Plastic in your water? No, thanks!
In a world where environmental awareness and sustainability are becoming increasingly important, it is now essential to find alternatives to single-use plastic. Particularly alarming are the results of a recent study published by the University of Columbia in the USA, which shows that bottled water contains more plastic particles than we can imagine.
These findings have reignited the debate around plastic bottles and once again clearly show the urgency of more environmentally friendly solutions
These findings have reignited the debate around plastic bottles and once again clearly show the urgency of more environmentally friendly solutions
About the study: Nanoplastics in bottled water
Let’s start with the result: bottled water is much more contaminated with plastic than previously assumed. The research team, led by Naixin Qian, discovered an average of 240,000 plastic fragments per litre of water, which significantly exceeds previous estimates.
But how is this possible?
The extent of the problem was not apparent in earlier studies, as nanoplastics had never been specifically searched for before. However, the use of newly developed measurement and calculation technology has now enabled the researchers to specifically search for plastic particles in the nanometre range.
Three of the most common water brands in the USA were tested, and between 110,000 and 370,000 plastic fragments per litre were found. Of these, 90 % were nano-plastics and 10 % micro-plastics.
Surprisingly, the majority of the nanoplastics found did not consist of the usual PET plastic, but mainly of polyamide.
It is currently only possible to make assumptions about how the polyamide gets into the water. The researchers assume that the plastic finds its way into the water through the use of plastic membranes during the treatment and filtering process.
But how is this possible?
The extent of the problem was not apparent in earlier studies, as nanoplastics had never been specifically searched for before. However, the use of newly developed measurement and calculation technology has now enabled the researchers to specifically search for plastic particles in the nanometre range.
Three of the most common water brands in the USA were tested, and between 110,000 and 370,000 plastic fragments per litre were found. Of these, 90 % were nano-plastics and 10 % micro-plastics.
Surprisingly, the majority of the nanoplastics found did not consist of the usual PET plastic, but mainly of polyamide.
It is currently only possible to make assumptions about how the polyamide gets into the water. The researchers assume that the plastic finds its way into the water through the use of plastic membranes during the treatment and filtering process.
Glass bottles to reduce the intake of plastic particles
Glass bottles are a much healthier and more environmentally friendly solution than plastic bottles and also offer numerous other advantages:
1. no leaching of chemicals: In contrast to plastic bottles, glass bottles do not release any chemical substances into drinks, as glass is inert and does not interact with the contents.
2. no microplastic contamination: glass bottles do not release microplastic particles and therefore do not contribute to the absorption of microplastics into the body, as can be the case with plastic bottles.
3. no change in smell or taste: glass retains the taste and aroma of drinks better than plastic as it does not absorb or release odours.
4. durability and reusability: glass bottles are durable, can be used again and again and are easy to clean, which promotes their environmental friendliness and economic efficiency.
5. eco-friendliness: Glass is a 100% recyclable material and can be recycled an infinite number of times without any loss of quality. The use of glass bottles reduces the consumption of single-use plastic and minimises the environmental impact.
1. no leaching of chemicals: In contrast to plastic bottles, glass bottles do not release any chemical substances into drinks, as glass is inert and does not interact with the contents.
2. no microplastic contamination: glass bottles do not release microplastic particles and therefore do not contribute to the absorption of microplastics into the body, as can be the case with plastic bottles.
3. no change in smell or taste: glass retains the taste and aroma of drinks better than plastic as it does not absorb or release odours.
4. durability and reusability: glass bottles are durable, can be used again and again and are easy to clean, which promotes their environmental friendliness and economic efficiency.
5. eco-friendliness: Glass is a 100% recyclable material and can be recycled an infinite number of times without any loss of quality. The use of glass bottles reduces the consumption of single-use plastic and minimises the environmental impact.
Set an example for health and environmental protection in your company!
Have glass drinking bottles printed with your logo now and offer your employees a healthier alternative to plastic bottles.
Together we can encourage a sustainable working environment.