Why stainless steel water bottles are good for the environment, our economics and which is better, stainless steel or aluminum?

CAUTION: Project Earth H2O Bottles Contain Awareness!

Why are stainless steel water bottles so popular? What makes them good for our environment as well as our economy? Are stainless steel water bottles better than aluminum water bottles? These are good questions and ones we are asked every day. Let’s address them one by one.

1. Are there differences between the many stainless steel water bottles available today?

Over the last 2 years the stainless steel water bottle market has become fairly saturated. There are not many places one can go where you won't see a variety of these colorful bottles for sale. At first glance most stainless steel water bottles are similar in appearance. However, in many cases there are a few not-so-obvious differences that are important to consumers looking for a safe alternative to bottled water. For one, what is the grade of stainless steel used in the construction of the bottle? It is important for consumers to always use a high-grade, 18/8, 304 stainless steel water bottle. What do all of these numbers mean? The 304 refers to the grade of stainless steel – 304 is FDA approved, food-grade stainless steel and very important when using as a drinking or food container. Many inexpensive stainless steel water bottles flooding the shelves today are 201 grade stainless steel. Additionally, many of these stainless steel bottles lack the density required to make them durable enough for long-term use. They are easily crushed with a squeeze from one’s own hand thus making them more likely to damage or even crack if dropped. The 18/8 refers to the Chromium to Nickel content. Without getting overly technical, in short, this means your stainless steel water bottle is safe to hold more beverage options other than water, such as, juices, smoothies, sports drinks etc. Although 18/8 stainless steel water bottles are safe for carbonated drinks it is not recommend due to pressure build up. We also do not recommend hot beverages due to the fact that stainless steel water bottles can become both very cold and very hot. As with any beverage container proper cleaning of your bottle and cap is always important for continued usage.

2. Why are stainless steel water bottles good for our environment?

From beginning to completion, the production and transportation of bottled water consumes between 1100 and 2000 times more energy than tap water. In 2007, over 200 billion liters of bottled water were sold worldwide. That amount has grown 70% since 2001, and bottled water has now surpassed milk and beer in sales. Bottled water is the world’s second most popular bottled beverage, second only to the vast number of colas available on the market today. Everyday single day close to 80 million bottled waters are sold in the U.S. alone. Unfortunately, 9 out of 10 of these bottles are used a single time and thrown into the trash. Forty billion empty bottles end up in U.S. landfills every year and these petroleum-based plastic bottles are leaching toxins into our earth’s soil and into our fresh waterways. Most people do not consider the massive amount of plastic required to quench the human demand for bottled water. The plastic used to bottle water is a petroleum-based (oil-based) plastic called Polyethylene Terephthalate, easily identified by the recycling code (PET#1). This plastic is designed and safe to be used only once – bottled water bottles are not safe to be reused. If reused, bacteria will begin to build up inside of the bottle and the plastic will begin to deteriorate causing toxins to leach from the bottle into the consumer’s water. Stainless Steel Water Bottles do not leach.

Every day 100’s of millions of petroleum-based bottles are produced and transported around the planet in order to provide consumers with a single water drinking experience. Energy required for the transportation of bottled water from point of origin to supermarket shelves around the globe alone is difficult to determine. While some bottles of water travel short distances, others are imported from country's that require a greater distance for the water to travel, which increases it’s energy footprint. However, U.S. bottled-water consumption in 2007 required an energy input equivalent to 32 million to 54 million barrels of oil without even taking transportation in consideration. The global demand for bottled water is three times that amount. To put that energy uses into perspective just imagine each bottle one-quarter full of oil. To also put that amount into perspective, that is more than enough fuel to power every vehicle in Los Angeles for an entire year. Stainless steel water bottles are safe for reuse, safe for a variety of beverages and will help eliminate the demand, production, and transportation of plastic products.

3. Why are stainless steel water bottles good for our economy as well as our personal economics?

Bottled water cost more than gasoline! Almost 50% of all bottled water is nothing more than regular tap water. This bottled water is gathered from the same water source our tap water is gathered and is run through a filtration system similar to those available in most homes across America. The average American family spends anywhere from $300 to $3000 every year on bottled water…water that for all practical purposes is free to them in their homes. Rather than buying bottled water, use stainless steel water bottles – it will save your family a great deal of money every year.

4. What is better Stainless Steel Water Bottles or Aluminum Water Bottles?

Great question – Here are a few important differences:

• Most importantly – Safety! Stainless steel is a neutral metal and does not leach – that is why silverware and cookware is made of stainless steel. Aluminum requires an inner lining to prevent the metal from leaching.
• Studies indicated that the plastic inner lining in Aluminum bottles contains Bisphenol A (BPA) a known precursor to several types of cancer – including breast cancer, reduced testosterone levels in men and attention deficit disorders in children.
• Cost -Stainless steel water bottles are less expensive than aluminum.
• Weight and durability – aluminum is lighter, but stainless steel is more durable.
• High-grade 18/8, 304 stainless steel water bottles are safe for acidic beverages – to our knowledge Aluminum is not.
• If you are drinking ionized water – aluminum will maintain your waters ionization where stainless steel water bottles will not.

Project Earth H2O stainless steel water bottles are high-grade, 18/8, 304 stainless steel. $2.00 of every Project Earth H2O stainless steel bottle is donated to non-profit environmental charities dedicated to preserving our planet and breast cancer research. Together we are making a difference!

CAUTION: Project Earth H2O Bottles Contain Awareness!