The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Reusable Bottles

You’ve probably been told before to avoid the use of plastic water bottles. On top of the toxic chemicals and harmful health effects, disposable bottles are expensive and wasteful. 

We should all do our part to reduce and reuse what we can, and plastic water bottles are an excellent starting point.

Today, we’re going to take a look at how plastic is impacting our environment and why the reduce and reuse movement is something we fully support.

Understanding Plastic Decomposition Time

Plastics are a popular material for disposable products because they are durable and cheap. Compared to other materials like paper and cardboard, however, the issue with plastic is that it takes too long to decompose.

How long does it take for plastic to decompose? Whether it’s in the ocean or a landfill, plastic can take between 2 decades and 5 centuries to decompose depending on the structure. Here are a few examples of some of the worst offenders:

• Plastic bottles: 450+ years
• Plastic bags: 20+ years
• Styrofoam: 500+ years
• Soda can rings: 400+ years
• Foam plastic cups: 50+ years

All of these pose a significant problem as plastic buildup pollutes environments and adds toxins to the homes of local wildlife. Because we get many of our food products from these habitats, plastic waste ultimately harms us too.

Encourage Reusable Bottles

Eliminating the use of plastic entirely likely won’t be feasible for now, but the best steps we can take is to reduce our use of it and reuse the products instead of disposing and buying new ones. Always consider using reusable goods, as they’re more eco-friendly and economical in the long run.

Refilling plastic bottles is an option, but studies have shown that bacterial growth over time remains an issue. If you’re concerned about health, pick up an aluminum reusable bottle to bring with you.

The Reuse of Plastic in General

Go beyond the water bottle and find other plastic products and containers that can be reused. Reuse plastic by repurposing:

• Milk containers as watering cans
• Plastic grocery bags as trash bags
• Water bottles as flower pots
• Soda liter bottles as piggy banks

There’s also the option of buying refillable containers, such as hand soap dispensers. Cleaning products in general are open to the idea of refilling.

Don’t forget that some plastics can be recycled. The most common candidates for recycling are peanut butter jars, juice cartons, plastic bottles, and shampoo bottles. Look for indicators on the packaging that suggest recyclability. Don’t just throw anything into the blue bin, as not all plastics can be recycled.

What Econo-Chem Is Doing to Contribute

Econo-Chem is dedicated to eco-friendliness. Our products are shipped to you in a concentrated solution so that you can dilute it into your own custom blends. From disinfectants to hand sanitizers and air fresheners, Econo-Chem uses Green Energy in its operations and saves your business thousands of dollars thanks to our biodegradable and reusable cleaning products.

Instead of buying single-use plastic bottles, encourage refilling to save money and cut down on waste. Large brands like The Holiday Inn, Shell, Value Village, and Canadian Tire actively use our products.

Are you looking to embrace the reusable plastic revolution? Get in touch with our team today to learn more about our cleaning products.