Ditching plastic water bottles is easy for me, because (shock! horror!) I don’t drink a lot of water. That’s because the “eight glasses of water a day” myth is misunderstood; for one thing, it fails to mention that we also get water from other beverages as well as fruit and vegetables. However, hydration is important, especially when it comes to exercise and hot weather.
In South Africa, we have widespread access to clean water, generally in urban and developed areas, so we have little to no excuse for buying bottled water. The irony is that the people who can afford to buy bottled water (and do) are the ones who have access to clean water.
Since I have access to clean water, I’ve no need to buy it. However, I will confess that if they’re available and I’m thirsty and have forgotten my own bottle, I have been wont to grab a plastic bottle. This usually happens at work. I work in television and going to set can prove tricky. Production companies are required to keep crews hydrated and fed, which means a devastating amount of plastic water bottles. Some companies encourage crew members to bring water bottles, but it can prove tricky when the crew is spread out and far away from a water source, especially when shooting on location. And TV work is thirsty work entailing long hours and physical exertion, so if I get thirsty it’s usually on a set.
I’m pretty good about remembering to bring a water bottle though. If I forget and grab a plastic one, I’ll save it and use it again the next day. On the rare occasion I have to buy water, I look for options in glass. At home, I always drink from the tap. Pre-Covid I worked in an office and if I got thirsty I drank water from the tap or my own bottle from home.
Zero Waste Tip: Carry your own reusable bottle.
Zero Plastic Tip: Buy water in a glass bottle.