Is It Bad To Drink Out Of A Metal Water Bottle
With sustainability and recyclability at the forefront of many peoples’ minds, it can be tough to sift through all of the eco-friendly alternatives out there to find your perfect match. Between reusable plastic, glass, and metal water bottles, how on earth are you meant to choose the right one? Well, you’re in luck. We’re here to tell you exactly why stainless steel water bottles are the best option above all others.
Common Concerns About Metal Water Bottles
No material comes without concerns of course. Reusable metal bottles are mostly made out of aluminum or stainless steel. We think stainless steel is the best option in terms of sustainability and lack of potential health concerns.
Aluminum is an easily recycled metal and is easy to mould, due to being really soft, so makes for an affordable material for water bottles however, it’s not the most ideal metal to make drink containers from. To make it safe to drink from, it needs a plastic lining to be applied on the inside - even cans of soda have this lining. This is to prevent the metals and chemicals from seeping into your drink and will prevent the metal itself from being corroded by acidic drinks - potentially causing a variety of health side effects. The problem is that this plastic coating can still wear down or corrode over time and isn’t recyclable so it kind of defeats the purpose of using a reusable bottle. Enter stainless steel.
Just as recyclable as aluminum, stainless steel is the best material for reusable water bottles to be made from. It’s a durable material that doesn’t require an additional plastic coating to keep you safe. Stainless steel is inert and carries no nasty chemicals that might seep into your beverage. It doesn’t require any plastic linings and therefore stays completely recyclable. You won’t be left with a bad taste in your mouth either as stainless steel is a flavourless metal - perfect for hot and cold drinks alike.
The Pros and Cons of Reusable Water Bottles
So you’re tempted to invest in a stainless steel bottle but aren’t totally sure it's right for you? There are pros and cons to everything in life so here are a few pros and cons about stainless steel bottles to help you make the most informed decision you can.
Pros:
- Unlike glass bottles, stainless steel won’t shatter or crack if you accidentally drop it. Neither will it deteriorate as fast as a plastic bottle might and it doesn’t contain potentially harmful chemicals such as BPA.
- Almost all stainless steel bottles are insulated meaning you can put any hot or cold drink in them and can guarantee they stay that way for many hours. Additionally, they’re lightweight so won’t weigh you down even when full.
- The best part about stainless steel is that it’s totally recyclable. Additionally, Greens Steel products are made with recycled stainless steel so you can rest assured that you’re also saving existing metal from going into landfill.
Cons:
- Stainless steel isn’t carbon neutral and uses quite a lot of energy to transform into a product. But, although stainless steel requires that energy to be turned into the bottles, cups, and flasks, over the bottle’s lifetime, it balances out to equal much less per use when compared to disposable plastic bottles.
- Due to their insulated design, if you accidentally leave your cold drink in a warm car for too long, the insulation will have done its job and heated the beverage up. This takes a long time though so you’ll be fine if you don’t leave it out in the heat for too long.
- Try not to drop your stainless steel bottle as they can be prone to dents. Not a bad thing for those who like their belongings to show how much they’re loved, but if you like to keep your items pristine you might want to be gentle with it.
Why Are Metal Bottles Better Than Plastic?
Plastic has come under scrutiny lately and for good reason. The sheer number of plastic water bottles consumed in the US alone surpassed those of soda in 2016 and over 1 million plastic bottles are used globally every minute. Yes, you heard us right. Not only are plastic bottles filling out landfill and garbage dumps, they are also taking multiple centuries to break down. Although many types of plastic can easily be recycled, it’s a sad fact that the US only recycles around 30% of its plastic and every piece of plastic that has ever been created is still here and will still be here for up to 450 years. Scary stuff. This is why we’re trying to change how you enjoy your favourite drinks by opting for fully recyclable stainless steel.
Now you’ve learnt about why metal water bottles are the best, check out our full range of stainless steel bottles for the best way to enjoy your favourite drinks - plastic free.
Fefe | Greens Steel Wellness Contributor
Sydney, AUS
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