What is the Best Alternative to Plastic Water Bottles?

Did you know that Australians buy nearly 15 billion plastic bottles a year? And where do they end up? In our oceans, in a landfill or on the side of the highway. And because plastic takes so long to decompose — up to 1000 years — it’s wreaking havoc on our environment. 

Fortunately, there are environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic water bottles. One such alternative is sugarcane water bottles. As the name suggests, sugarcane water bottles are made from sugarcane, a renewable resource. Plastic water bottles, on the other hand, are single-use and made from oil.

Urban Ethos is here to the rescue with our awesome line of reusable bottles. The body of our bottles is made from sugarcane while the rings and handles are made of silicon. All you need to do is choose the element (or colour) that resonates with you most: ocean (teal), sand (beige), pebble (charcoal grey) or sky (bluish-white).

How are Bottles Made from Sugarcane?

Sugarcane is an amazing crop that grows quickly in dense clumps and doesn't need much more than rainwater and sunshine to thrive. Fields of sugarcane are harvested to produce all the cane sugar food products we know and love. During this process a by-product is made, sugar molasses, which is a thick syrup that is refined into bioethanol. The bioethanol is then further processed into bio-polyethylene, which the bottles are made of. This means that the sugarcane stalks that would otherwise have been discarded are turned into a natural form of plastic — a super sustainable substitute!

Is Sugarcane Plastic Eco-Friendly?

Sugarcane plastic is eco-friendly because it's made from natural ingredients, it's reusable and it's recyclable. You can take your favourite sugarcane bottle with you every day instead of buying a disposable bottle when you’re out and about. It's also made from sugarcane, which is a renewable resource unlike the petrochemicals used to make regular plastic bottles. When sugarcane grows, it captures carbon dioxide in the air, meaning that your reusable bottle is carbon negative. 

Sugarcane plastic is structurally and chemically identical to petrochemical plastic, so it can be recycled in the same way using the facilities we already have in Australia. This is an advantage sugarcane plastic has over many other bio-plastics and reduces its carbon footprint even further. 

These benefits mean that by substituting single-use plastic bottles for an Urban Ethos reusable bottle, you’re lowering your own carbon footprint. So not only are sugarcane water bottles better for the environment, they’re also better for your conscience!

3 Reasons Why You Should Use a Reusable Bottle

1. Reusable bottles are healthier for you and the environment.

Plastic bottles are made with harmful chemicals (such as BPA) that can leach into the water they contain. These chemicals can be harmful to your brain, and they also pollute the environment. Urban Ethos' reusable bottles are BPA-free and made from renewable materials. They can hold 650ml of water, so you can track how much water you drink each day. 

2.  Reusable bottles are more economical in the long run.

While reusable bottles may cost more upfront than disposable plastic bottles, they will save you money in the long run as you won’t have to keep buying new bottles.

3.  Reusable bottles are more durable than disposable plastic bottles.

Disposable plastic water bottles are designed to be used once and then thrown away. As a result, they’re not very durable and can break or leak in your bag (ruining your expensive laptop!). Reusable water bottles, on the other hand, are designed to be used indefinitely, as they're manufactured from stronger materials.

It's time we left oil where it belongs, in the ground!

Urban Ethos is changing the way we think about waste and helping to create a more sustainable future. With Urban Ethos, you can feel good about doing good. Sounds good?

Make the sustainable choice and get your reusable water bottle today!