Summer is in full swing, which means hot (and for our team here in Maine…humid) days are here to stay. More time outside in the heat and sun means that more people will be taking their hydration on the go. Drinking water and staying hydrated while outside in the sun are super important when trying to stay cool. We know that more people are reaching for their water bottle right now …but what kind of bottle are they reaching for? Unfortunately, for many it’s still a single-use plastic bottle rather than reusable water bottles.

In 2020, Americans purchased a record of 15 billion gallons of bottled water (up 4.2 percent from the previous year) and the numbers are only continuing to increase. This past year, the global bottled water market was valued at $301.7 billion, and it’s projected to hit $515.3 billion by 2031. That is a ton of single-use plastic water bottles. Yes, some are getting recycled, but most are ending up in landfills (or worse …littering our planet). This growing trend is something we can (and should!) do something about. We can encourage others to reach for reusable water bottle and other alternatives instead of plastic bottles!

There’s a lot to consider when looking at the plastic water bottle situation in our world. Obviously, it’s important that the communities who don’t have access to safe drinking water in their area are able to access it in other ways, and most times that is through single-use plastic bottles. So, this is simply not a black and white issue, as with most issues of our day. But we are confident that reusable water bottles can be a part of the solution, even if not the whole solution to a complex but important problem.

Single-use waste in general is an important topic to address. According to recent studies, plastic items dominate garbage in the ocean. Plastic bottles were the second most found item in the ocean. Think of how many bottles that must mean are littering our oceans and threatening ecosystems. This is a serious and immediate problem that must be taken seriously at all levels.

When we know better, we can do better. Switching to reusable water bottles and encouraging your audience to do the same is a great first step in doing our part to solve this issue. Customized reusable water bottles are a great way to make a stand and showcase your commitment to sustainability!