Say No To Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles offer us a simple and convenient solution that allows us to drink on the move and store many other types of liquids. However, over the decades, our reliance on plastic bottles has contributed to a global problem with plastic waste. Much of it is down to growing demand, the single-use nature of much of our plastic consumption, and the negative environmental impacts. So, why should we say no to plastic bottles?

We are failing to recycle millions of tons each year. Plastic bottles can find their way into our oceans and landfill sites. Once there, they can destroy natural habitats and negatively impact a range of life on land and sea.

Once in a landfill, plastic bottles not only take 100s of years to break down but also leech a plethora of harmful chemicals⁸. And the sight of plastic bottles washed up on our shores is not one most would choose.

Saying no to plastic bottles is one small way we can all make a difference to the harm disposable single-use plastics cause. And if we all said no to plastic bottles, we could together make a huge dent in our global demand for plastic produced from our finite oil reserves and their resulting pollution once disposed of.

The Size of the Problem

We should all, by now, be aware of the problem of plastic waste. Plastic packaging is durable, versatile, and flexible, but the one characteristic that really lets it down is that it takes centuries to degrade. Single-use plastic bottles are everywhere. And many of them are set to stay with us for many years longer than our lifespans.

Supermarkets and shop aisles are full of them. Many of us stock our fridges, kitchen, and bathroom cupboards full of them. Either aware of the problem but yet to act, or unwilling or unable as yet to shift away from plastic bottles. For shifts do require viable alternatives.

Just take a look at some of the facts:

• Plastic bottles can take up to 1,000 years to break down
• 80% of bottles never make it to recycling plants
• We place 39 million plastic bottles in landfill in the US
• Globally, every minute, more than 1 million plastic bottles are sold

While plastic bottles are used for many reasons, it is the plastic water bottle industry that is causing the most environmental damage. Sales of water in plastic bottles in the UK alone have reached £558.4m over the past 12 months. This is an increase of 7% when we compare it to the previous year. This equates to 2.2 billion liters of bottled water.

Meanwhile, plastic bottles and bottle caps sit in 3rd and 4th place as the most collected plastic waste items from our beaches.

Recently in countries like the UK, we have targeted the problem of plastic bags, with supermarkets now charging at least 5p should we not bring our own. Next up, we must tackle a wider range of single-use plastic with plastic bottles clearly in our sights.

Related: Read more about the facts about plastic pollution.

So Why Should We Say No to Plastic Bottles?

Plastic Bottles Pollute the Environment and Draw On Fossil Fuels

To produce plastic bottles, we have to utilize oil. So, plastic bottles also draw on a finite natural resource. Along with this, the process of retrieving oil also has other environmental impacts associated with the drilling and production required to acquire oil, the raw material for producing plastic bottles. Such as leaching chemicals and producing CO2 throughout drilling, transportation, and use. And all these activities disturb natural habitats in some measure.

A lot of effort and oil goes into making one plastic bottle. A petroleum derivative known as polyethylene terephthalate is used to manufacture most plastic bottles. In fact, to get an idea of how much oil is required, you could fill each plastic bottle by a third with oil. That is how much is used to produce each one. It also takes triple the amount of water to make a plastic water bottle than it does to fill it⁹.

And we’re using a lot of oil. To give you an idea of how much oil the US uses, it was once the largest exporter of oil. Now it is the largest importer, importing more than 2 million barrels per day. One of the reasons for this increase is the growth in the production of plastics, of which single-use plastic bottles are a big part. Research suggests that the production of new plastics will require 20% of our oil production within 35 years⁶.

Manufacturing Plastic Releases CO2

The manufacturing process also generates CO2 emissions. In fact, the majority of the carbon footprint of plastic occurs during production⁷ (as opposed to later in its lifecycle when it is, ideally, recycled). This feeds into the problem of rising temperatures and sea levels, as well as further damaging natural environments and wildlife.

Our ignorance and lack of understanding have seen us pollute our environment with plastic bottles. Instead of recycling, when we dispose of plastic bottles, they regularly end up in landfills. When they get disposed of incorrectly, many find their way into the ocean.

You won’t be alone in recognizing discarded plastic bottles in gutters, on our beaches, and in nature. In fact, of all plastic produced, a staggering 9 percent actually gets recycled.

And if we don’t recycle plastic, we rely on other means for it to come to the end of its useful life.  A lot of the plastic we discard that is not recycled is shipped to other countries for disposal. In the UK, we only process around a third of our own plastic waste. Once shipped offshore, it's harder to track, much is dumped or incinerated. In turn, causing more pollution.

Either in a landfill or in our environment, for a plastic bottle to completely degrade, it can take centuries. As much as 1,000 years in some cases. And even then, it degrades into smaller plastic particles or microplastics. Therefore, every single plastic bottle incorrectly disposed of in the environment still exists somewhere in the world. Plastic will always be plastic and can never change into another form.

Say No To Plastic Bottles Because They Are A Health Risk

As plastic breaks down, it releases harmful chemicals. These can then work their way into the soil and water, causing problems for our health.

What’s more, our health is also linked to the oceans. This is the place where a large number of plastic bottles end up. Marine plants produce more than 70% of the oxygen that we breathe. However, plastic bottles that make their way into the ocean are consumed by marine life. Some of this marine life forms part of the human food chain.

Plastic bottles also contain a chemical known as Bisphenol A or BPA. This is a chemical that we use to harden the plastic and make it clear. However, BPA is a known endocrine disruptor². As a result, many health professionals now consider it to be a risk to human health.

A wide range of problems, such as cancer, fertility reduction, and defects in babies, have been linked to BPA. What is also a concern is the fact that 96% of pregnant women have been found to have BPA in their bodies³.

Related: Read our guide to the best plastic-free baby bottles.

The concerns do not stop with BPA. Plastic bottles also contain phthalates. This chemical gives plastic an element of flexibility. However, like BPA, it is also an endocrine disruptor. As a result, there is a link to a reduction in sperm count, tumors, and even gender development problems.

We can Save Marine Life

Marine life is suffering due to the amount of plastic that enters the ocean. Plastic bottle tops are known to end up on the sea bed. However, what is more concerning is that they are also being found inside dead species.

These animals consume them, mistaking them for food. Plastic bottles and bottle tops can clog up the stomach and intestines, and birds are choking on them.

To understand how much plastic is in the ocean, we only need to look at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

At 1.6 million square kilometers in size, it is three times the size of France. However, we estimate that 1.8 trillion separate pieces of plastic can be found here⁴. This is perhaps the most visible indication that plastic in the ocean is an issue. It proves just why we should think about going plastic-free.

What Can We Do About It?

First and foremost, we need to reduce. We don’t need plastic bottles, especially with eco-friendly alternatives available. Instead of purchasing a bottle of water, we should refill reusable bottles and use water fountains.

Bottled water is a significant contributor to the problem. However many believe that bottled water is better for us, but that is not necessarily the case. Studies have found that bottled water is no safer than tap water⁵.

At home or the office, just go old-fashioned and fill a glass from the tap. Of course, we’re not saying that we don’t deserve a fruit drink or bubbly pop from time to time. Where possible, choose them in cardboard or cans. Of course, these, too, need proper recycling.

Sometimes, a simple switch can do the trick, using bar soap rather than shower gel in plastic bottles. Buying washing powder in cartons rather than liquid in bottles.

Finally, recycling is vital. Realistically, there is sometimes no easy alternative to plastic bottles at the moment. When you do need them, ensure they are recycled as best they can be in your area. Ultimately, if there’s vastly less plastic we don’t need to consume needing recycling locally, there’s also a chance we can reduce our need to ship our plastic waste problem to someone else.

Carry a Reusable Bottle

Pick up one of these reusable bottles on Amazon, and you can take a small step to reduce your plastic use:

Reusable Bottles on Amazon:

Takeya Originals Vacuum-Insulated Stainless-Steel Water Bottle

Contigo Stainless Steel Water Bottle

It's Now Time to Say No To Plastic Bottles

We can't continue to use plastic bottles in the way that we have. We should now make a conscious effort to reduce the use of plastic bottles. In turn, we should each make the switch to reusable bottles.

For too long, we have been seeking convenience. For that, we are now paying the price. As retailers sell drinks and other liquids in plastic bottles, our environment is edging closer to the breaking point.

Our lack of care and concern has meant that many of us have never considered the impact. Many have never thought about where plastic bottles go. All of this has caused plastic pollution on a scale that will take decades or longer to put right.

It is going to take a combined effort. Manufacturers have to take responsibility. They have to seek alternative products that have less of an impact on the environment. When you take a look at plastic straws, already people are making the switch to eco-friendly alternatives. We have to find a sustainable and mass-market solution to plastic bottles too.

Maybe there is a requirement to introduce a charge that is similar to that of the bag charge. However, there is no guarantee that this will solve the problem.

Consumers, therefore, also have to do their bit. It is no longer reasonable or acceptable to remove all responsibility. Therefore, consumers should make the effort to think about their actions. They need to ask questions such as:

• Where can I dispose of my plastic bottle?
• Can I recycle it?
• Can I reuse it?
• Is there an alternative?

There are many questions, but they all have answers. These answers could begin to point us toward a solution.