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Zero waste lifestyle: 10 practical tips to get started

How 1.5 million plastic bottles are turned into clothing every day

<ul class="summary-list"><li>BPA is an industrial chemical that scientists have linked to hormone disruption and diabetes risk.</li><li>Plastic water bottles and food containers can leach BPA into what you eat and drink. </li></ul>Scientists have long suspected that industrial chemicals used in plastic water bottles can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1">disrupt human hormones</a>.But, to date, evidence has been observational, meaning it shows an <a target="_blank" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12902-018-0310-y">association</a> between plastics exposure and certain diseases, but can't prove a causal effect.Now, a groundbreaking new study shows direct evidence that bisphenol A — or, BPA, a chemical used to package food and drink — can reduce sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.An impaired ability to respond to insulin, known as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/insulin-resistance">insulin resistance</a>, can mean chronically high blood sugar levels and a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes.The researchers, who presented their findings at the <a target="_blank" href="https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/73/Supplement_1/17-OR/156057/17-OR-ADA-Presidents-Select-Abstract-Oral?searchresult=1">2024 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association</a>, said this study shows the EPA may need to reconsider the safe limits for exposure to BPA in plastic bottles, food containers, and other containers.<h2 id="7b52d0a0-c0d2-4e4f-8b85-4e61a63bb01a">Even so-called safe levels of BPA may cause health issues</h2>Researchers from California Polytechnic State University studied 40 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a small dose of BPA daily.After four days, the participants who were given BPA were less responsive to insulin, while the placebo group did not experience any change.The dose of BPA that participants received, 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day, is an amount currently classified as safe by the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/bpa_action_plan.pdf">EPA</a>."These results suggest that maybe the US EPA safe dose should be reconsidered and that healthcare providers could suggest these changes to patients," Todd Hagobian, senior author of the new study and professor at California Polytechnic State University, said in a press release.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-packaging-other-substances-come-contact-food-information-consumers/bisphenol-bpa-use-food-contact-application">FDA considers BPA to be safe at low levels</a> occurring in food containers, up to 5 mg per kg body weight per day, or 100 times the amount the new study found to be risky. Some researchers argue the FDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023005676#s0015">guidelines are outdated</a>.Other regulatory agencies around the world have taken a tougher stance on the chemical — the <a target="_blank" href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13832-Food-safety-restrictions-on-bisphenol-A-BPA-and-other-bisphenols-in-food-contact-materials_en">European Commission</a> proposed to ban BPA in products that come into contact with food or beverages by the end of 2024.<h2 id="bd38d5b3-4d97-4d49-9c05-3b18689f3f6c">Environmental contaminants can be a major threat to human health</h2>The concern about BPA is part of a broader alarm being raised about our everyday exposure to substances that may be harmful to our health.Other recent research has found <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">microplastics</a>, particles so tiny they can infiltrate human cells, may potentially wreak havoc with our health. They've been found everywhere, from human lungs to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-penis-muscles-for-the-first-time-study-2024-6">reproductive organs</a>.Understanding how the substances we encounter every day may affect our health long-term could help us make better decisions about how to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes."Given that diabetes is a leading cause of death in the US, it is crucial to understand even the smallest factors that contribute to the disease," Hagobian said in the press release. "We were surprised to see that reducing BPA exposure, such as using stainless steel or glass bottles and BPA-free cans, may lower diabetes risk."June 24, 2024 — An earlier version of this article misstated the difference between what the EPA considers safe BPA exposure and what the study found to be safe. It is 100 times higher, not 1000.

Groundbreaking study shows why drinking from plastic bottles may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes

Eat right, exercise, get adequate sleep, manage your stress, avoid smoking and limit alcohol — these are some of the recommendations men receive to maintain a healthy <keyword id="20687206" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sperm-count" source="keywords">sperm count</keyword>. But what if, even after following all this advice, the sperm count gets affected due to the nature of the world we live in? A new study has discovered <keyword id="19970180" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="microplastics" source="keywords">microplastics</keyword> in <keyword id="21759251" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-testicles" source="Orion">human testicles</keyword>, raising concerns about their potential link to <keyword id="21759246" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="declining-sperm-counts" source="keywords">declining sperm counts</keyword> in men. Researchers tested 23 human testes and 47 testes from pet dogs. After dissolving the tissue samples and analysing the plastic remnants, they found <keyword id="21759247" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microplastic-pollution" source="keywords">microplastic pollution</keyword> in every single sample! The human <keyword id="21742117" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="testicles" source="keywords">testicles</keyword> exhibited a plastic concentration nearly three times higher than that found in dog testes: 330 micrograms per gram of tissue compared to 123 micrograms. Polyethylene, commonly used in plastic bags and bottles, was the most prevalent microplastic found, followed by PVC. PVC is known to release chemicals that interfere with spermatogenesis and contains substances that disrupt the endocrine system, which produces and regulates hormones crucial for numerous bodily functions, including growth, metabolism and reproduction. Furthermore, the human testes analysed were obtained from postmortems conducted in 2016, with the men aged between 16 and 88 at the time of their deaths. Given the increased <keyword id="19970182" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="plastic-pollution" source="keywords">plastic pollution</keyword> since then, researchers are particularly concerned about its impact on younger generations. While the preserved human testicles couldn’t have their sperm counts measured, the dog testes—obtained from veterinary neutering operations—were assessable. Findings showed lower sperm counts in samples with higher PVC contamination. While this shows a correlation, further research is needed to definitively prove that microplastics cause declining sperm counts. In addition to testicles, microplastics have also recently been found in human blood, placentas and breast milk, indicating widespread contamination of human bodies. Laboratory studies have shown that microplastics can damage human cells. Moreover, these particles might lodge in tissues and cause inflammation, while the chemicals in plastics could be harmful as well. In March, doctors warned of life-threatening effects, noting a significantly increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and early death in people with contaminated blood vessels. Microplastics have already polluted the entire planet, from the summit of Mount Everest to the deepest oceans. Therefore, their presence in the innermost parts of the human body, while alarming, is not entirely surprising. The challenge now is to contain this damage and prevent it from worsening, which is easier said than done given the pervasive role of plastic in the modern way of life. The study was published in the journal Toxicological Sciences and can be accessed <a href="https://academic.oup.com/toxsci/advance-article/doi/10.1093/toxsci/kfae060/7673133">here</a>.

Plastic testes: Scientists analyse human testicles, find microplastics in every single one of them!

America has long had a plastic problem. It's an urgent question — what do we do with the 40 million tons of plastic waste we produce annually? One year of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disposable-face-mask-waste-toxic-poison-water-nanoplastics-pollution-health-2022-2">plastic waste</a> is roughly enough to smother the entirety of Manhattan a meter deep, and it has to go somewhere. For years, the answer was simple: Make a lot of it, dump most of it in the landfill, and make the rest of it someone else's problem — the US regularly exported 7 million tons a year to China alone. Some of it was melted into lesser plastic; the rest was incinerated or buried.But then, in 2018, China cut off plastic imports.Now, America is coming to terms with a hard truth: Plastic was never designed to be recycled and there's no profitable way to recycle 91% of it. The environmental impacts have been disastrous. About 430 million tons of plastic are produced globally every year, accounting for 14% of global oil demand. The refinement of plastic alone emits up to 235 million tons of greenhouse gases a year. Most of that plastic breaks down into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">microplastics</a> that make their way into the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/expert-how-i-keep-baby-family-safe-toxic-plastic-microplastics-2023-1">air, rain, and our bodies</a>. Almost 95% of America's water supply contains plastic fibers.While the US, the UK, and other European countries responded to China's ban by sending their waste to places like Thailand and Malaysia, those countries then followed China in cutting off waste imports. The message was clear: The Global South would no longer be a dumping ground for the West.<div type="image" title="A scavenger drinks water while collecting plastic waste to sell to a recycling center at a landfill in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia in March 2024" height="3333" width="5000" msid="109561992" hostid="261"></div>America is now scrambling to find alternatives. One approach peddled by oil corporations like Chevron and Exxon has been to turn plastic into crude oil, which they say extends the life of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-americas-largest-waste-hauler-investing-in-a-plastic-recycler-2022-9">plastic that would've otherwise ended up in a landfill</a>. As these companies look to replace projected lost revenue from the phasing out of fossil fuels, they're lobbying to blanket the country with 150 plants that specialize in pyrolysis, a form of chemical recycling that melts plastic down into crude oil to be used for fuel and petrochemicals, as well as to make lesser-quality plastics. While advocates champion these facilities for breaking down hard-to-recycle plastics that other <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-recycling-startups-aluminum-plastic-valuable-materials-2024-4">recyclers toss aside</a>, critics condemn them for emitting toxic particles, relying heavily on government subsidies, and acting as a greenwashed alternative to addressing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plastic-recycled-into-bricks-ivory-coast-conceptos-plasticos-2023-2">the plastic problem</a>.As they're pitched as an innovation set to bring us a "circular economy" of plastic that allows us to stop making new plastic and just reuse what we have, marketing for pyrolysis and recycling overlooks a glaring fact: Plastic production doubles every 15 to 20 years.This isn't sustainable, Tim Miller, a vice president at the Ohio plastic-recycling center Royal Paper Stock, told me, adding: "But I don't know how to stop it." Pyrolysis is another sign of America's plastic paralysis.In the years after World War II, plastic flooded the marketplace as a cheap alternative to otherwise scarce and finite materials. It was hailed as a democratic harbinger of a new, utopian age of capitalism, fueling the subsequent decades of cheap consumerism that became synonymous with the American dream."The continuous flow of oil fueled not just cars but an entire culture based on the consumption of new products made of plastics," Susan Freinkel wrote in her book "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story."Plastic went from being practically nonexistent in 1940 to being consumed at a rate of 30 pounds a person each year by 1960. Just as quickly, it became a target of environmental movements protesting litter, garbage-filled oceans, and landfills brimming with plastic. Oil and chemical companies responded by looking into whether recycling was realistic or, more importantly, profitable. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled">It wasn't</a>. So companies shifted the blame for the pollution onto consumers. The "Crying Indian" commercial, funded by beverage and packaging corporations, aired in 1971, showing a Native American character crying at the sight of litter.The messaging worked. As companies expanded plastic into every facet of life, recycling became the due diligence needed to sustain our hyperconsumption. We didn't worry about plastic bottles because the recycling truck carried them off to a new life. Companies like Coca-Cola and Nestlé slapped "100% recycled" and "100% recyclable" labels on their packaging to appear sustainable. Just last year, the Plastics Industry Association launched a million-dollar ad campaign, "Recycling Is Real," claiming that it's "not only real, but feasible and economical."While recycling is real, the vast majority of plastic isn't recycled, mostly due to how expensive it is to clean and sort it effectively. A 2022 report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found only 9% of all plastic ever produced had been recycled; 72% ended up in landfills or the environment. Unlike aluminum or glass, the plastic that can be recycled rarely results in replacing one recycled water bottle with another.<div type="image" title="Recycling sorters at Recologys Recycle Central sort out pieces of flimsy and film plastic destined for landfill in 2019 in San Francisco" height="4480" width="6720" msid="109561996" hostid="261"></div>Instead, it's a process of downcycling — turning plastic into lesser plastics like plant containers or bins before they are relegated to a landfill. By downcycling a tiny portion of plastic waste, companies can genuinely reuse a relatively small share of plastic, while convincing consumers that the industry has created a circular economy of infinitely recycled plastic. Never mind that products advertised as being made from recycled plastic are made almost entirely out of new plastic or that almost all the 300 pounds of plastic every American consumes each year (10 times as much as in 1960) ends up in a landfill, in the ocean, or incinerated.Larry Thomas, a former president of what's now called the Plastics Industry Association, told NPR in 2020: "If the public thinks that recycling is working, then they are not going to be as concerned about the environment." And if they aren't worried about the impact of plastic on the environment, they won't threaten the plastics industry.Since 2018, the fossil-fuel and plastics industries have faced two harsh realities: Oil is being phased out in favor of clean, renewable energy, and plastic waste can no longer be exported to developing nations in the South. To replace their fuel losses, oil companies are going all in on plastic. The International Energy Agency predicted in 2018 that petrochemical products like plastic would outpace trucks, aviation, and shipping in oil demand by 2050. In a recent report, ExxonMobil predicted that petrochemicals used largely for plastics and fertilizer would account for nearly all of the oil industry's growth by 2050, replacing industrial fuel demand, which is projected to decrease. To keep expanding plastic production, however, it needs to look sustainable.<div type="image" title="A Good Year sign in Akron, Ohio" height="960" width="1200" msid="109562000" hostid="261"></div>Akron, Ohio, which hosts about one-quarter of the country's polymer companies, is ground zero for this push. Designated by the Biden administration as the only "tech hub" in Ohio, the city has received tens of millions of dollars from the CHIPS Act, which it hopes to use to create a circular economy around plastic.In 2012, Alterra Energy opened America's first large-scale plastic-pyrolysis facility. According to its website, Alterra converts "plastics back into their original building blocks to produce new plastics and other valuable products." The crude oil produced by the Akron facility is shipped to petrochemical companies around the globe to be purified and made into new plastics. But it's unclear how effective this process is.A study published in 2023 by researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that the economic and environmental impact of turning pyrolysis oil back into plastic was actually far worse than it was to make brand-new plastic. As a result, they said, pyrolysis oil is "typically reintegrated into the petrochemical industry where only a small fraction is used for closed-loop recycling."<div type="image" title="The Alterra Energy facility in Akron, Ohio" height="960" width="1200" msid="109562003" hostid="261"></div>"It has had, let's say, limited success," Miller, the Royal Paper Stock vice president, said about pyrolysis. "No one yet in the United States that I know of is just cranking in plastic and pumping out oil." He pointed to a pyrolysis facility in Oregon that just announced it would shut down after tens of millions of dollars in losses.Residents in Akron are split on the impacts of the Alterra facility. On the one hand, pyrolysis melts plastic to be reused instead of sending it to the landfill or incinerator. On the other, it emits cancerous pollutants such as mercury, benzene, and arsenic, and props up the very fossil-fuel companies that are driving the climate crisis.<div type="image" title="Kelley Sayre in front of her garage in Akron, Ohio" height="1500" width="1200" msid="109562007" hostid="261"></div>"Akron's going for 'the green city on the hill,'" Kelley Sayre, a fourth-generation Akron resident, told me, "but it's really 'the greenwashing city.'"Vicky Abou-Ghalioum, the lead petrochemicals organizer of Buckeye Environmental Network, has been working with Akron residents concerned about the environmental and health impacts of chemical recycling, but it's proved challenging in a city ruled by polymers. "People are afraid to talk about plastic," she told me. Her organization has been pushing the EPA to address the influx of planned pyrolysis facilities in Ohio, arguing that they're bad for the environment and people, and aren't even profitable.In a statement to Business Insider, Alterra Energy said its Akron facility is profitable and diverts over 100,000 pounds of plastic each day from landfills. "We operate in a heavily regulated industry and are in compliance with those requirements," the company said in response to concerns about toxic emissions. It also said one of its customers uses Alterra's oil product exclusively for making new plastic.Despite the problems of pyrolysis, many manufacturers hail it as a sustainable miracle. Companies such as Eastman Chemical Co. see chemical recycling as the solution to recycling or composting 50% of their plastic packaging by 2025, and the American Chemistry Council claims the growing industry is necessary for fostering what it calls "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america/news-trends/press-release/2022/america-s-plastic-makers-encourage-congressional-focus-on-advanced-recycling-to-achieve-circularity">plastics circularity</a>." But these companies face an uphill battle. Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg of New York City launched an $85 million campaign in 2022 to stop over 120 proposed petrochemical facilities. "Petrochemical plants poison our air and water — killing Americans and harming the health of entire communities," Bloomberg said in a statement.In the plastic-recycling industry, pyrolysis is seen as a well funded but failing experiment. A 2023 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.beyondplastics.org/publications/chemical-recycling">report</a> by Beyond Plastics and the International Pollutants Elimination Network found that the 11 pyrolysis facilities in operation in the US required massive public subsidies, most couldn't operate at full capacity, and only two of the plants sold the crude oil to be used exclusively for plastic production. Most of it was sold to make fuels and chemicals. Based on their findings, they argued that pyrolysis was ultimately "a public relations distraction to prevent plastic regulation and prop up the profits of the petrochemical/plastics industry."Though the conundrum of plastic grows more dire by the day, there are signs of hope. In early <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/historic-day-campaign-beat-plastic-pollution-nations-commit-develop">2022</a>, the UN adopted a resolution that could send shock waves throughout the entire plastic-disposing world. Heads of state, environment ministers, and UN representatives agreed to end all plastic pollution with a legally binding international plastic treaty to be officially adopted later this year. "Plastic pollution has grown into an epidemic," Espen Barth Eide, Norway's then-minister for climate and the environment, said in the announcement. "With today's resolution we are officially on track for a cure."The resolution would establish an agreement addressing plastic at every level, from production to recycling, in an attempt to reduce plastic pollution worldwide. Organizations such as the international coalition Break Free From Plastic have said that cutting the production of plastic has to be on the table. "The oil and gas industry sees plastic as its primary growth market and is investing billions of dollars in new and expanded facilities," the organization wrote in a 2022 statement. The group recommended bans on single-use plastics, a plastic tax, and regulations that prioritize plastics that can be recycled."Reduction in the production of plastic is entirely possible," Abou-Ghalioum of Buckeye Environmental Network told me. She pointed to the more than 500 cities and 12 states that have banned plastic bags, reducing the number of bags used by the billions. "It's talked about how we rely on plastic for so many things, and it just feels like a marketing ploy to make us reluctant to shift away from it," she said. "We had everything we ever needed before plastic."The tough reality is that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/landfill-plastic-area">9.5 billion tons of plastic</a> with us will be here for hundreds of years. But how many millions of more tons are added will be determined by the types of solutions we arrive at today.<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/taylor-dorrell">Taylor Dorrell</a> is a writer and photographer based in Columbus, Ohio.

China stopped taking our plastic. Now America is drowning in it. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Stanley-branded drinkware has been everywhere since January of last year.</li><li>The brand's 40-ounce insulated tumblers are especially popular now among younger people.</li></ul>Did the teenagers in your life request 40-ounce water bottles as Christmas presents?I'm going to guess the answer is yes.If not, then maybe your TikTok has become flooded with videos of people stampeding Target stores for pink and red cups.Whichever way you were introduced, Stanely-branded drinkware is now ubiquitous on social media. If you're wondering why giant water bottles are so important, read on.<h2>What are Stanley cups?</h2>We're not talking about the giant silver trophy won by a National Hockey League team each year. That's the Stanley Cup.The portable cups in question are insulated tumblers with giant side handles and plastic straws, created by the 111-year-old drinkware brand Stanley.They're basically just convenient (and large) water bottles. The biggest selling points are the small base that can fit into a car cup holder, the rotating lid, and that it can keep drinks cold for hours. They're sold at stores like Target in dozens of colors, from classic neutrals to trendy shades of pink and green, or you can order the cups online through Stanley's website, where you can also customize them to be engraved with text or images of your choice.Price-wise, they typically range from $35 to $45 depending on the size and style.<h2>Why you're seeing these massive water bottles everywhere</h2>Stanley has existed since 1913 when founder William Stanley Jr. "fused vacuum insulation and the strength of steel" to create the first Stanley-brand bottle, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.stanley1913.com/pages/about-stanley">the company's website</a>.Though the brand has been popular for decades since then, Stanley's 40-ounce tumblers reached a new level of cool in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stanley-water-bottle-tumbler-favorite-brands-that-came-before-2023-1">January of last year</a> when they began appearing in popular TikTok videos or in the hands of influencers.The hype hasn't slowed down.In November, a woman went viral on the social-media platform after revealing that her <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-cup-survived-car-fire-offered-new-car-bottle-brand-2023-11">car burned down with her Stanley cup inside</a> — and it survived with ice remaining.Stanley then gifted her multiple cups and<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@danimarielettering/video/7312882104428219678?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7289141024454592043"> a brand-new Mazda vehicle</a>.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@danimarielettering/video/7301724587488759070?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7289141024454592043">The woman's original video</a> has been viewed more than 92 million times since then. TikTok then exploded last month with videos of young people receiving Stanley cups as holiday presents.The search term "Kids Getting Stanley Cups for Christmas" results in dozens of videos with more than 32.2 million combined views.In many of these clips, children and teenagers are seen screaming, crying, and embracing their family members after receiving one of the 40-ounce tumblers. The cups don't seem to be going anywhere in 2024.Over the weekend, pink and red Stanley cups were released at Target for Valentine's Day.Various <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@victoria_robino_26/video/7318781471873977646">TikTok videos</a> show shoppers rushing into their local stores for the chance to buy them, with employees heard in the background enforcing limits on the number of cups they could purchase.Representatives for Stanley did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on its products and these recent videos. So yes, Stanley cups are durable and multiple coworkers can confirm that they keep your drink cold for hours.They're also cute and, as evidenced by this unofficial fan club of young people, extremely trendy.But ultimately, they're just really big water bottles.

Stanley cups are just giant water bottles. Young people want one anyway. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Colorado is the third state to approve taxing bottles, food wrappers, and other packaging.</li><li>The tax revenue will be used to help boost the state's below-average recycling rate of 15%.</li></ul>This article is part of Insider's weekly newsletter on <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword>, written by Catherine Boudreau, senior sustainability reporter. It's not every day that <keyword id="12454038" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="big-business" source="Orion">big business</keyword> backs a new tax, especially on their own products.But that's what happened in Colorado, which on Friday became the third state to <a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1355">enact a law</a> that will slap fees on bottles, food wrappers, and other packaging to help fund recycling programs and keep waste out of landfills. Colorado — a state that prides itself on protecting the environment — has an <a href="https://cdphe.colorado.gov/colorado-recycling-totals">abysmal recycling rate of 15%</a>, less than half the national average of 32%. The law, known as extended producer responsibility, got rare public endorsements from food and beverage brands, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, <a href="https://www.americanbeverage.org/education-resources/blog/pr/colorado-governor-signs-landmark-law-shifting-recycling-responsibility-to-private-sector/">and their trade group, American Beverage</a>. <keyword id="11893281" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="walmart" source="Orion">Walmart</keyword> and the software giant <keyword id="11892769" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="salesforce" source="Orion">Salesforce</keyword> also got on board, marking the first time each company engaged in the policy for packaging. They joined forces with environmental groups like Recycle Colorado, World Wildlife Fund, and Sierra Club. For brands and retailers, boosting US recycling rates is key to meeting sustainability targets to use more recycled materials and less virgin plastic. For Salesforce, whose eponymous <a href="https://salesforcetower.com/">headquarters</a> building soars over the San Francisco Bay, backing the Colorado law was part of a new policy push announced Wednesday to protect oceans' role in fighting climate change. Plastic pollution is a major threat to the world's oceans, which have <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/2019/09/25/srocc-press-release/">absorbed more than 90 percent</a> of the excess heat trapped on the planet because of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse-gas emissions in the atmosphere. Rising water temperatures and pollution is harming fish and other marine life, a food source for billions of people. Only 9% of plastic ever gets recycled, while an estimated 11 million tons of it ends up in the <keyword id="12127110" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ocean" source="Orion">ocean</keyword> each year — or more than a garbage truckload every minute, <a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/world-leaders-set-sights-plastic-pollution">according to the United Nations</a>."We can't just deploy climate solutions on land and destroy the oceans," Whitney Johnston, Salesforce's director of oceans sustainability, told Insider. "Plastics is also a petroleum-based product, so we need to be strategic about how much we're producing and keep it in circulation."The broad coalition of industry and environmental groups backing Colorado's program set it apart from similar laws enacted in Maine and Oregon last year, which didn't attract much support from big business. The difference is in the design. In Maine, lawmakers and environmental groups were worried that giving industry too much control over a recycling program would maintain the status quo. The state's law gave regulators the authority to set packaging fees and manage the money, with input from brands. In Colorado, these responsibilities will fall entirely to the industry, which will develop a plan with approval from an advisory board and a state agency."The reason we had so many industry partners is because of the structure," Liz Chapman, the executive director of Recycle Colorado, said. "They know what it takes to get materials back into their systems and see this as an opportunity to innovate."That doesn't mean there wasn't opposition in Colorado. Ameripen, a trade group <a href="https://www.ameripen.org/page/member_companies">that represents plastic and packaging makers</a>, as well as brewer Molson Coors and some state business groups, lobbied against the law. Molson Coors brews its namesake Coors in Golden, Colorado.Dan Felton, the executive director of Ameripen, told Insider that the group objected to the law requiring companies to fund 100% of the recycling system without any controls on the potential costs. Ameripen supports a shared-responsibility model, where taxpayers pick up some of the tab. "We worry it will be a blank check," Felton said. Colorado will know the price tag of expanding recycling to more residents after a needs assessment is finished by January 2024 at the latest.

Package deal: Businesses and environmental groups pushed for a Colorado tax that will fund recycling of bottles and containers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Companies are setting ambitious goals for increasing the use of recycled plastic, driving demand.</li><li>Recycled polyester depends on the collection of <keyword id="12441107" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="plastic-bottles" source="Orion">plastic bottles</keyword>, which fell during the pandemic.</li></ul>The clothing brand Patagonia was one of the first to start producing recycled polyester from plastic soda bottles back in 1993. The company, known for its<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/patagonia-ceo-ryan-gellert-vision-strategy-sustainability-and-leadership-2021-9"> industry-leading sustainability policies</a>, has incorporated the recycled material into many of its items and said that 89% of the polyester in <a href="https://www.patagonia.com/our-footprint/recycled-polyester.html">its latest season of products</a> was made from recycled polyester.But as companies like <keyword id="12109002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coca-cola" source="Orion">Coca-Cola</keyword>, Nestle, and Adidas actively seek to reduce their use of virgin plastic as part of long-term efforts to be more sustainable and <a href="https://www.natlawreview.com/article/more-states-consider-minimum-recycled-content-requirements">new regulatory policies</a> for post-consumer resin, or PCR, made from plastic soda bottles kick in, demand is expected to exceed the available supply in the US and European Union, causing <a href="https://www.plasticstoday.com/resin-pricing/relief-unlikely-pet-and-rpet-markets-2022">prices to rise</a>. The issues around recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, highlight many of the business challenges that can accompany ambitious corporate <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> goals that overlap with other organizations.Companies urgently need to implement alternative processes and materials on a larger scale to reduce carbon emissions and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But implementing these new methods can be much more complicated than expected, even with the resources of a multinational company. <h2>A versatile material</h2>Recycled PET, commonly known as rPET, is a type of post-consumer plastic used to make several types of products. These include plastic bottles, food containers, carpets, recycled polyester fabric, industrial straps, construction materials, and furniture.There are challenges to the wider adoption of rPET and criticisms about <a href="https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/how-sustainable-is-recycled-polyester/2018111540000">whether it is actually sustainable</a> or helping <a href="https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/fashion-brands-sustainability-claims-greenwashing/">greenwash companies</a> like H&amp;M. The environmental benefits of rPET include lower dependence on oil-based virgin plastic, less greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as less pollution. <h2>Policies and promises are driving demand</h2>Fabric and fibers were the primary end use for rPET until last year when the use of the material for bottles (for food, beverages, and other uses) <a href="https://www.packworld.com/issues/sustainability/article/21809461/napcor-pet-recycling-rate-drops-to-266-in-2020">grew by 32%</a>. There was also a 10% increase in end-use consumption of rPET in the US and Canada, according to the most recent report from National Association for PET Container Resources.This shift in use and demand followed announced commitments from several major companies to use less virgin plastic and increase <keyword id="12063226" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="recycling" source="Orion">recycling</keyword>. In 2018, the beverage giant Coca-Cola Co. pledged to use <a href="https://www.fooddive.com/news/coca-cola-transitions-to-bottles-made-from-100-recycled-plastic/594709/">50% recycled material</a> in its bottles and cans by 2030. The company also said it aimed to collect and recycle the volume of bottles equal to what it produces by the same year. In early 2020, Nestle <a href="https://www.nestle.com/ask-nestle/environment/answers/tackling-packaging-waste-plastic-bottles">pledged</a> to increase the amount of rPET used across its brands to 50% by 2025 and make all of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. The parent company of Nescafe and Purina pet food uses <a href="https://www.nestle.com/ask-nestle/environment/answers/tackling-packaging-waste-plastic-bottles">8% recycled content</a> in its plastic water bottles now, so it will need to source and use a significantly higher amount to meet these goals.Consumer goods and fashion companies like Unilever, Procter &amp; Gamble, and Adidas have also made big promises about recycling and the increased use of recycled plastic. Nike's chief sustainability officer, Noel Kinder, said the company's volume of recycled polyester is <a href="https://www.glossy.co/fashion/nike-aims-to-use-100-renewable-energy-by-2025/">already the equivalent</a> of more than a billion plastic bottles a year. The US states of California and Washington have also <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB793">passed laws</a> requiring certain items to have specific amounts of recycled plastic in their packaging.<h2>Insufficient supply puts pressure on prices</h2>Several challenges lie ahead for these plans and policies involving rPET. The recycling rate for plastic drink bottles in the US fell from 27.9% in 2019 to 26.6% in 2020, compared to <a href="https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2021/01/29/10600681/insight-chemical-recycling-must-not-hinder-mechanical-recycling-progress">64% in Europe</a>. NAPCOR's report said this was due to pandemic-related closures of recycling and redemption centers, as well as disruption to curbside recycling programs. To meet the recycling goals of US beverage brands, an estimated 1.1 billion pounds of food-grade rPET will be needed in the next decade — almost <a href="https://resource-recycling.com/recycling/2020/10/26/data-corner-supply-possibilities-to-meet-u-s-rpet-demand/">three times the amount</a> produced in 2017.Increases in demand also helped push the price of rPET higher than virgin plastic in early 2020, and rPET is now selling at a 20% premium, The Wall Street Journal reported. Higher costs of production due to rising energy costs were also a factor, <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/petrochemicals/110421-european-virgin-pet-rises-above-rpet-as-virgin-pet-prices-hit-10-year-high">according to S&amp;P Global Platts</a>.<h2>A complicated future</h2>One converter already <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/topics/recycled-plastics">expressed concern</a> that some of the large companies will step back their sustainability pledges due to supply constraints, staff shortages, and these higher prices. Items made from recycled polyester will still shed plastic microfibers during washing. And while PET can be recycled at least 10 times, clothes made from rPET <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/06/clothes-made-from-recycled-materials-sustainable-plastic-climate">most likely won't be recycled</a>, especially if they are from fast-fashion retailers, whose items are often thrown out after only a few uses.

Companies like Nestle and Coca-Cola are eager to use more recycled material — here's why that actually raises concerns over sustainability

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel won the 71st Miss Universe title on Saturday. </li><li>During the pageant, she wore a homemade swimsuit cape she designed herself using plastic bottles. </li></ul>Before winning the Miss Universe crown, <a href="https://www.insider.com/miss-usa-won-the-miss-universe-competition-2023-1">Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel</a> wowed the audience with a homemade design during the swimsuit competition. <a href="https://www.insider.com/miss-texas-crowned-new-miss-usa-2022-9" rel="">Gabriel</a> was named the winner of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/women-competing-to-be-miss-universe-photos-2023-1" rel="">71st Miss Universe pageant</a> on Saturday night in New Orleans. Miss Venezuela, Amanda Dudamel, was the runner-up, followed by Miss Dominican Republic, Andreína Martínez. But before becoming <a href="https://www.insider.com/new-miss-usa-rbonney-gabriel-speaks-against-abortion-bans-texas-2022-10">the first American to win Miss Universe</a> in a decade, the model, fashion designer, and sewing instructor from Houston made her mark in the swimwear segment by sporting a cape she created using recyclable materials.Sharing an insight of the design process <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnaP6N3Du7e/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on Instagram</a>, Gabriel wrote that the cape was "sustainably dyed and designed using plastic bottles." The video has 42,000 likes since she posted it on Saturday."I gathered and transformed this cape to showcase how art can be made out of what we perceive as trash," she added. "It also embodies my favorite message of 'If Not Now, Then When?'" The motto is visibly printed on the back of the orange cape.In the clip, set to Adele's "Set Fire To The Rain," Gabriel showed how she used a flame from a candle to shape the plastic bottles and used orange dyes to color the fabric of her cape herself. <div type="image" title="R'Bonney Gabriel already held the Miss USA title." height="4371" width="5828" msid="97006778" hostid="261"></div>"I designed this swimsuit cape inspired by the story of the Phoenix Rising, who emerged from adversity to become stronger, smarter and more powerful," she wrote in the caption. "I've kept this in mind during my journey through pageantry. Setbacks will always happen in life but we can choose whether to let them bring us down or use them as fuel to rise."Gabriel also said she spent 10 days in the lead-up to the pageant working on her cape design and even spent Christmas Day dyeing the fabric of the cape to look like flames, according to her Instagram stories.On top of using recycled plastic, she also worked with sustainably sourced wire and netting to construct the eye-catching piece. <div type="image" title="R'Bonney Gabriel showed on Instagram how she designed the swimsuit cape." height="953" width="1273" msid="97006780" hostid="261"></div>Gabriel spoke about her passion for sustainable design in the final question round on Saturday, Insider's <a href="https://www.insider.com/author/anneta-konstantinides">Anneta Konstantinides</a> reported. "As a very passionate designer, I've been sewing for 13 years, I use fashion as a force for good. In my industry, I'm cutting down on pollution through recycled materials when I make my clothing. I teach sewing classes to women that have survived from human trafficking and domestic violence," Gabriel said."And I say that because it is so important to invest in others," she added. "Invest in our community, and use your unique talent to make a difference. We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them and we use that as a vehicle for change."

Miss USA wore a homemade swimsuit cape made of plastic bottles before winning the 71st Miss Universe pageant

From adults to kids, everyone needs a water bottle for their work, at home, or for any type of outing. Water bottles can not only store water but various other types of beverages. Plastic water bottles are the most economical and they are also available in a wide variety of colours, shapes, designs, and makes. Most of the plastic bottles available now are made from advanced technology plastic so that they can adapt well with different temperatures. While buying a water bottle, factors such as capacity, shape and durability need to be considered. Nowadays, water bottles are available in sets so you have the same design at home, work, or carry to the gym or for those road trips. Plus, the feeling of symmetry adds an organised feel too! Here are some of the top options of plastic bottle sets for you. Pick any one or all and you won’t be disappointed. <bulletContentEmbed name="B07NBWHTK4" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07NBWHTK4_head"><div type="image" title="Top Pick" msid="81544018" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07BFBNFSF</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07NBWHTK4_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07NBWHTK4_0464785097170514"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Cello Venice Plastic Bottle Set, 1 Litre, Set of 5, Assorted</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">These clear water bottles from Cello are available in a set of 5 and are a great way of adding colour to the kitchen. Made from BPA free and 100% food-grade non-toxic plastic, you can even put these multicolour bottles into the freezer without any problem. Each 1-litre bottle is leak-proof, break-proof and very durable. Light in weight, these bottles are ideal for everyday use.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07NBWHTK4_1366277740990146"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Freezer safe &amp; made with virgin plastic.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07P7ZWQMZ" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07P7ZWQMZ_head"><div type="image" title="Editor&amp;#39;s Pick" msid="81544134" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07P94WPV1</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07P7ZWQMZ_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07P7ZWQMZ_6549019722870560"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Amazon Brand - Solimo Plastic Fridge Water Bottle Set (4 pieces, Multicolour, Citrus Pattern)</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This colourful set of four bottles is going to be liked by everyone. Made from high-quality BPA free, PET food-grade quality plastic, these bottles with citrus pattern body have a great grip when held. The set comprises bottles of multiple shades such as blue, pink, black, and orange. With a good diameter, an optimal amount of water pours out from these 1-litre bottles, also avoiding any sort of spillage. The lid has a snuggly fit, ensuring there’s no leakage. The bottles are meant for storing cold or room-temperature water and not hot.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07P7ZWQMZ_2247813117210354"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Beautiful citrus patterned bottles.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07CRN4M43" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07CRN4M43_head"><div type="image" title="Popular Pick" msid="81544361" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07CRN4M43</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07CRN4M43_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07CRN4M43_4527953544508008"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Cello Ozone Plastic Water Bottle, 1 Litre, Set of 3, Assorted</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This is a set of three bottles from Cello. Each bottle has a capacity of 1 litre and has an airtight cap making them completely leakproof. Made up of high quality material, these bottles have a number of features. These bottles are free from any odour and completely unbreakable. Made up of food grade plastic, these bottles are also refrigerator safe.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07CRN4M43_0783676015280333"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Easy to use, high quality water bottles.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07H2K22ND" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07H2K22ND_head"><div type="image" title="Must Have" msid="81544523" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07F5QVYN8</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07H2K22ND_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07H2K22ND_5418222607740482"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Cello Venice Plastic Water Bottle Set, 1 Litre, Set of 3, Assorted</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Stay absolutely hydrated with these amazing bottles made from 100% food-grade non-toxic plastic. This set of 3 clear bottles are completely recyclable. BPA free, phthalates and toxin free bottles such as these are ideal for kids too. These bottles are sturdy, meant for regular use, can be stored in the freezer and since these are washable, there’s no problem of ill hygiene. Spill-proof lids will not let water leak from the bottles.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07H2K22ND_3198994184141785"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">100% recyclable bottle set.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B0796V3CWV" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B0796V3CWV_head"><div type="image" title="Also Consider" msid="81544584" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B0796V3CWV</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B0796V3CWV_body"><bulletContentRow name="B0796V3CWV_1269397805731678"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Steelo Selina Plastic Water Bottle, 1 Litre, Set of 4, Multicolour</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This is a set of four water bottles of different colours from Steelo. These bottles are BPA free and made up of 100% recyclable plastic material. The bottles are completely waterproof and odour free making it a great set for everyone. These bottles are made up of food grade material, these clear water bottles are unbreakable.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B0796V3CWV_4090932942084885"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Great combination of style and durability.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed>

Best plastic water bottle in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I stayed at Buubble by Airmango in Iceland, where guests sleep in plastic bubbles in the woods.</li><li>I made a few mistakes like bringing a rolling suitcase and forgetting to close the bubble's doors.</li></ul>Located about 60 miles from downtown <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/us-tourist-visits-iceland-reykjavik-american-bar-photos-2023-8">Reykjavík</a>, Buubble by Airmango offers guests the chance to sleep in clear plastic bubbles in the woods for uninterrupted views of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/iceland-us-travel-surprising-differences-2023-7">Iceland's natural beauty</a>.In the winter, guests can spot the glow of the northern lights. In the summer, when I visited, I got to experience the surreal 24 hours of daylight known as Iceland's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/iceland-summer-travel-daylight-sunset-sleep-2023-7">midnight sun</a>.I paid 54,900 ISK, or about $403.85, for my stay, which included an inflated bubble with heating, a power strip, and a lamp, as well as access to an on-site cabin with bathrooms, a kitchenette, and WiFi.My night in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/iceland-bubble-hotel-review-photos-experience-price-2023-6">bubble hotel</a> was one of the highlights of my trip, but I also made a few <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/iceland-travel-mistakes-tourists-locals-2023-8">mistakes</a> along the way. Here are three things I would have done differently.<h2>I should have packed a backpack, not a rolling suitcase</h2><div type="image" title="A path through the woods at the Bubble Hotel in Iceland." height="3024" width="4032" msid="105516030" hostid="261" sizebytes="3954812"></div>I stayed at the bubble hotel for one night during a five-day trip to Iceland, so I had a full suitcase with me. However, after I parked on the side of the unpaved road leading to the hotel, I had a difficult time dragging my rolling suitcase across the ground to my bubble.It would have been better to pack everything I needed in a small overnight bag that I could have easily carried through the forest's winding paths.<h2>I forgot to close one door of the bubble before opening another</h2><div type="image" title="A slightly deflated bubble at the Bubble Hotel in Iceland." height="3024" width="4032" msid="105516032" hostid="261" sizebytes="1540536"></div>The bubbles at the hotel featured two doors, one into a small entryway and one into the bubble itself. Like an air lock on a spaceship, one had to be closed before opening another, otherwise the whole structure would deflate.But as I went back and forth to the cabin onsite to use the bathroom or access WiFi, I forgot about this rule a few times. The bubble sagged a bit, but quickly reinflated.<h2>I didn't bring enough water</h2><div type="image" title="A bottle of Icelandic water." height="3024" width="4032" msid="105516033" hostid="261" sizebytes="1157226"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/iceland-trip-cost-expensive-how-to-save-money-2023-11">Icelandic tap water</a> is known for its high quality, and many clear rivers and streams in Iceland are safe to drink from. But at the bubble hotel, perhaps because of the campsite-like setup, the tap water had a metallic taste that I didn't love. I only had a little bit of water left in the reusable bottle I'd brought, but thankfully, other guests were generous enough to share one of their extra bottles with me.

I spent a night in a plastic bubble in the woods in Iceland. Here are 3 mistakes I made.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Khloé Kardashian criticized people who use <keyword id="34567" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="plastic">plastic</keyword> <keyword id="6444242" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="water-bottles">water bottles</keyword> to fill reusable ones on Monday.</li><li>She was quickly called a hypocrite, with people pointing to her private jets and single-use items.</li><li>Kardashian has since defended herself, and said she's not "super environmentally conscious."</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khloe-kardashian">Khloé Kardashian</a> is no stranger to internet scandals surrounding <a href="https://www.insider.com/khloe-kardashian-bikini-photo-good-american-body-positivity-2021-4">her Instagram photos</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/khloe-kardashian-kylie-jenner-jordyn-woods-friends-comment-response-2021-2">romantic relationships</a>.But the center of her latest <keyword id="37125" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="controversy">controversy</keyword> is a bit more unexpected: <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/plastic">plastic water bottles</a>. On Monday, the reality-television star posted an Instagram story in which she said it bothers her when people use plastic water bottles to fill their reusable ones.Backlash quickly ensued <a href="https://twitter.com/khloekardashian">on Twitter</a>, where people said Kardashian is hypocritical for caring about the environmental impacts of plastic when she's known to <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a32892274/khloe-kardashian-kylie-jenner-private-jet/">ride private jets</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/khloe-kardashian-birthday-party-inflatable-slide-photos-video-2020-6">host extravagant parties</a>, and more.Kardashian has since defended herself in her own series of tweets, in which she said she was simply trying to point out "a pet peeve" she has.Though Kardashian's original Instagram story expired after 24 hours of being posted, the video has since <a href="https://twitter.com/imheretowatch1/status/1401883203825246212">been reshared on Twitter</a>."There's something that irks me," Kardashian said in her video. "It's that I see people taking water bottles and they're just pouring it into the gallon-sized reusable plastic bottle so they can consume their water for the day.""That defeats the purpose because those water bottles are just gonna go in a landfill somewhere and potentially cause, you know, pollution, and we're trying to limit our single usage of plastics," she continued.Critics were quick to point out that many of Kardashian's daily actions aren't environmentally conscious. Some pointed to her rides on private jets, and others called out her use of single-use materials at parties.Seemingly as a result of the backlash, Kardashian shared numerous tweets about her video, and said she doesn't consider herself to be "super environmentally conscious." Instead, she said people using plastic water bottles to fill reusable ones is a "pet peeve" she has."Oh my! LOL What drives me is that people turn nothing into some thing," she wrote in her first tweet. "It must be a slow news day. I am constantly learning and trying to be better for the <keyword id="6356826" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ENVIRONMENT">environment</keyword> for the sake of my daughter. I am the last one to say that I'm super environmentally conscious because I know how much more I have to learn.""All I was simply saying is a pet peeve of MINE," Kardashian continued. "I find it silly that people are pouring 4 to 5 single use plastic bottles into a reusable container. It's sort of defeats the purpose."Kardashian went on to say that with her original video, she was trying to help find an alternative, like using a "water filtration system that you can buy easily for the price of a case of water bottles.""Sometimes plastic water bottles are the only option for some people and I totally get that," she wrote. "Sometimes it's what I grab. It's not about being perfect. It's about learning and hopefully making small changes for our future. Holy smokes. Anyways I love when I get educated on easy tips as to how to potentially make a change in our world. Feel free to tweet me some tips."Kardashian concluded her statement by saying that she is "always down to learn," and is "proud of us all for doing our best and simply trying." Still, she argued that people saying she is trying to shame others is "BS" because she considers herself "a baby at this stuff."Representatives for Khloé Kardashian did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Khloé Kardashian is defending herself against people who criticized her for speaking out against plastic water bottles

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Bottled water can have an expiration date, though it's legal in the US to sell expired water.</li><li>Bottled water's expiration date warns when leached chemicals will begin to affect the water's taste.</li></ul>During a road trip, you take a big swig of a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bottled-water-facts-science-healthy-2017-4">water bottle</a> you bought at the last gas station. Despite the label's promise of a natural taste, a chemical flavor bathes your tongue. You examine the bottle and learn its sell-by date was a month ago.You read that right: bottled water can have an expiration date. This date warns you when leached chemicals will begin to affect the water's taste. It <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/bottled-water/can-you-drink-expired-bottled-water-a4412553232/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doesn't tell you</a> anything about the level of toxic <a href="https://www.insider.com/you-are-consuming-microplastics-how-much-what-to-know-risks-2022-4">microplastics</a> in your drink.The exact shelf life depends on the brand. A Fiji bottle can last <a href="https://www.fijiwater.com/blogs/faqs/what-is-the-shelf-life-for-fiji-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two years</a>, while those bulk packages of Nestle Pure Life bottles have a shelf life of only <a href="https://www.nestle.pk/ask-nestle/what-is-the-shelf-life-of-nestl%C3%89-pure-life#:~:text=Share%20this%20page-,What%20is%20the%20shelf%20life%20of%20NESTL%C3%89%20PURE%20LIFE%3F,18%20months%20for%20PET%20product." target="_blank" rel="noopener">three months</a>.Before you turn the car around and confront the gas station clerk, you should know it's perfectly legal in America to sell water bottles past their best-by date. For the last 21 years, the FDA's stance has been that bottled water can <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121011065627/https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/BottledWaterCarbonatedSoftDrinks/ucm077079.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last indefinitely</a> if you store it properly.However, improperly stored water can not only taste funky, but can also grow toxic or contaminated over time. It's important to know the difference between water that tastes "off" and water that could potentially make you sick.<h2>Chemicals leach into bottled water over time</h2><div type="image" title="Different sized plastic water bottles." height="1605" width="1868" msid="98949305" hostid="261" sizebytes="167678"></div>When bottled water grows stale, it's often because the bottle has begun to deteriorate, shedding microscopic chemicals into it.These compounds may make your water taste like medicine, chlorine, or ozone, says <a href="https://www.bryanquocle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bryan Quoc Le</a>, food chemist and author of "150 Food Science Questions Answered."Every bottle sheds chemicals a little bit, just by virtue of being in contact with water. Some of these chemicals are more toxic than others, such as <a href="https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/contaminant.php?contamcode=1074" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antimony</a>, a chemical that can damage your stomach and intestines, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/141" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phthalate esters</a>, which can disrupt your endocrine system.<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653520319275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glass bottles</a> release less antimony and phthalate esters than plastic ones.But most water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, which tends to release the most antimony out of all common bottle materials.But even PET bottles shouldn't release enough chemicals to make the water inside toxic. Over time, the water and the bottle <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653520319275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reach a chemical equilibrium</a>, so only trace amounts of the compounds are present in your drink at any one moment.Where you store your water can also impact your water's taste. According to the <a href="https://bottledwater.org/bottled-water-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Bottled Water Association</a>, plastic containers are slightly permeable, meaning air molecules may travel in and out of the bottle.If you store bottled water next to, say, a bucket of house paint or drain cleaner, vapors from those household solvents could sneak into the bottle and alter the flavor inside.<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653520319275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Studies so far</a> say the amount of chemicals in expired water are typically below <a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=165.110&amp;SearchTerm=bottled%20water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">limits set by the FDA</a>. At least, so long as you've stored the bottle in a cool, dark place.Hot water, you may remember from high school chemistry class, can dissolve larger amounts of chemicals than room temperature water.Research shows PET bottles heated <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/141" target="_blank" rel="noopener">past 86 degrees Fahrenheit</a> can release an excessive amount of phthalate esters. Bottles heated <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653520319275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">past 140 degrees Fahrenheit</a> can release dangerous levels of antimony.So while an expired water bottle from the fridge may be safe to drink, the bottle you forgot in your hot car trunk or on a sunny shelf probably isn't.<h2>Harmful microbes can contaminate bottled water in rare cases</h2><div type="image" title="A person inspecting large water jugs." height="1414" width="2120" msid="98949307" hostid="261" sizebytes="215210"></div>On rare occasions, the stale taste of expired water could come from microorganisms. While bottled water companies go through rigorous processes to keep their products sanitary, accidents can happen.For example, in April 2016 some <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/26/norovirus-outbreak-infects-thousands-in-northern-spain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">business offices in Spain</a> received bottled spring water contaminated with <a href="https://www.insider.com/norovirus-outbreak-spread-contagious-infectious-disease-doctor-advice-2023-3">norovirus</a>. They put the tainted spring water in their office coolers, and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128152720000143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 4,000 people</a> developed gastroenteritis symptoms like vomiting and fever.In addition to viruses, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128152720000143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yeasts, molds, and bacteria</a> can also slip into the bottle, often during the packaging process or transport.If you drink the bottle right away, the microbes probably won't have time to reproduce to any great extent. But if you leave a bottle <a href="https://bottledwater.org/bottled-water-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in sunlight</a> for an extended period, you'll create a warm, stable environment for them to multiply.Quoc Le says <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/signs-tap-water-contaminated-unsafe-2019-5">contaminated water</a> can have musty, moldy, marshy, sour, or rancid flavors. You may also see a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128152720000143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">light, slimy film</a> near the bottle's rim, since that's the main entrypoint for microbes.If your water tastes like swamp, it could make you sick. How sick depends on your immune system and which microbes are in the water. While some microbes may give you fever or upset stomach, others could give you severe diarrhea that's enough to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128152720000143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">send you to the hospital</a>.<h2>What to do with an expired water bottle</h2><div type="image" title="A woman boiling bottled water." height="1414" width="2121" msid="98949308" hostid="261" sizebytes="130770"></div>If you're a frugal or environmentally-conscious person, you may wonder how to salvage your expired bottled water.While you may be tempted to give expired water to your <a href="https://www.plantcelltechnology.com/pct-blog/plant-diseases-due-to-contaminated-water/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plants</a> or <a href="https://pure.hartpury.ac.uk/en/publications/microbiological-assessment-of-canine-drinking-water-and-the-impac" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pets</a>, your idea may backfire, as the same contaminants that put your health at risk could also make them ill. They need clean water, too.Quoc Le says you can filter your water through an activated charcoal filter, which should remove many of the contaminants. If you think microbes have infested your water, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/drinking-water-advisories/boil-water-advisory.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boiling it for one minute</a> should kill off almost all pathogens.Even if your bottle is fresh out of the factory, experts <a href="https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/factsheet/bottledwater.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don't recommend reusing it</a> unless the packaging explicitly gives the okay. Germs from your fingers and mouths can colonize the container, growing into a health hazard by the time you decide to refill the bottle.Instead, you can simply throw the bottle in the recycling bin when you're done — no need to rinse it out or scrape off the label. The IWBA says glass and plastic bottles are both <a href="https://bottledwater.org/recycling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100% recyclable</a>. In fact, your bottle will likely be used to help create new bottles, which you can then purchase all over again — hopefully before the expiration date this time.

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