Can’t bring a plastic water bottle into work anymore? You’re not alone.
According to the Polaris Institute, to date there are 27 municipalities from six provinces that have implemented restrictions on bottled water in city facilities. And that’s only in Canada; various other cities in the United States, Europe and Australia are also placing bans on the highly popular plastic water bottle and mounting promotions to go “back to tap.”
It makes sense. Statistics Canada says that almost a third of Canadian households are choosing to drink bottled water over tap. And since as few as 50 per cent of the water bottles consumed in cities are recycled, that leaves millions of water bottles to plug up waste sites.
In a further effort to curb the waste, Canadian cities are promoting municipal tap water. And why not? Canada has some of the safest, cleanest and most accessible drinking water in the world. In fact, not only is potable tap water available in most communities across the country, it is also far more regulated than bottled water.
It’s easier than you think to carry water with you at all times without resorting to disposable plastic. Companies such as Canadian Thermos Products Inc. offer solutions with their line of reusable hydration bottles. The double-wall vacuum insulation ensures water remains at optimal temperatures for up to 12 hours; something that plastic could never do when toted around in a hot car, cold skating rink, or even a room-temperature office building.
Why switch?
• You’ll save money. A Canadian study showed that a one-litre brand name bottle of water at $2.50 is 3,000 times more expensive than the equal amount of tap water.
• You’ll help to divert plastic bottles from clogging up the landfills. It takes 700 years before a plastic bottle will begin to decompose.
• It’s easy to stay healthy and hydrated. A reusable hydration bottle is convenient to refill almost anywhere.
• Stainless steel hydration bottles are Bisphenol A (BPA) free, a chemical that can potentially migrate into the water from plastic bottles.
