Everything Under The Sun: Plastic Water Bottles

Friday, June 19, 2015

Plastic Water Bottles

Educational and reusable stainless steel bottles.

Most of us are aware of the controversy surrounding bottled water. Certainly, the water itself, which frequently comes from drought-plagued areas of this country, despite local efforts to conserve meager water supplies, feed a growing profit-making industry. But not only is the water itself at issue; it includes the bottles which hold the water.

Made of plastic and considered disposable, the bottles add to our growing piles of garbage. Frequently, users consider the bottles so disposable that they are thrown onto city streets, local beaches, amusement park grounds, wherever they can be dropped, despite trash cans being just steps away. They are ubiquitous; they are burying us in used plastic.

Three Chicago high school freshmen also noticed accumulation of plastic trash. Isobel Araujo, Fiona McRath, and Simone Greblo got together over a project in biology class. They needed something that was environmentally-focused and that would also provide education to the public. So when they noticed how many plastic water bottles were being thrown out after only one use, they set about developing a solution.

They came up with stainless steel, reusable water bottles. But not just any stainless steal bottles; their bottles had printed educational messages on them, about the toll that one-use plastic bottles was making on the environment. Once they had their bottles, they sold them at various public events, such as farmers' markets, local cooperative food markets, and school events.

Even young children are fans of the bottles.

They then turned around with the profits and donated them to the ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES. They designated their donation to be used for water testing kits, beach cleanup, and educational materials. That means that the multiple use water containers are doing much more to educate people about the environment and also support environmental projects.