Single-use plastics are convenient, yet behind that convenience lies a massive environmental cost. Each day, about 2,000 garbage trucks worth of plastic waste are dumped into our aquatic ecosystems – that’s 19-23 million tons of plastic waste per year! Once dumped, plastic can cause danger to wildlife, as animals may suffocate on or become entangled in plastic pieces. Microplastics, or tiny fragments of plastic debris, have also been shown to have negative impacts on wildlife. Microplastics may also have negative impacts on humans, though more research is needed to fully understand the potential human health impacts. Visit the “Definition” link below for more information on plastic pollution, and the “About” link to join Earthday.org’s “End Plastics” campaign.

One great way to reduce your single-use plastic consumption is to swap from single-use water bottles to a reusable option. However, this doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy the newest bottle on the market! Remember, the most sustainable option is always to use what you already have first. If you already have a reusable water bottle, be sure to use it for its entire usable life (and then recycle it, if possible). If you don’t have one, check out your local thrift store or bartering groups for a secondhand option before buying new.

As a final option, if you do decide to buy new, we encourage you to consider options made from stainless steel, glass, or recycled plastics instead of new plastic. Here are some options:

• Klean Kanteen is a family-owned business that created the first reusable stainless steel water bottles in 2004. These days, they offer a large variety of insulated and non-insulated water bottles, tumblers, straws, and food storage to help you cut out single-use plastics. Despite their growth, they’ve maintained their values; they are a Certified B Corporation and 1% for the Planet member.
• Kablo creates high-quality glass water bottles with solid stainless steel caps. They consider sustainability in every aspect of their product, including choosing packaging made from 100% recycled kraft paper. In addition, they donate 1% of their annual sales to the 5 Gyres Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing plastic pollution.
• Ocean Bottle has a unique promise: for every 1 of their water bottles purchased, they fund the collection of 1,000 plastic bottles worth (25 lbs) of ocean-bound plastic. That’s a purchase you can feel good about! In addition, their bottles are all made with at least 65% recycled materials and come with a 10-year warranty.