Most of us use them, even though they pollute the environment. We use them because they are convenient, forgetting they are not good for our health either. 

Plastic bottles. 

Right after cigarette butts and food wrappers, plastic bottles are the most common marine waste to wash ashore on beaches. Moreover, although they are easily recyclable, they often end up in landfills. 

Their toxicity is not to be overlooked either. Unfortunately, we ingest microplastics and numerous additives that leak from the plastic bottle into the water.  This is because when a plastic bottle is exposed to sunlight or another source of heat, the plastic degrades releasing these chemicals and microparticles. The most worrying substances are additives such as BPA, a plastic softener often qualified as an endocrine disruptor, able to interact negatively with our hormone system.

Best thing you can do for your health and the planet is to stop using plastic bottles! 

How to get plastic-free water?

Drink tap water

Whether your tap water is good to drink or not really depends on where you live. Some households are connected to freshly sourced water, others get treated water that smells and tastes like chlorine. Still, drinking tap water is the most efficient and eco-friendly way, because you don't need to buy bottled water and don't make any waste. 

If your water is not drinkable (because it doesn’t taste good or goes through old plumbing) you can consider one of these options:

Get a filter

There are a variety of water filters on the market. Which type you need depends on what you want to remove from the water and whether you want to have it fixed on the tap or use a portable option (great when you’re renting). If your water contains solids, sand or dirt - you may want to opt for a ceramic filter. A carbon filter, on the other hand, removes most ions responsible for hard water but they have to be changed regularly to avoid the growth of fungi and bacteria. The most efficient and safe option (although only possible as a permanent option on your tap/a separate tap) is an osmotic filter which can even purify highly contaminated water. It does however, by the way it works, use up more water than it purifies which is worth considering when choosing this option. 

Use water stations

Many cities offer municipal water stations where you can refill your water on the go (into a reusable water bottle) or to bring home (in a bigger jug). This option is great as it is free and the municipality has to regularly verify the quality of the water and you can be sure it is safe to drink.

Benefit from spring water

Where did people get their drinking water before it was sold in the supermarkets? Out in nature! If you’re lucky enough to live close to a (safe!) spring, you could refill reusable bottles or even 5L jugs and enjoy the freshest tasting water out there!

Which option will you choose?

Gina Mareen Prasuhn comes from Germany and lives in Portugal. Exploring and documenting nature is her passion - on her blog, she shares her fascination and knowledge and hopes to inspire with it. She sees life in harmony with nature as an opportunity to cope with our current global crises.

She works in environmental education and as a writer & linguist and collaborates on projects related to environmental awareness, marine litter, nature conservation, biodiversity & regenerative agriculture.