throughout the day. Whenever it starts to look a little grungy, I recycle it and buy a new one.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I have a tendency to form kidney stones and have been advised to drink LOTS of water, so I do carry a water bottle with me – but mine is (HORRORS!) a plastic Rubbermaid bottle. It’s a “permanent,” refillable bottle, so I’m not adding to landfill problems. I love this bottle, although I do worry, I confess, about what might be leaching into my water. I like this bottle because it’s light, I can see into it, and the drinking “spout” doesn’t have to unscrewed or sucked on – it just flips up (requires only one hand) and the “spout” is the perfect size for drinking. It closes so snugly that even if the bottle falls, it never leaks. And the outside of it doesn’t condense moisture on the inside of my purse. When the cover is removed, the bottle opening is plenty large to allow for thorough washing. Although I’ve looked, I can’t find anything remotely like it made out of metal and I won’t carry glass because of weight and breakage. Alas!! I am open to suggestions for appropriate alternatives.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I carry my stainless steel water bottle whereverI go. Atnight I fill it about 2 inches full and put in the freezer, then before I leave home, I fill the remainder of the bottle. That way not only do I have fresh water anddo not have to purchase a plastic bottle, but I have good cold water for many hours.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I recycle my glass juice bottles for my water bottle. I’ll use the smaller ones for the gym.
I always keep a larger bottle filled with water in the car as this is the best time to try and get in that daily amount of water. When you’re stuck in traffic or thinking about grabbing a coffee, this makes for a great diversion. Also, a squeeze of fresh citrus makes your water zippy.
Don’t use dish soap to clean out your bottles as it leaves a residual flowery smell. Use grapefruit seed extract to clean and disinfect naturally!
March 6th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
We use wine bottles to store filtered tap water. The cork works fine. We rinse them out with baking soda every dozen refills or so.
We use mason jars to store leftover tea and coffee in our fridge, and also use mason jars for food leftovers.
To tote around, we follow Stephanie’s example (comment #2) and use glass tea bottles.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Okay, this isn’t really about drinking water. I have been reading alot of these green blogs and have not seen it ever mentioned that Sunday comics make great wrapping paper! I NEVER buy wrapping paper. This has been done in my family at least since I was a little girl and I’m pushing 50 now! Okay I have bought Christmas paper occasionally when it is 90% off at Target, or 25 cents per 100 ft. roll at Walgreens.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Great suggestions everyone. I have been using 2 tall glass evian bottles. After filling it with reverse osmosis water, I place both in this great wine cooler bag that I found. It also has a strap for easy carring.
I also use a wide mouth mason jar as well. I find any of these two options helpful.
It funny how far we have gone from using glass to now using plastic. I teach high school and the students as well as the staff think that I am weird when they see me drinking out a of glass container. They often ask me why. Takes them a while to figure that one out. Can you believe it.
Aside from the enviromental impact, we need not forget about the impact that plastics have on our health. For example zenoestrogens (causing unbalanced estogen levels) that arise as artifacts during the manufacture of plastics and other synthetic materials.
These zenoestrogens increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer, harder to lose weight, salt and fluid retention, high blood pressure, depression, and headaches.,interferes with thyroid hormone, greatly increases the risk of stroke, decreases libido, hampers control of healthy blood sugar levels and
fatigue.
Some food for thought.
Thanks for sharing.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I loved bottled water. But I was consuming about 25 per week. This seemed like such a waste.
What I do now, to help the environment,
I buy water by the gallon. I serve it in a glass, and drink from the glass rather than a bottle. In the end, I recycle a gallon jug, rather than 12 bottles.
I’m not sure if this is better, but it feels better.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:50 am
um, the water fountain? we have water fountains everywhere, for people to drink out of.
i know what’s in tap water. if you notice there’s a problem, it’s usually something you can bring up with the city you’re in, it might be a temporary problem due to flooding, but it could be something that needs attention. i should feel lucky i don’t live near a farm that sprays crops and use well water for my home–i doubt there’s much a filter can do for that stuff. that’s why we eat organic foods when we can.
i suppose no one uses public restrooms either?
March 7th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I am an American, working for a Toronto based company [how I found Whole Foods in Oakville] & am on the road for hundreds of miles—–I need water to hydrate. I found the perfect container……a Whole Foods organic liter sized milk bottle—-it’s great since I can wash it out, & has a plastic cap. However, I have to refill from a plastic gallon water bottle I keep in the minivan. Our Buffalo, NY area water is heavy on flouride, making it difficult to get past the smell which is why I continue to buy the gallon jugs. My suggestion would be to bring out gallon sized glass water bottles, like the milk bottles, & charge a depost which would be returned on refill…..just like we did with pop/milk bottles. Make sure the tops screw on for reuse.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:40 am
These are all great ideas, but in order to make a significant change, we need to stop the use of petroleum-based plastic water bottles altogether. That is where Whole Foods can help. Sell water in plant-based biodegradable bottles only. They do exist. Very simple and perhaps the rest of the world will catch on.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:54 am
where can i buy 1 gal stainless steel water bottles?
March 7th, 2008 at 5:58 am
For work, I used to reuse the little plastic milk containers you find in six packs, but now I use the glass peanut butter jars. If I don’t have to tote it all day with me and there isn’t anywhere I can get refills, I’ll sometimes use the glass spaghetti sauce jars because of their larger size.
March 7th, 2008 at 7:10 am
We buy single bottles of Mountain Valley Spring water and leave it our van, during the Summer. The thirstiest time of year! This way, the hot temps do not affect the water, like the plastic that leaches. Also, we use SIGG bottles for the kids’ lunches (to avoid the plastic “leaching” hazard).
March 7th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I’m fortunate to work for one of our local ‘big’ employers. The facilities department has installed filtered ice and water dispensers all over our buildings. Many of us bring a refillable container and use those daily, instead purchasing bottled water.
Urge your employer to do the same. It adds up!
March 7th, 2008 at 8:09 am
But why search out fountains and cafes when you can easily carry your own with you? It’s like pay phones… why search for one when you can carry a mobile? It’s much easier for me just to carry my own water around. My Sigg bottle is really pretty too – I get a lot of compliments on it! They say it looks like a genie bottle.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:22 am
If you work in an office setting with a community water cooler, instead of using a new plastic cup from the dispenser every time you want water, bring a glass from home that you can wash and reuse when you need hydration.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:46 am
I simply use my Kleen Kanteen. They come in various sizes to suit your needs. There are even different cap styles from which to choose. Get a couple to accomodate the length of your trips. (One small, one large.) I even drink out of it at home, by keeping it handy on a coaster on my bookshelf. It’s perfect since I like room temperature water (which is better for hydration than frigid water) and will use it to give my nearby plant a drink as well. Of course, it’s filtered first. I’m aware that filtration will not rid the water of all toxicity, but every bit helps. At work, I have a mug I refill throughout the day in addition to a water fountain I utilize every time I pass it. The movement is gaining momentum. I suggest this Spring and Summer we all start advertising and bring out our reusable water bottles for the masses to see!!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:39 am
You can get SIGG at http://www.northern-spirit.ca I have one too, they’re awesome! They come in smaller sizes for kids, as well as accessories like sport tops and cozies (Kind of like the ones for beer cans) Because the bottles are metal, if you put cold water in them, the outside of the bottle is rather cold to the touch. A great product that I now can’t live without!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Our individual personal practices amount to much, a little at a time. On occasion we can do much more at once if we not shun the opportunities that arise.
Whenever you are on a committee that is planing an event, do not be discouraged by the inertia of fellow planners, from providing food and drink in ways that not generate disposables. You might think that it would be a given for an event named Veg Fest. Repeatedly I had to relift the rug under which the issue was being swept. I recruited a filtration system vendor to dispense water at the event, into sports bottles, promotional of our organization, which we sold.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
a lot of you are talking about siggs, which i personally love. i had a nalgene, but cancer sucks and, let’s face it, it’s still plastic. also, i’m not big on the whole “sipping” thing, so i kept a straw in my nalgene, and the rim of it would get all yucky, even with regular cleanings. SIGGS ARE AWESOME!!!!!! you can get different sizes, even handles for babies and toddlers! also, you can clean them out with just regular baking soda, totally ok for the environment, which is way better than the bleach i had to resort to sometimes to get the yuck out of my nalgene after it had been in the hot san diego sun. yay for sigg! go to mysigg.com and you can order exactly what you want– get the lid, accessories (cleaning tools, handles, carriers) and as many as you need for the whole fam. hooray for hydration!
March 7th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Sometime ago we purchased Whole Foods stainless steel coffee mugs for each of us and fill them with water and ice from our home, which has a dual whole house filtration system and a reverse osmosis system for the drinking/cooking/ice making water. We don’t use them for coffee, only water, so we keep the pure taste of the water. We haven’t used plastic water bottles for several years.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Here’s an awesome site to check out for all your reuseable needs. http://www.reuseablebags.com. They just won the Green Business of the Year by Co-Op America. Also, keep in mind SIGG bottles are made of aluminum and that there are other toxicity issues with this material as well. I understand they have a non-toxic lining, but I would still be cautious. Kleen Kanteen is electro-polished. Just something to consider. I’m not trying to upset the SIGG community. By the way…you can find SIGG bottles on that site as well. They’re having a closout sale now!
March 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Hi Alba, that link is actually: http://www.reusablebags.com/ – thanks for the heads up. Re: Sigg bottles and aluminum, I’m not worried – the aluminum makes the outer portion of the bottle. I certainly feel it’s much safer than all that plastic.
March 8th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Great Idea! It is so important for all of us to reduse our use of plastics. Tons of plastic water bottles get into our ocean each year helping to create the Pacific Garbage Patch, which is a stewy mass of plastic (80%) and garbage in the Pacific Ocean. Approximately twice the size of Texas and 300 feet thick floating just under the surface between Hawaii and San Francisco. Redusing use of water bottles and raising awareness is a great way to start cleaning up our environment. Google “Pacific Garbage Patch” and learn what suprisingly few people know about what plastic is doing to our environment.
March 8th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I hate those pesky plastic bottles as much as anyone, but I find you can use them to fill with water, freeze and then put in a dog house to act as an “air conditioner” during the hot weather.
March 8th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I always have the corn-based water bottle, with the filter, sold at Whole Foods in my car, so I can drink water wherever I am. Because of a severe back problem, and medications required, I am constantly thirsty and probably drink at least 1/2 a gallon of water a day. I use a refillable filtered pitcher, but there are times, when I’m out and want a cold drink, I’ll break down and buy a cold bottle of water. Sorry….. I try to use my corn-based water bottles as much as possible.
March 8th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Hi, On March 6th, 2008 at 6:53 pm, jule small said: “Beware of any Stainless Steal containers from China. I had mine tested and found it was made with toxic materials.”
I have been using a stainless steel bottle which I purchased at Whole Foods. It was made in China and distributed by Enviro Products. Given that you, Whole Foods are selling this Chinese made product, I’m wondering if you’ve had it tested, and if not, will you?
Thanks,
Joan
March 9th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
For over 7 months, I have reused the same plastic bottle for my water.I just refill it with filtered water when empty.It makes me sad when I see people buying their water by the caseload, “on sale”, etc. and throw away the bottle without any thought of where it will end up.
March 9th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Thanks for the correction Gabrielle. Sometimes you type something a thousand times, but slip that once. Hope you check them out more often. I’m especially fond of their reusable produce bags. For someone like me that purchases a great deal of veggies,it’s a godsend. Take care.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:53 am
This is for Steve…if the plastic water bottle you’re reusing is made from a #1 plastic, I would stop using it. This type of plastic is meant for single-use only. Thereafter, the danger of leaching is inevitable. How about reusing a glass container or trying out a Kleen Kanteen or SIGG bottle instead? You won’t regret it. Scroll up a bit and you’ll see a link to a site where you can purchase different types.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:17 am
My earlier comment (#8 above) about the relative safety of the U.S. municipal water supply appears to have been a little optimistic. The Associated Press just released an investigative story about pharmaceuticals in drinking water that everyone concerned should read. Here’s the link to CNN’s version:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/10/pharma.water1.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
March 10th, 2008 at 9:26 am
jerry, I appreciate the fact that you have looked into the tap water issue since I mentioned it early on in this blog. Relieable water sources are not a given any more. Drinking fountains, restaurant tap water, etc. are all in question these days…even bathing in the tap water is frowned upon since there are so many chlorine byproducts and hot steamy chlorine gases are biohazardous. Chlorine gas is a toxic chemical weapon.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:22 am
i reuse the glass bottles from VOSS. most whole foods carry this brand of sparkling and still water, and they are a streamlined design that is easy to wash in the dishwasher and refill. i love them!
March 10th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Joan, I have a Klean Kanteen and it is also made in China, but if you go on their website, they explain safety issues intricately and the reason why they have their product manufactured in China. The link to their FAQS page is http://www.kleankanteen.com/7faqs/faqs.html Just keep scrolling down to find info on safety and quality standards. Of course anyone else is most welcome to read up on them as well. As for “New Wave Enviro Products, here is a link to their site for further info. They seem to be fine. According to them, they are even endorsed by Leo DeCaprio’s eco site: http://www.11thhouraction.com/. I would feel safe purchasing a product from them. In fact they even make shower filters, which these days are necessary for not only the reasons Linda mentioned, but a plethora of others. The issues with bathing water is a huge one and I won’t get into it here. That could be easily researched. Aside from all this, I’d like to say it’s pretty cool to see so many people aware and taking responsibility to save our Earth. It’s all we got and I fear for her future, but it looks like we’re finally heading forward on the right path.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Oops, sorry the link for New Wave Enviro didn’t go through. Here it is again http://www.newwaveenviro.com/
March 10th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
What happened to the filtered water machine at the Glover Park Whole Foods?
It would be nice if the Glover Park Whole Foods would bring back the filtered water machine so that we can reuse our one gallon bottles, instead of throwing them away in the recycling container.
Not only do you get a delicious gallon of water for less than 50 cents, but you get a good workout too. In addition, the filtered water is excellent for herbal and medicinal teas.
By the way, did you read today’s paper about drugs in the water supply? I stopped drinking WASA/Army Corps of Engineers water several years ago.
If the Glover Park Whole Foods is out of the question, is there any chance of installing the filtered water machine at the Tenleytown Whole Foods?
If more people speak up in favor of reinstalling the filtered water machine, we might have some luck.
Please ask the manager for the filtered water machine each time you visit Whole Foods.
Thanks.
March 10th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Buy sip bottles from Whole Foods with fold down straws. I use two colors for my two kids. Instead of buying individual juice boxes/pouches, I fill these with water or juice for their lunches and we waste little and hydrate often!!
March 11th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I need a large, re-useable, and non-plastic bottle that will fit in a regular water bottle cage for a bicycle. Any suggestions?
March 15th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I recently purchased a stainless steel water bottle from a company called Greenfeet. It even has a selection of caps (I like the sports cap) that you can choose from. It’s great not buying water in plastic bottles anymore!
March 17th, 2008 at 7:40 am
On Mar. 7, in this blog I suggested that Whole Foods BAN plastic water bottles altogether. That seems to have fallen on deaf ears. This is a major environmental problem and there should be serious legislation to stop the proliferation of plastic drinking bottles.
In my humble opinion, the number one cause of cancer in this world is toxic chemical byproducts of plastics production such as dioxins and benzene and zenoestrogens. And guess what? These carcinogens are not only in the plastic bottles that billions of us use, but they are also released into our environment and get into our water supply during production and decomposition.
My solution to this is a Multipure water filter that eliminates 99% of most harmful chemicals. It is certified in California and is the best water filter on the market. They can be easily mounted on your countertop or under the sink. Go to Multipure.com to order your stainless steel filter today and do yourself and the world a favor.
Happy drinking! David Cox
March 17th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Not actually about drinking water, just water in general.
My husband & I own a farm in a very rural area with a well-not city water. We were very concerned with our water usage for crops and livestock. We just installed a 2500 gallon tank to collect the rainwater from our barn to use for these purposes, and also to use to make “manure tea” for our crops, thereby avoiding the use of chemicals for fertilizing. Also, this tank was destined to be thrown away, and was given to us, eliminating it from the landfill. A fresh coat of paint on the steel bands and it will be good as new! Homeowners can do this on a smaller scale with rain barrels.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Right on Dave!!! You’ve hit it on the money. Rest assured, your message has not fallen on deaf ears. I’ve been personally lobbying for an elimination of not only plastic water bottles, but plastic containers in general at the Whole Foods in Columbus Circle, New York. All their items, that should be in bulk are in plastic containers that cannot be recycled in the State of New York. Regardless of recyclability, there’s no need to have them in those containers. It would be very easy to push reusable produce bags in their stores. That could not only be used for produce, but all other bulk items as well. Getting back to the plastic bottle discussion. I agree that it is disconcerting to see that in Whole Foods of all places. As much as I like shopping there, I notice the company does not have uniform standards for all their stores. For instance in New York, you were only given the choice of a plastic bag, where as in their Princeton, NJ store, you had the option of paper or plastic. Very strange, although thank goodness, all stores will finally be abandoning plastic bags. IT’S ABOUT FRIGGIN’ TIME!!!!!!
March 18th, 2008 at 7:53 am
What a great bunch of blogs! With April around the corner, and so much Environmental Awareness going on about the nation, these comments are encouraging. With a large corporation like Whole Foods providing a medium for Ediscussion amongst strangers, is incredible, and enlightenling.
Plastic has no natural predators. Nothing eats it and nothing decomposes it. So like aluminum, it shall come to haunt us. The issue of stainless steel was addressed in the blogs, and upsetting to find that some manufacturers have contaminated the mix here,too.
I agree that recycling and reuse are great possibilites for societal improvements. However, consumers move the market, and planned obsolescence is part of retail expansion along with economic stimulus.
So, let us continue to be supportive of all community efforts that inspire better choices, and determine responsible behavior. Thank you to Whole Foods and all the bloggers. It is a great reading experience. Gives one hope for the future.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Mountains to City, Winter to Warmer. In the Colorado Rockies I have a cabin where we turn off the water 8 to 9 months a year, but I still visit when nothing comes out of the tap. In the wintertime I wash dishes by bringing water jugs, boiling what I need, using a little soap on a sponge, and I’m amazed by how little water it takes compared to my summer dishwashing. Some of the left over water is tossed outdoors for consumption by the trees when things warm up in May.
Since it works so well, I’m transferring this practice to my home in the city. Boiling water, washing with a little soap, rinsing, and putting less water down the drain. I haven’t yet used my “grey” water in the city to water the trees, but certainly could.
Also, the plumbing in the outhouse in the mountains works all year round, but I don’t have one of those in the city! Such a device in the city would save incredible quantities of water, but the neighbors might object.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
No matter what I do to not use plastic water bottles, I still feel slightly nauseous every time I go to a function or gathering with lots of people and one of the drinks provided is water bottles! It’s even worse when it’s Dasani or Aquafina…yuck…
What do you do?!? I get so disenheartened, I just want to scream “STOP IT!!!” I can’t get on every organizing committee and fight everyone else who just want to do the easiest thing (individual plastic bottles). I so at least take my bottle home to recycle it. I have occasionally set up a seperate recycling container (at parties not public events), but this embarasses my children and husband, so I limit myself to doing that only if we know the hosts personally.
I have to supply drinks (Gatorade and water) and snacks for a water polo game, and my 11th grade son is horrified that I’m going to bring it in a BIG jug and supply paper cups. I also told him I was bringing carrots, but that was a joke. I will however, bring something homemade and NOT individual prepackeaged snacks.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:31 pm
No matter what I do to not use plastic water bottles, I still feel slightly nauseous every time I go to a function or gathering with lots of people and one of the drinks provided is water bottles! It’s even worse when it’s Dasani or Aquafina…yuck…
What do you do?!? I get so disenheartened, I just want to scream “STOP IT!!!” I can’t get on every organizing committee and fight everyone else who just want to do the easiest thing (individual plastic bottles). I so at least take my bottle home to recycle it. I have occasionally set up a seperate recycling container (at parties not public events), but this embarasses my children and husband, so I limit myself to doing that only if we know the hosts personally.
I have to supply drinks (Gatorade and water) and snacks for a water polo game, and my 11th grade son is horrified that I’m going to bring it in a BIG jug and supply paper cups. I also told him I was bringing carrots, but that was a joke. I will however, bring something homemade and NOT individual prepackeaged snacks.
My frustration with society as a whole just keeps getting worse. Reading these blogs makes me feel like I am not alone, but in the REAL world it still feels like it.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Filtering and even using reverse osmosis does not remove all contaminents from municipal water supplies, it only removes bacteria, some contaminants and improves the taste. Do your homework, if you think any tap water in America is safe to drink becuase you filter it you are mistaken.
I hope whole foods will search for and sell really pure bottled spring water into the future. I am willing to pay a premium price for clean, uncontaminated spring water and make sure the bottles get recycled. The answer is not to rebuff bottled water, the answer is in recycling the bottles!
March 28th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
We use SIGG bottles because they are re-useable, recycleable and not made in CHINA. The lining prevents leaching of aluminum. Please be aware that regardless of the “safely made in China” labels, the contribution to the Chinese economy benefits the government not the people. See the documentary Seoul Train for a couple of hundred thousand reasons not to support China products. http://www.seoultrain.com/ We are not “Made in the USA” fanatics, we buy from lots of other countries (and yes, many others have issues, but you can only do what you can do). But given the safety issues and human rights issues involved we know that we are helping the planet and its people by using green products and not supporting governments that are responsible for hundreds of thousands of abuses each year.
The one draw back to SIGGs is that you can’t freeze them, but I take ice from our filtered ice maker and leave it in the freezer at work, so I have it throughout the day to add to the bottle. When traveling, I use my jandd insulated water bottle bag and it keeps it cold all day. (http://www.jandd.com – they are made in the US and Mexico and all of their products are phenomenal quality! We buy all our backpacks, etc from them.)
Thanks for the effort you are all making. I really see the market responding to these efforts. One oif the biggest things we can do is educate our kids. They are activists at heart, I believe and they will force the changes that are most impacting through their schools if we support them. Then we really can change the future
April 4th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I used to have fears of what was to be found in Canadian tap water, but my bf and his family drink tap water using a brita filter and both his parents work for the city.
One at the Waste Management plant, and the other in the lab at the Water Purification plant testing water samples. If they’re both confident in drinking the tap water, then I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Another way to go green is purchasing your water bottles that are made in the USA. And ask your childrens school to go back to fountain drinks at sporting events and have a water bottle fundraiser with the school colors as choices. You can also visit http://takeatote.com for more green fundraising ideas.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I like the idea of stainless steel water bottles because I am too much of a klutz to carry the glass without dropping it. But I’ve wondered if I could actually get the water out of the bottle through the spout? Anyone have some feedback on how they work in that regards? As for drinking from a faucet/water fountain… all I can say is, YUCK! Don’t know what state you all live in, and yeah, MAYBE the water supply is “safe” but it tastes disgusting where I live (California) and to top it off, what about the “flouride” that is put into it AND the “chlorine”!? I don’t know about you, but anyone who is health-conscious is NOT going to want to ingest flouride and chlorine (at least as long as we can avoid it!) So thanks, but no thanks – I am sticking with filtered water, gang!
April 19th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
i always carry around my sigg water bottle. It is aluminum and comes in more than 100 designes! I love it!
May 29th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I carry a stainless steel container filled with tea myself. If for any reason I forget it and I must buy a beverage, I do my best to grab a bottle of Teas Tea. Excellent tea and the bottle is plastic but PETE1 so I don’t feel bad.
December 5th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Laptop Lunches makes a great reusable bento box for packing waste-free lunches and they have some really nice stainless steel drink bottles, lunch jars, and travel flask. Lots of the Whole Foods stores carry Laptop Lunches.
February 9th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I am a traveler and stay at least 4 days in hotels. I bought a Sigg water bottle and have stopped using/wasting the bottled water, albeit it’s free for elite guests. At night, I fill water from my office and don’t waste plastic at all. I have been consistently doing this for a few months now. Very happy, proud and satisfied.
My wife has started carrying one along too.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I loved my Sigg bottle- I carried it everywhere, including on a summer-long trip to Europe. But then there was the liner issue so I exchanged it for the new Sigg bottle with BPA-free liner (to be honest I was not that concerned with the leaching but there were some mysterious deposists that I could never get out of my old bottle, even with the Sigg tablets). Six weeks after exchanging our family’s Sigg bottles for the new improved Sigg bottles, the bottle liner is peeling off one of them in strips around the screw threads. My son came home today from school complaining about the plastic in his water. I’ve now found a number of similar complaints online- so be aware of this problem. I’m feeling very done with Sigg now.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Drinking good water is so important I feel up my stainless steel bottle with my Pi-Mag Water and take it everywhere I go.
February 28th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Everyone should watch the documentary “Tapped” before thinking of using any kind of plastic water bottle.
January 8th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Laurel,
We too are done with the Sigg Bottles. I liked the look and feel, but they are hard to clean and fill compared to others. The main reason I’m not buying anymore is due to the liner starting to peel off within a month. I thought that I might have got a bad one. It happened to 3 bottles so I gave up. I’ve switched to Nalgene. The one I have says made in the USA, BPA Free and dishwasher safe. So far, it’s better in every way, well it might not look as cool, but I can live with that.
March 21st, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Life factory makes a glass bottle with a silicone sleeve and top just like the aluminum and steel bottles but no metal taste! They also come in different sizes for kids and babies!
May 1st, 2011 at 8:56 am
Life factory makes a nice sturdy glass bottle with silicone sleeve and top…no metal taste and comes in various sizes…even for kids and babies!
May 1st, 2011 at 9:00 am