Pros & Cons of Using Plastic Drinking Bottles

Plastic bottles and other plastic containers are primarily used for storing food and liquid, and for organizing kitchen products. There are both, benefits and adverse effects of using plastic drinking bottles. While it is convenient to drink water and other beverages from plastic drinking bottles, buying these bottles can be a costly affair. Depending on the intended use, plastic may or may not be the best option. Read on to know about the pros and cons of using plastic drinking bottles.

The Pros of Using Plastic Drinking Bottles

The Pros of Using Plastic Drinking Bottles

Durability. Plastic is durable. One can toss plastic bottles from a distance and not worry about them breaking. Plastic drinking bottles are designed to withstand a small amount of trauma. Thicker plastic, which are found on home-storage bottles, lasts longer than thinner, take-out bottles. This is an important pro of using plastic drinking bottles.

Cost. Plastic is cheaper than other common storage materials, like wood, metal, and glass. Since it is manufactured in bulk quantities, the overall cost of plastic is low. Plastic containers are used for food and beverage storage, since other containers often get damaged from daily use and misplaced over time. Low cost is associated with replacing plastic containers. This is why plastic drinking bottles are preferred by many.

The Cons of Using Plastic Drinking Bottles

Shorter Longevity. Plastic gets affected by excessive scratching, denting, cracking, and light. If plastic drinking bottles are left stacked with heavy liquids in them for long duration, then the plastic tends to buckle and crack. For instance, a glass bottle for storing liquid has a longer life than a plastic one, until the glass does not break.

Absorption of Flavours. Plastic, when used for storing liquids, absorbs the tastes and smells of the items stored in them. Liquids with strong flavours, like marinara sauce, and tomato soup, tend to get absorbed into the containers more easily, and their smell persists even after the bottle is washed properly with soap. Materials, like metal and glass do not absorb flavours from the food and water; and are thus better to use with these liquids.

Environmental Hazards. Environmental hazard is a major con of using plastic drinking bottles. Plastic greatly impacts the environment. Recycling of plastic is possible, depending on a city’s recycling system, but many people do not practice recycling. Plastic is not biodegradable, meaning it is not possible for the earth to naturally re-absorb this material into the soil. Rather, light causes the plastic to break down into small pieces and contaminate the soil. Managing and cleaning the toxicity which plastic creates is an expensive affair. Recycling programs aim at reducing the amount of plastic items one uses, promoting their reuse, and recycling the items which are no longer used.

Health Problems. Plastic can also negatively affect the human health. Bisphenol A or BPA is a harmful chemical present in plastic including plastic drinking bottles. BPA gets leeched in the content of the plastic drinking bottle, making it harmful for human consumption. So, it is always better to carry water and other beverages in metal bottles, which are safer than plastic. Metal drinking bottles can be filled and refilled with liquids, but the metal would not leech into the bottle content. Reusable water bottle companies, like Nalgene and Camelback, have now issued a new line of drinking bottles which are “BPA free” and better for daily use.

Conclusion

So, these were some of the cons of drinking from plastic drinking bottles. As you can see the cons of plastic drinking bottles outweigh the pros. So, it is highly recommended to discard the use of plastic in any form and save the environment and save our planet earth.

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:October 12, 2019

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