So, you have decided to kick that nasty bottled water habit? Good for you! I’m sure you already know about the huge environmental impact of the bottled water industry, like the more than 1.5 million barrels of oil that are used to make bottled water each year. Or maybe that 90% of plastic water bottles end up in landfills, instead of being recycled. But, have you also heard some of the many benefits of drinking tap water? Most tap water in the U.S. is as safe or safer than bottled water, which makes sense considering that 40% of all bottled water is just filtered tap water! Haven’t you ever wondered what the “Municipal Source” or “Community Water System” labels mean on your bottled water? Yup, filtered tap water. So what if I told you that you could make this same bottled water, at your home or on the go, save money, and drastically decrease your environmental footprint? Here are some of my favorites that use high-end carbon water filters to clean tap water of chlorine, iodine and other bad tasting chemicals while you drink!
Can’t live life without your Nalgene? No worries, try a TapGaurd by Guyot Designs. This nifty little device is made from Food-grade silicone rubber and snaps nicely into most wide-mouth water bottles. If you already own a reusable water bottle this little guy is great because it uses much less material overall than a new bottle. As a company, Guyot Designs also runs a carbon offset program. Using this program they purchase more carbon offsets than they actually produce, making the TapGaurd a “carbon negative” product. Every TapGuard carries enough carbon offsets to account for more than 50 lbs. of greenhouse gas emissions reductions, which you can even verify with your product serial number on their website.
And for those of you who are hooked on stainless steel for your water holder, we have something for you too. EcoUsable partnered with the Algalita Marine Research Foundation to create the first stainless steel filtered water bottle, the Ech2o. The Ech2o is made with 304 grade stainless steal which is highly corrosion resistant, sanitary and easy to clean. The steel also won’t leach, and is not lined with a dangerous coating like many aluminum bottles. And with a non-slip base and a surprising light weight, it is easy to love.
Maybe you’re not planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail, or driving over your water bottle with your car, but sexy is a must. It can’t get much sexier than the Bobble. Designed by Karim Rashid this super-affordable option is more than eye candy. The Bobble is not only recyclable, but actually made from 100% recycled, BPA-free plastic, and produced domestically in the U.S. The Water Bobble comes in 6 attractive colors to match your shoes or your car. And if you need some help remembering, their website will e-mail you when it is time to replace your filter.
