If you are looking for a new reusable water bottle, you are probably familiar with the many varieties of reusable water bottles that are out there. Plastic water bottles are perhaps the most common. But metal water bottles, especially stainless steel water bottles, are catching on for a number of reasons including their health and environmental benefits. Here we compile some of the best reasons to consider a stainless steel reusable water bottle vs plastic water bottle.
1. STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLES ARE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
While reusable water bottles of any kind are more environmentally friendly than single-use plastic water bottles, stainless steel and metal reusable water bottles have a slight edge over their plastic rivals in the sustainability department. Plastic reusable water bottles are still made of plastic. They still require oil to produce and will contribute to plastic pollution whenever they are disposed of. Stainless steel by comparison is fully renewable, recyclable, and natural. It does not degrade and its chemical composition is simply iron, chromium nickel, and carbon, none of which are toxic.
2. STAINLESS STEEL IS MORE DURABLE
Plastics have gotten stronger over the years, but the very nature of their chemical composition makes them susceptible
to degradation and weakening. This can cause them to become brittle and prone to breaking and splintering, creating hairline cracks that are hard to clean and where bacteria can accumulate.
Stainless steel is not completely indestructible but it affords a number of advantages over plastics in terms of durability. Stainless steel is not as susceptible to temperature variations that slowly degrade plastics and do not corrode as quickly. This makes stainless steel a longer lasting reusable water bottle option and one that is more sanitary and easy to clean.
3. STAINLESS STEEL IS NOT HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH
Plastic is not just bad for the environment. Chemicals in plastic have been shown to affect the human body in negative ways. Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, is common in plastic water bottles and has been shown to act as an endocrine disruptor. The human endocrine system regulates hormones- and the disruption of this mechanism can cause certain cancers and interferes with normal fetal and childhood development.
BPA is not the only health threat lurking in a plastic water bottle. As more consumers have become aware of the negative effects of BPA on human health, plastic water bottle manufacturers have removed BPA from their bottles and made a concerted effort to advertise their bottles as BPA-free. But according to new research, BPA is one of many toxic chemicals that can leach into the water from a plastic water bottle.
According to multiple studies, BPA free plastics still contain harmful endocrine disrupting chemicals that can leach into water. In one study, the chemicals that are used in lieu of BPA were shown to have the exact same endocrine disruption as BPA in mice. The scientists state that there is no reason to suppose that it would be different in humans.
In another study, chemicals that are found in all plastics called phthalates have been linked to asthma, breast cancer, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, type II diabetes, low IQ, obesity, neurodevelopmental issues, behavioral issues, autism spectrum disorders, altered reproductive development, and male fertility issues.
Clearly, BPA is not the only health concern with using a reusable plastic water bottle. And if you enjoy hot tea or other warm beverages in your water bottle, the chances of chemicals leaching into the beverage are even greater. Heat speeds up the chemical degradation that causes leaching. So when you pour hot water into a plastic bottle, you are basically creating a toxic infusion.
BE BOTTLE IS A BETTER STAINLESS STEEL REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE
When we created the Be Bottle, we wanted a bottle that people could certain was safe for their health, safe for the environment, and multi-functional. The Be Bottle is a stainless steel water bottle made of food grade stainless steel. The Be Bottle is not just another water bottle. It is a commitment to your health and our natural environment.