EcoUsable Ech2o Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle GIVEAWAY!
I feel the same way about plastic water bottles as Andrea (read her Bottled Water, Bottled Hype series), and many others who feel that it's disturbing that over 60 million plastic water bottles go into landfills every day. Even more disturbing are images like this one, showing the The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
It's a stew of trash floating in the Pacific that's twice the size of Texas, floating between California and Hawaii.
The impact of our actions is clear and striking. We can each do our small part in relieving the problem.
EcoUsable is here to help with that! They've created the Ech2o, the world's first stainless steel filtered water bottle. Um..it's a stainless steel water bottle...with a filter inside it!! Get great-tasting, filtered water, anytime, anywhere! Drink from tap water, streams, rivers, lakes, and pools -- everything but salt water.
The filter not only reduces unpleasant taste, odor, chlorine, sand, and sediment, but also toxic chemicals, detergents, pesticides, and other harmful industrial and agricultural wastes. The 25 oz. bottles remove pollutants for up to 100 gallons, which lasts the average person about a year. Each bottle uses 304 food grade stainless steel that is non-leaching, BPA-free, reusable and lightweight!
Save money. Save the planet. It's that simple.
To get you started, EcoUsable sent us three Ech2o filtered water bottles to give away to our Wise Bread readers. To enter, leave a comment about ways to reduce your plastic use. Drawing ends on July 20. Only open to U.S. residents aged 18 and over, void where prohibited. Only one entry per person will be counted.
This drawing has ended. Congrats to: Sarah, Beceky, and John Meche
Don't forget. Even if you aren't one of the lucky winners, all Wise Bread readers can also get 10% off.
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
We do many of the of the things listed above, but am glad to read what others are doing.
One thing I've recently started to do is use organic coconut oil as my body moisturizer. It comes in a glass jar, is about the same price as a fancy lotion in a plastic bottle, is all natural - just coconut oil - so doesn't contain any petro chemicals, dyes or fragrances, and a tiny bit goes a long way so it will last awhile. Yes, you do end up smelling a bit like coconut cake, but I think that's a good thing - coconut cake is my favorite!!
not much new to say here, but i will choose a product packaged in cardboard or glass over plastic any time i can. i also take my own bags everywhere--not just the grocery store!
Some great ways to reduce plastic waste:
1) Use a water filter, either on the faucet or a pitcher, instead of buying bottled water.
2) Go beyond plastic tupperware by using glass wide-mouthed mason jars. They are really cheap right now with the summer gardening season just peaking. Not only does glass recycle much easier than plastic, it can be sterilized and washed in the dishwasher.
3) Keep a stainless steel or aluminum water bottle with you at all times so there is no need for plastic cups.
4) Instead of buying individually packaged items, buy in bulk and divide into your own storage containers.
Enjoy!
Re-think fast food. So many foods can be prepared quickly and easily at home or at the office thereby eliminating fast food plastics and carrying containers. TO make it fast, make it simple. Oddly enough, an entire steak dinner can be prepared more quickly than a trip to the drive thru restaurant. The food is better, and plastic reduced.
I bring my own bags to stores and reuse as many things as possible.
Whenever I buy something small or only a couple of things at a store I will always refuse a bag if I can easily carry it to my car. Much of the time it will even cheer the checker up and they'll thank me.
That said, whenever I do take a bag, whether plastic or paper, I always repurpose them at home.
When my sweetie and I moved into our new home in a VERY green city, we purchased a second (identical) trash can for our kitchen that sits right next to the first trash can. I used colored markers to mark the top of each can to distinguish which is recyclables and which is trash and it makes recycling so much easier because it's RIGHT there by the trash. :) Now we fill up our recycle bin so much quicker than our trash; in fact, there are some weeks where we only have one garbage bag in the trash bin on trash day. Y'all would be amazed at how much you can recycle if you just open yourself up to the idea. And it feels so good to know that we're doing *something.*
I've stopped using plastic water bottles, opting instead for reusable Nalgene-type containers filled with tap water. I bring snacks every day to work, but instead of Ziploc bags, I use small reusable plastic containers. I also use these for my sandwiches instead of aluminum foil or ziplocs. We bring our own shopping bags to the supermarket instead of using the store's disposable plastic bags. At home, we use drinking glasses instead of throw-away plastic cups.
Buying bottled water is truly a waste of so many resources, it's unbelievable. I always have some water in the fridge to drink whether it be filtered or not, it's your preference! I don't use straws when I eat out. By reusing plastic sacks for trash can liners, I never have to buy trash bags! :)
once you start paying extra attention to your consumption, all the little things add up, too. Opting for less packaging, BYO grocery bags, and don't forget to recycle what's already out there!
I avoid buying food that is packaged in individual servings and buy items such as toilet paper and paper towels in bulk to eliminate the use of a lot of plastic wrapping.
I never buy paper towels. It really bothers me that all you need are regular kitchen towels and dish cloths. They can be washed and dried and not just thrown out. Something to add to the fun is that I buy kitchen towels for all the holidays so it's fun to take them out for the certain holidays, Valentine's , summer scenes, Halloween, Christmas etc.
I do the same thing with napkins. don't buy paper napkins, make some out of cloth material. They're fun and helpful for the environment.
I use plastic grocery bags (ones I still need after filling my cloth bags) as trash bags, so I never buy plastic garbage bags.
I use plastic grocery bags (ones I still need after filling my cloth bags) as trash bags, so I never buy plastic garbage bags.
I'm a 4th grade elementary school teacher and I realized after my first year of teaching that I was drinking at least 1 plastic bottle of water a day. At the end of the year, I had consumed over 200 plastic bottles. All of them were recycled, but I still didn't like the waste associated with their creation and later recycling. I purchased a stainless steel water bottle and showed it to my students. We charted how many plastic bottles were saved and tabulated how many feet, of water bottles, I had escaped from using. Having a filter in my bottle would definitely help convert more students to the green movement! Kids love gadgets!
I use, and there is now a big emphasis to use, reusable shopping bags. However, there are a lot of times when I run out for one or two things and forgot to bring bags. In these cases I usually just refuse the bag unless it's absolutely necessary. If you get a drink, a sandwich, and a bag of chips for lunch, you can probably carry those in your hands.
Don't buy individual bottle water. Use a filter at home or buy in a bigger container.
We wash and reuse plastic bottles. Same w/ plastic bags, though we try to use cloth whenever possible. Also, cooking from scratch reduces the use/disposal of plastic, because you don't have a bunch of plastic containers to toss. Lastly, we save any plastic jars that come along and use them to store beans, rice and other grains.
Take your own coffee mug to work and even to Starbucks. Take plastic coat hangers to thrift stores so they can be re-used instead of being trashed. Re-use plastic containers that you have as dog food scoops etc.
I use fabric shopping bags, mason jars to drink. Try not to use plastic ware but bring silver ware instead.
I recycle plastic food containers to store/freeze food.
We reduce our plastic by bringing reusable bags to the grocery and drug stores instead of taking another plastic bag.
There are many ways to reduce plastic use:
-Use a bottle such as the one mentioned for water.
-Use reusable glass food containers instead of plastic baggies for meals.
-Use reusable grocery sacks or paper bags at the grocery store.
-Buy bulk foods.
-Count the little things. Purchasing items (shampoo, snacks, cosmetic goods) that consciously use more environmentally packaging encourages other companies to be earth friendly as well :)
I use reusable grocery bags whenever I go grocery shopping! Additionally, I walk to the store, which is a few blocks away and bring along a fold up cart.
this summer, our goal is to use the produce from our garden, putting into the freezer only what we produced. amazing how little plastic is generated when you don't shop for produce at the stores.
I will admit, I've really tried to reduce my water bottle usage. What I've done first is purchase the water bottles that are made from less plastic. Then - as I drink the water from them, I refill them from the large (1-5gallon) jugs that I buy. I refill those from the Osmosis water centers for a quarter. Then I refill the water bottle. I re-use the bottle as many times as I can, until it starts to stink, then I repeat the process. I'd love to get rid of them completely - and the stainless steel one will help!
Thanks!
Check the content tag of your clothes, and any new stuff you're buying. Polyester is plastic. Natural fibers all the way, and when they're reduced to rags, they can go in the compost pile.
I carry a reusable rubbermaid plastic bottle, i also use my metal coffee thermos, and i don't have to freeze water (they say that's bad now) cause the necks are wide enough to add ice. Hey i never thought about the straws. wow! I reuse plastic bags, and NEVER BUY THEM from THE PACK AND SAVE STORES. Target bags are good for trash!!!
i forgot to say a reuse sandwich bags when possible, and have put my sandwich in a recently emptied chip bag, that really worked well.
I imagine all this has been said over and over, but I think the key is just being aware. I avoid produce bags by using my own string bags (I make mine, but you can buy them on Etsy). When produce comes already packaged in a tray or box, I'll use and re-use it for starting seeds, then finally re-cycle it. When foods come in re-sealable bags, the bags get re-used to store leftovers, or to store small craft projects, dried herbs or flowers from the garden, or seeds for next year. Everything gets re-used till it's falling apart. Then it gets re-cycled.
I just picked up a set of glass tupperware: easier to clean, longer lasting -- they even double as serving bowls on taco night.
I also carry a metal fork in my bag so I'm never stuck with the flimsy plastic kind.
When we have anything plastic in the house, we find as many uses for it as possible before recycling it again. As hard as it is these days to not purchase plastics, it is very easy to reuse your plastics. We will use them for the kids' craft projects, bath toys, storage containers, etc.
I don't use plastic bags (or if I have to, I reuse them as trash bags) and I don't drink bottled water.
Bring along a glass container with a lid to a restaurant for the leftovers.
My newspaper carrier puts the paper in a plastic bag on rainy days. I save them up and, when I have a bag full, I return them to her for reuse. She loves it because she has to buy them for her papers.
I stopped years ago using straws in my drinks when going out to restaurants.
I suggest using a refillable mug at the gas station. it saves the environment and money.
ok how about when making lunch insetead of plastic bags use reuseable containers instead of baggies
I think about plastics every single day and how to reduce use of them. I also recycle all plastic since my city began a recycle program. I use reusable water bottles, and I wash out plastic bags and reuse them, then recycle them. I do not buy alot of silly plastic toys, doo dads, and this and thats. :)
Buy a bottle drying rack and wash and reuse plastic sandwich bags. It works great and you can reuse the same bags forever.
Buy things in cardboard boxes instead of plastic when possible
I think the best lessons are taught by example, so I don't buy plastic anything! Not only is our plastic refuse at zero, but my children have adopted my way of thinking and they will grow up to be conscientious of what they buy and throw away.
I take home my ziplocs and containers from lunches to reuse them every week.
When you shop, we aware of how much plastic you are bringing into your home. Avoid frozen veggies in plastic bags. Opt for those in cardboard. Buy in bulk and never buy individual containers of food to avoid the extra packaging. If you do buy something in plastic, always reuse and/or recycle it. Always be on the lookout for ways to reduce the use of plastic in your life. Once you start looking, new ways present themselves every day.
Serving beverages in glassware or reusable washable plastic glasses instead of disposables will save a lot of plastic use.
I use reusable shopping bags, turn off lights, use energy saving bulbs, etc.
Our family reuses most plastic items including grocery bags, ziploc bags, water bottles, etc.
We minimize our use of disposable plastic items--if disposable is necessary we opt for paper instead of plastic. Thanks for the contest!
The easiest thing to do is to use your own bags. Everytime I shop and I see all the bags being used I crindge.
I use reusable grocery bags. I have an old Nalgene bottle for water/fluids. I use my "real" plates/cups instead of buying plastic dinnerware.
I'm a carbonated water junkie. I drink a liter a day. I used to buy club soda/seltzer/Perrier at the store all the time. That is until I found Soda Club. Now I just make my own at home from filtered water from the fridge. I have made over 600 liters of this stuff in the past two years. That's 1,200 less half liter bottles in landfill.
When I get lunch I ask for a real plate or bring my own so as not to use plastic, I reuse all my plastic bags, I also wash plastic bags when practical.
I hope to start a compost soon.
I almost always get paper at the grocery store. They are still cutting down trees to make it, but trees grow back. Actually in many paper producing areas (Wisconsin for example) the paper industry is semi-sustainable.
Reusable shopping totes!
We drink filtered water from reusable bottles- always. How nice itt would be to be able to refill away from home!
I try not to use anything that is disposable - such as if we are going on a picnic I bring real silverware and light weight re-usable plastic dishes.
I bought one of those sandwich containers and use that instead of baggies. May not be much..but every bit counts!
Everything I do has already been mentioned, I think.
I use cloth grocery bags -- keep them with you on the front seat and they are harder to forget.
I avoid buying anything in a plastic bottle, if I can help it. For me, iced tea is a life saver. Every day I make up a batch in a decade-old 48 oz glass apple juice jug. Loose tea, teapot, glass jar, glass glass -- no plastic!!
I drive an old Ford car which may end up using more gasoline, but it's all metal, and it is very safe, and saves a TON on plastic when compared to all that is used on all these foreign cars now-a-days :)
I look for the least possible packaging, or for packaging I can reuse. I avoid individual-serving-size in favor of large containers. Cooking from scratch reduces a lot of plastic waste in the kitchen.
What plastics I do bring home, I try to reuse or to pass along to someone who will. My neighborhood preschool welcomes a big bag of plastic containers, along with TP rolls and many other things that can be turned into art projects.
And I love my SIGG water bottle. It sits on my desk in my 5th grade classroom, much to the puzzlement of my students who live in a throwaway world.
I buy practically everything (clothing, household items) used. That is a huge way to reduce landfill waste and recycle things. It's also easier on the pocketbook. When I am done with the items, I sell or donate them.
Use rags instead of paper towels or pre-packaged cloths for cleaning. Make your rags out of used clothing, towels, socks, etc.
Buy a freaking coffee pot people! Drink your cup of coffee out of a mug at your own kitchen table rather than making that stop at the gourmet coffee shop on your way to work...
I've stopped buying bottled water.
I use glass containers and jars to store items in as ewll as, to re-heat foods. It is washable and reheating in plastic is dangerous.
I think foremost is taking your own reusable bags to the grocers and keep one or two for trips to other stores, clothing, whatever.
Bring your own coffee cup with ounces marked on it.
Bring your own cup, pint, quart, and other containers to restaurants to "doggie bag it" and for take-out, without using their un-reusable plastic.
The containers that your community do not recycle can be recycle at corporations that recycle. An example is Whole Foods will collect number 5.
Think outside the box to find answers.
We began by bringing our own bags to the store. The company where I work has removed our coolers and gone to in-line coolers.
Demand that retailers eliminate the huge plastic blister packs that are not only hard to open, but are hard to recycle because they're usually oddly shaped.
We drink filtered, it tastes the best!! Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
I reduce my plastic use by NOT buying bottled water, carrying reusable bags to the stores, packing my lunch in reusable/washable containers, and by encouraging family and friends to do the same!
We avoid buying bottled water and instead use aluminum containers like Sigg.
At the local consignment store, when you refuse a bag, you get a ticket to donate $.50 to a charity of your choice.
We're also making the switch from plastic grocery bags to cloth bags. But when we do make the trip without the cloth bags, we reuse the plastic grocery bags as our bathroom trashcan liners.
We don't buy bottled water any more. We've cut down on buying other drinks that come in a plastic bottle.
I have been remembering to use my re-usable grocery bags more and more, and I also don't but bottled water anymore.
When i go to my local chron guy i do away with the sandwich bag receptacle. I bring my own aluminium canister which can accommodate at least a dubski. Who do you think taught you to burn trees? That Dr. Dre did.
All such good tips. We are making a conscious effort every time we buy something to think of what's left after we consume it (after deciding if we even need it in the first place). Recycling now makes up the majority of our trash, less bottled water, repurposing glass containers and the like. Great giveaway - my husband is a filtered water fiend and it's hard to get him to not buy bottled water when he's out and about.
Seeing pictures of the Pacific Garbage Patch always breaks my heart! To reduce our use of plastics we're using reusable water bottles, recycling as much as possible, buying products with less packaging, and buying products that come in biodegradable packaging over plastic (such as cardboard milk bottles over plastic). I wish there was more I could do, I definitely think every little bit helps.
I use canvas bags for grocery items, so I do not get plastic bags in the store.
I reuse plastic water bottles
I use cloth grocery bags and watch what I purchase making a point to choose items with less packaging.
These are a very sound idea. Alongside having your own means of creating good, filtered water, it is sensible for organisations to provide this facility on tap. A watercooler, that never runs out, is very important in the office situation where workers may not have access to the above product
Over the years, it has disturbed me how much we used and throw away that is plastic. I used to have a Brita Water bottle, but I had to get rid of it because it was plastic and did not hold up well. Sanitary reasons stopped me from purchasing another. Where I work, the water is horrible tasting. By getting this bottle, my water consumuption will increase a lot.
Plastics are all around us. Do you know how difficult it was to get rid of vcr tapes? I had to pay to get rid of them. The plastic utensils we get at restaurants, we use over and over again until they break.
I use a stainless steel bottle for water, tote my own bags to the supermarket, carry a net bag always...and celebrate no-disposible-plastic days each week.
Would love to try this bottle -- especially when I am on the road!
I also have switched to canvas bags for the grocery shopping trips. We are now using a filtered water pitcher to refill our water bottles.
I love the tips about the plastic cutlery. Don't know why I never thought about the plastic forks & spoons since I stopped using the styrofoam plates ages ago.
Anything plastic that is already in the house, I find some use for. If I can't, it gets recycled.
A way I can reduce my plastic use is to use aluminum foil instead of plastic wrap.
I try not to buy items packaged in plastic whenever possible (like soda in glass bottles for example, we don't drink mutch anyway). I always keep reusable bags in my car for shopping. I carry my own glass into restaurants instead of getting a to-go cup. And I am trying to get my family to quit using plastic storage bags...I now have glass storage containers and I swiped a box of canning jars from my mother to use as storage for rice etc.in the pantry.
As many stated, I also use reusable bags when I go to stores. When I pack a lunch for work, I use a sandwich holder. This way I don't use a sandwich bag everyday. I also use glass pyrex containers for leftovers. I try to do what I can, when I can.
We use totes at the stores we shop at and do not use plastic water bottles.
Thank you for the chance
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
I try to recycle my milk cartons as often as I can.
Also, I try and remember to bring the canvas bags (in the trunk of the car) into the markets and shopping centers with me, too.
We buy as many products as possible that are not individually wrapped in plastic and we recycle almost everything. Thank you!
Some of my tips are:
-use ceramics--they are fine for most microwaves
-(re)use glass for leftovers, DIY projects, home beauty products
-use compostables: renewable corn, bamboo, or high-consumer- recycled-content-based alternatives
-bring your own utensils: titanium sporks, travel chopsticks, compostables
-check out natural rubber and natural resin products in general
-get metal glasses frames-- some are lightweight titanium
-get wooden glasses frames
-get corrective eye surgery to combat reusable contact waste
-use high-consumer-recycled-content-based alternatives paper bags for picking up after your dog
-checkout waxed products instead of plastic coated, vinyl etc.
-use metal canteens, mugs, etc for water
Butchers at a grocery store and some at farmers' markets will wrap meats in thick butcher paper instead of plastic wrap.
I guess I do recycle more than I realize. I do not throw much out. Prescription bottles are great to hold all sorts of small stuff: change , screws and nails etc.
I think the reusable bags are covered. I carry a large messenger bag and decline the plastic bag for purchases.
Don't forget about re-purposing other items - for those of you with i-pods and other devices and a stack of plastic cd's gathering dust- they make great coasters, or can be used on a wall for a very interesting decoration.
Vinyl lovers - (or haters) clocks- and bowls - melt those ruined albums down for a nice centerpiece. Makes a great gift.
Just remember to always ask yourself before you throw something away, is there another way to use this or could someone else use it?
Recycle as much as I can. Try to make things from scratch.
In addition to reusing plastic containers from take-out food, we also will rinse and reuse ziplock bags. I also love reusable cloth grocery bags -- they are so much sturdier and can fit so much more, all while cutting back on excess plastic/paper use. Thanks!
I have a canvas bag I bring to stores.
We use our canvas bags for groceries, lunch bags,and even pool totes!
Everyone in my family has a canvas bag that they use to take their lunch and stuff to work and school. I have also purchased some cheap washable plastic silver ware so as not to use the throw away plastic ware. We don't use plastic sandwich bags but use re-usable containers for sandwiches and other foods.
We stopped using:
plastic eating utensils
plastic plates, cups, bowls
plastic storage containers
plastic wrap
plastic bags in the grocery or other stores
plastic water bottles
We've reduced out garbage tremendously!!
bring in reusable bags while shopping it saves a lot of plastic
amandasixx at hotmail dot com
I use 2 and 3 liter bottles and other plastic containers as small green houses for garden plants ,stake them to the ground .in freezing weather I have saved my plants Just cut them in half. use lid on top of bottles. cut sheets out of bottles for other uses too. The sheet can be used as spacers backup paper fasten alumaun foil to plastic for reflectors,got some on my air conditioner protection from sun in summer 100% plus heat,etc.
I've got a million uses for plastics.
use tupperware instead of sandwich bags
drink tap water/get a filter
don't get takeout or fast food for dinner
My fiance just recieved his degree in wildlife Biology. We have started to go green in ways I never dreamed we could. One thing i hate doing now is buying millions of water bottles, and using plastic bags. I am a very artsy person, so i created my own bottles for the days of the week, i scrub and wash, and reuse. I use tap water. its pretty much the same thing! and i still get to use a bottle everyday! Also, i sewed together pieces of old carry on bags together and i bring it to the grocery store. I always get compliments. You should always be creative. This world needs some more TLC and creative thinkers who are willing to save this planet!
kristenoconnor413@yahoo.com