
Hydration is key to a healthy lifestyle, but at the rate plastic bottles are being dumped into landfills, how you hydrate might be even more important. Reusable water bottles prevent the need for single-use plastics, but which are the best eco-friendly water bottles available?
According to the Container Recycling Institute, a nonprofit organization with the goal of ending plastic pollution and promoting recycling, in 2018, Americans bought more than 70 billion plastic water bottles that were one gallon or less (in other words, single-use).
Of those, three out of four—or 52.5 billion bottles—ended up in a landfill or incinerator. And that's not even taking into account the many, many single-use plastic bottles that end up littering our parks, roads, and oceans.
Here's why it matters. According to the Recycling Coalition of Utah, it takes up to 1,000 years for plastic to degrade in a landfill. Additionally, the CRI says the production of plastic bottles themselves takes more water than the bottles actually contain, and the process requires more than 15 million barrels of oil. For reference, that's enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars for an entire year.
All this is to say, it's time we do our part to lower our plastic consumption and, as a result, our individual carbon footprints.
Fortunately, doing so is easier than ever before. That's because, with eco-conscious wellness on the rise, companies all over the world are launching eco-friendly water bottles that can be used over and over again.
Since there are so many reusable water bottles on the market, we've narrowed down five high-quality options for your consumption consideration. Ahead, you'll discover a handful of bottles that are all worthy of making room for in your kitchen and routine.
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Klean Kanteen Reusable Water Bottle
Klean Kanteen insulated bottles are some of the most eco-friendly water bottles on the market. The company is a certified B Corp, it supports 1% for the Planet by giving back a portion of its profits, and all products are Climate Neutral Certified.
If you're not worried about keeping your water cold, the company has a basic model that's uninsulated as well. It also sells items like tumblers with straw lids, basic stainless-steel cups, and 12-ounce reusable water bottles made just for kids.
Bottle sizes range from 16 to 64 ounces and come in a rainbow of colors.
Additionally, there are a number of cap options that fit each bottle, so whether you want to sip, chug, or drink your water through a straw, Klean Kanteen has you covered — it even sells spill-proof kids sippy-cup-style lids.
Why Buy: Certified B Corp; Supports 1% for the Planet; Climate Neutral Certified; BPA-free; Lightweight model available; Dishwasher-safe
Soma Reusable Water Bottle
If stainless-steel insulation isn't your thing, try a Soma bottle. These bottles are made of glass and come with a silicone sleeve to absorb impact when dropped. Plus, Soma bottles come with a lifetime warranty against breakage, so if your bottle does happen to shatter, the company will replace it at no charge.
Soma's product line includes not only standard glass bottles, but also a Sports Bottle with an activity-friendly cap, an insulated Brew Bottle for hot beverages and water infusion, ceramic mugs, glass straws, pitchers, carafes, and more. Each comes in a variety of colors, so you're sure to find one to suit your mood.
One of our favorite things about Soma is that it partners with nonprofit organizations like Parley and Lonely Whale, and a percentage of proceeds from every purchase goes to Charity: Water, a nonprofit that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries.
Why Buy: B Corp; Each purchase supports Charity: Water; Company offsets emissions with conservation-based forestry; Packaged with post-consumer waste and recyclable materials; Dishwasher safe; BPA-free
Hydro Flask Reusable Water Bottle
Hydro Flask is quite possibly the most popular eco-friendly water bottle among Gen Zers. The trendy reusable is renowned for its bold colors and simple design. With bottle options ranging from 12 to 64 ounces, there's a perfect pick for everyone in the family.
Hydro Flask lets shoppers choose from multiple lids, including standard, wide, and straw options. Each bottle is made with stainless steel accompanied by TempShield technology, which keeps cold beverages cold and hot beverages hot.
Beyond the bottle, Hydro Flask created a charitable program, Parks For All, that benefits public green spaces and promotes outdoor adventure among its shoppers. For every purchase made, a portion is dedicated to the program. As a result, Hydro Flask has donated more than $1.5 million to over 92 eco-friendly non-profits.
Why Buy: Supports Parks For All; BPA-free; Dishwasher-safe
LARQ Reusable Water Bottle
LARQ
If high-tech gadgets are your thing, you'll fall head over heels for this best-selling reusable water bottle. The LARQ's minimalist design is accompanied by UV-C LED technology that automatically activates every two hours to fully filter your water.
As such, the innovative design is able to eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses from your beverage so that you don't accidentally give yourself something if you're one to use your bottle for a few days straight or if you're drinking unfiltered water while hiking. That also means it won't get funky between washes.
In addition to its sanitizing capabilities, LARQ double-walled bottles offer insulation of cold beverages up to 24 hours and hot beverages up to 12. There is also a LARK Movement model, which is single-walled (uninsulated) but lighter to take on your adventures The original bottle is available in 17- and 25-ounce options, as well as five colors, while the Movement bottle is sold in 24- and 32-ounce options and eight colorways.
Why Buy: Supports 1% for the Planet; Removes 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses; Lightweight model available; BPA-free
S'well Reusable Water Bottle
Since the debut of its very first water bottle—the beloved 17-ouncer—S'well has been a household name among eco-conscious consumers. The eco-friendly bottles—which are now available in 9-, 17-, and 20-ounce options—are made with a triple-insulated silhouette that keeps cold beverages cold for up to 36 hours and hot beverages hot for up to 18.
Once S'well realized the demand for such an item, the company delved into food containers and barware as well in an effort to offer consumers yet another way to cut back on their single-use plastic consumption. Now, S'well shoppers can choose from a variety of designs, from tumblers to kid-friendly bottles to reusable cutlery, as well as a wide array of colors and prints that are sure to turn heads.
Why Buy: Certified B Corp; BPA-free; Triple-insulated; Supports UNICEF clean water initiatives and Lonely Whale
Rebecca R. Norris is a full-time freelance writer living in the DC metro area. She writes for a variety of publications, covering everything from beauty and wellness to style and news. She is a graduate of George Mason University. There, she earned her B.A. in Media: Production, Consumption, and Critique, along with a minor in Electronic Journalism. The Virginia native is a lover of lists, Stevie Nicks, dark chocolate Sprinkles cupcakes, and the Oxford comma.
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theDOCK aims to innovate the Israeli maritime sector. Pexels
<p>The UN hopes that new investments in ocean science and technology will help turn the tide for the oceans. As such, this year kicked off the <a href="https://www.oceandecade.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)</a> to galvanize massive support for the blue economy.</p><p>According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem," <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019338255#b0245" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Science Direct</a> reported. It represents this new sector for investments and innovations that work in tandem with the oceans rather than in exploitation of them.</p><p>As recently as Aug. 2020, <a href="https://www.reutersevents.com/sustainability/esg-investors-slow-make-waves-25tn-ocean-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reuters</a> noted that ESG Investors, those looking to invest in opportunities that have a positive impact in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, have been interested in "blue finance" but slow to invest.</p><p>"It is a hugely under-invested economic opportunity that is crucial to the way we have to address living on one planet," Simon Dent, director of blue investments at Mirova Natural Capital, told Reuters.</p><p>Even with slow investment, the blue economy is still expected to expand at twice the rate of the mainstream economy by 2030, Reuters reported. It already contributes $2.5tn a year in economic output, the report noted.</p><p>Current, upward <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/-innovation-blue-economy-2646147405.html" target="_self">shifts in blue economy investments are being driven by innovation</a>, a trend the UN hopes will continue globally for the benefit of all oceans and people.</p><p>In Israel, this push has successfully translated into investment in and innovation of global ports, shipping, logistics and offshore sectors. The "Startup Nation," as Israel is often called, has seen its maritime tech ecosystem grow "significantly" in recent years and expects that growth to "accelerate dramatically," <a href="https://itrade.gov.il/belgium-english/how-israel-is-becoming-a-port-of-call-for-maritime-innovation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iTrade</a> reported.</p><p>Driving this wave of momentum has been rising Israeli venture capital hub <a href="https://www.thedockinnovation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">theDOCK</a>. Founded by Israeli Navy veterans in 2017, theDOCK works with early-stage companies in the maritime space to bring their solutions to market. The hub's pioneering efforts ignited Israel's maritime technology sector, and now, with their new fund, theDOCK is motivating these high-tech solutions to also address ESG criteria.</p><p>"While ESG has always been on theDOCK's agenda, this theme has become even more of a priority," Nir Gartzman, theDOCK's managing partner, told EcoWatch. "80 percent of the startups in our portfolio (for theDOCK's Navigator II fund) will have a primary or secondary contribution to environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria."</p><p>In a company presentation, theDOCK called contribution to the ESG agenda a "hot discussion topic" for traditional players in the space and their boards, many of whom are looking to adopt new technologies with a positive impact on the planet. The focus is on reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment, the presentation outlines. As such, theDOCK also explicitly screens candidate investments by ESG criteria as well.</p><p>Within the maritime space, environmental innovations could include measures like increased fuel and energy efficiency, better monitoring of potential pollution sources, improved waste and air emissions management and processing of marine debris/trash into reusable materials, theDOCK's presentation noted.</p>theDOCK team includes (left to right) Michal Hendel-Sufa, Head of Alliances, Noa Schuman, CMO, Nir Gartzman, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, and Hannan Carmeli, Co-Founder & Managing Partner. Dudu Koren
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