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Why Plastic Water Bottles Are Dangerous—and Why You Should Use EcoVessel's Best BPA-Free Water Bottle Instead

Plastic water bottles—particularly the single-use bottles that are used for bottled water products—have fallen out of favour in recent years, and for good reason. The plastics used in these bottles—even some of the durable, supposedly reusable hard plastic ones—often contain harmful chemicals. Therefore, if you are looking for the best and safest BPA-free water bottle in the market, you might consider steering clear of plastic altogether.

The Problems with Plastic Water Bottles

The most talked about chemical in plastic water bottles is and has been BPA, which mimics oestrogen and has, as a result, been linked to hormone-related cancers. Most reputable water bottle companies have begun offering BPA-free water bottles to fight the bad press this chemical has created.

However, virtually all of the different types of plastic used in plastic water bottles all have their drawbacks. In case you are unfamiliar, various types of plastic are assigned different numbers. While most of us have probably been taught to think of all plastic as the same basic material, the numbers allocated to different plastics denote the distinct materials that were used to make that plastic.

There are actually seven different types of plastics, and you can normally find their respective numbers on the bottoms of your water bottles. These numbers will be enclosed within a recycling symbol. Here is a quick rundown of the materials contained in each type of plastic (number 1-7) and why those materials might be dangerous.

  • Plastic #1: Plastic #1, or PET, is used in most single-use bottles. This type of plastic is not ideal for reuse because it is especially susceptible to bacterial growth.
  • Plastic #2 (and #4 and #5): According to Ban the Bottle, there isn't a huge difference between these three types of plastic. If you have to drink bottled water, plastic bottles with these numbers are the safest because they don't leak and don't retain bacteria like PET. However, containers made out of these plastics are flimsy and can quickly collect stains and odours.
  • Plastic #3: Plastic #3, or PVC, contains phthalates, dangerous chemicals that have been linked to reproductive issues and developmental problems. PVC plastic is known to leach under certain conditions.
  • Plastic #6: Also known as polystyrene, plastic #6 is known to leach styrene, an organic compound that has been linked to adverse effects on the liver and nervous system.
  • Plastic #7: In its most widely used form, plastic #7 (or polycarbonate) is the type of plastic known to contain and leach BPA.

Find a Better Alternative, with a BPA-Free Water Bottle from EcoVessel

As you can see, most plastics have drawbacks to them that can be particularly significant in reusable water bottles. At EcoVessel, we have made it our mission to help people all over the world find better solutions for transporting and drinking clean water. The result is a line of BPA-free water bottles, made from insulated stainless steel instead of plastic that you can use over and over again without having to worry about leaching chemicals.

Are you interested in learning more about EcoVessel's industry-best BPA-free water bottle? Click here to view our full selection of insulated water bottles.

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