For most of us, plastic is not a welcome dietary supplement.
What the Research Found According to a recent study at the State University of New York, tiny pieces of plastic, or microplastics, are present in most of the bottled water on the market.
Researchers analyzed 259 bottles of water from 11 different brands and nine countries, finding tiny pieces of plastic in more than 90 percent of them.
Microplastics, like nylon and polypropylene, were found in all but 17 bottles and are thought to be introduced during the packaging process.
Plastic Bottles’ Carbon Footprint Not only do manufactured water bottles contain pesky microplastics, they almost always end up as litter or garbage.
America’s plastic recycling rate is a lowly 23 percent, resulting in billions of plastic water bottles ending up in landfills, rivers, oceans and our neighborhood streets each year.
Plastic water bottles have a sizable carbon footprint, too.
What You Can Do Avoid consuming potentially dangerous microplastics by drinking tap water from a reusable water bottle instead of buying single-use plastic bottles.
Stainless steel and glass bottles are popular, eco-friendly hydration choices on the market; each has its strengths and weaknesses.
Glass is fragile and weighs more, but it’s more easily recycled.