All the concern over the dangers of BPA (see our related earlier post) have caused many people to consider using other forms of reusable bottles (like those from Sigg, Klean Kanteen, and others) in place of their trusted Nalgene bottle. Bear in mind, Nalgene (the company) has now started offering its style of bottles (using a polycarbonate or Lexan plastic) in versions that are BPA-free, so its not to say that you can’t use Nalgene bottles at all anymore. For your drinking water, you may want to at least entertain the idea of using a BPA-free alternative (whether plastic or an aluminum bottle like those from Sigg or stainless steel like those form Klean Kanteen), and find another plan for your Nalgene (but don’t throw them in the garbage – read on).

For those of us who have been using Nalgene bottles for a decade or more, many of us have amassed a small collection of these bottles. If you have now determined you want to take measures to avoid your exposure to BPA and you have old Lexan, polycarbonate or Nalgene bottles that may have contained BPA, hopefully you would never consider throwing them in the garbage. Since these were generally recycling #7 grade plastic, they are quite logically very recyclable, and if you must get rid of them, please recycle! Alternatively, why not repurpose them?

What does it mean to repurpose a plastic bottle? Simply, whatever you choose to do with it. We’ll offer a few ideas. If you have kids, use the repurposed Nalgene or polycarbonate bottles as a container for small objects or toys (ideally something not consumed or likely to be put in their mouth or that seems counter-intuitive to the BPA leaching issue). Around your garage, these transparent bottles are great for holding nails, bolts, or items you keep around for projects. Fill it with grass seed to repair your lawn or with water to use as a watering can for small plants. For camping, these bottles are still terrific for storing and keeping things dry or for storing things that often get lost (think twine/small rope, tent stakes, etc.) How about filling your old Nalgenes with first aid supplies, and keeping one in your car and one in your camping gear?  A first aid kit kept in a Nalgene keeps it handy and waterproof!

Want us to shed some light on a creative and fun new idea for repurposing your bottle? Use it as a lantern! There are companies that have developed LED (light emitting diode) light caps that can be screwed on the bottle in place of the original cap, converting your Nalgene or polycarbonate bottle to a colorful lantern! That is not only a great way to reuse such a bottle, but it is an easy way to acquire an eco-friendly lantern that uses nominal energy (particularly if you use a solar version) and did not require significant raw materials for production. You can find lights like this from companies such as SolLight. There are also non-solar versions of this style of lid lantern for your Nalgene or polycarbonate bottle, from companies such as the Firefly from Guyout Designs, found here.

Whatever you choose to do, there are plenty of fun or practical ways to reuse or repurpose your Nalgene bottle. If you would rather be rid of it entirely, remember that type of polycarbonate plastic usually bears the recycling #7 symbol on the bottom, so be sure to recycle it rather than throw it.

If you get too bogged down in the headlines about the harmful toxins in reusable plastics, without paying attention to the fact that there are different types of plastics, it could sound like we should be throwing out reusable containers all together and forgetting about sustainable thinking and reducing our impact on the environment. Even if you are concerned about BPA, since not all plastics contain BPA, and since there alternatives that can still be healthy for the environment and for ourselves, we should consider our options.

This site does not offer medical advice, and cannot tell you what is best for you, so you should consult with your personal doctor about any questions you have related to your health or health risks. However, some light can be shed on what BPA is, where it can be, and whether alternatives exist for those who want to reduce their exposure to BPA. Even though some polycarbonate and other plastics have contained (and some still do contain) BPA, not all reusable containers do.

Many manufacturers have plastic BPA-free water bottles and containers, and some offer polycarbonates that are free of BPA. There are other alternatives like aluminum and stainless steel as well. It is possible that even those materials can be lined with something harmful, so be sure to do your research on whether the bottle or container you are selecting for yourself or your children is constructed of materials that you are comfortable with, and that do not contain BPA.

Let’s consider for a moment what BPA is and what it’s effects could be. There is more information about BPA and reusable bottles in the links to the right. This will help you find information to do some of your own fieldwork as well. Basically, Bisphenol A (“BPA”) is a potentially-harmful chemical that can leach out of containers such as certain polycarbonate plastic water bottles and resins, certain baby bottles, and in epoxy linings which may be found in some food or drink containers. It is known to mimic estrogen and to activate estrogen receptors. It is believed by many that the levels of BPA we are normally exposed are not the high doses that tend to cause dramatic health effects.

However, sufficient doses have been attributed (in lab studies with tests on animals) to decreased fertility, birth defects among pregnant women exposed to sufficient amounts of BPA, hormone disruption, and carcinogenic effects (i.e., contributing to cancer). Source: National Toxicology Program Draft Brief on Bisphenol-A (click here for direct link). How much BPA any given item gives off will vary partly based on its use — exposure to harsh detergents, dish washing, heating in a microwave, and other such common practices can accelerate or foster the amount of BPA an item can leach out.

With all that said, as with many studies, there are critics to some of the research results about the health effects of BPA. In fact, it is even possible to find contradictory or non-conclusive information, as some of the studies involved lab rats which may not mirror the effects the same exposure would have on humans. The information in this limited overview should not be interpreted as findings, recommendations, opinions, or conclusions on how much BPA is harmful, or what effects it may cause. Rather, the intent is to help people understand or find resources for a subject that has received significant attention as of late, particularly as it relates to reusable water bottles, which are often used by those who are making an effort to reduce plastic waste and help contribute to environmental conservation. For more information, you should seek the advice of someone qualified to render an opinion in these matters, such as your doctor.

Whether or not the levels of BPA found ordinarily in polycarbonate bottles and reusable containers is inherently dangerous, there are clearly alternatives. If you choose to use a reusable water bottle but prefer to avoid BPA so you don’t have to worry about how much exposure is harmful, consider seeking out one of the many “BPA free” products available from companies such as Klean Kanteen, Sigg, Nalgene (who makes both BPA free bottles and those that contain BPA), etc. Many of your favorite outdoor stores will carry BPA free bottles, and maybe able to help you select one that will suit your needs. Check back here, also, as we will be building the resources we identify on this blog, and may even offer some of the products or at least links to specific products here. If you are looking for BPA-free baby bottles, glass is always a good option, and depending on the age of your child, there are BPA free plastic infant bottles, cups for toddlers, and even mini Sigg and Klean Kanteen bottles in stainless steel or aluminum if you want the kids to use something the adults in your family have grown to love and trust. Some resources are in the links to the right.

In the meantime, remember that Sustainable Thinking involves a series of choices and decisions that impact ourselves, those around us, and the environment we all depend upon. If you are currently using disposable water bottles, now is clearly the time to think about the environmental impact of that choice, and to consider the alternatives (i.e., using a reusable water container and tap or even filtered water). If you have concern that your container may contain BPA, there are plenty of alternatives out there, and while you are out buying yourself one, buy one for a friend to help encourage another person to engage in Sustainable Thinking.

Whether you consider yourself an “environmentalist” or not, this blog is an opportunity for us, as a community to raise and discuss ideas about minimizing our impact on the environment. The choices we make every day affect our environment. How much we drive, whether we recycle, whether we waste electricity powering an air conditioner while we are on vacation, washing a half load of clothes at a time, buying water in disposable bottles instead of using a reusable bottle — all these choices sound small in isolation, but they have big effect cumulatively.

The truth is, the impact of many things we do that contribute to wasted resources, unneeded pollution, and increased wear and tear on our environment could be significantly reduced if we just took a moment to think about our choices. If we approach our choices with a focus on “conservation” rather than “consumption”, our eyes will open to the impact we all have on the environment. That is what sustainable thinking is all about.

This blog is here because if I’m thinking about the environment, and what choices we can make to reduce the impact we have on it, I know many others have the same thoughts. Although I will offer my ideas here, I only bring one perspective to the discussion. The more readers and contributors that can be added to this discussion, the more common and familiar the topic of “sustainable thinking” will be, and the more our environment will benefit.

To get the discussion rolling, let’s begin with a simple topic that brings home the concept of sustainable thinking. Do you, your family, or your coworkers drink bottled water at home or on the go? Most people don’t immediately think that has significant environmental impact. However, the recycling rate for those plastic bottles in America is as low as 14%, meaning the other 86% go to landfills. Those bottles can then take as many as 1000 years to biodegrade. In the meantime, the amount of bottled water consumed globally each year was as high as 154 Billion liters. (data according to Arnold, Emily and Janet Larson “Bottled Water: Pouring Resources Down the Drain”, Earth Policy Institute)

A simple change, such as switching form bottled water to reusable bottles filled with tap water or filtered water can have dramatic affects not only on reducing the amount of plastic waste that makes its way to landfills, but to reduce the fossil fuels wasted in the production of the plastic bottles, the water bottling process, and distribution (think semis, boats, planes). All great changes can start with small steps.

In this Sustainable Thinking blog, I encourage all of us to take up a challenge. Let’s all try to make a difference, and let’s all commit to a new way of thinking. Instead of the old attitude of “it’s not my problem” when it comes to the environment, let’s make it our problem. Let’s all commit to Sustainable Thinking — let’s do our part to consider what simple changes we could make for a positive impact. Please feel free to add to this discussion, and to advance the dialogue we should all be having about sustainable energy, sustainable resources, and sustainable thinking. Visit SustainableThinking.org for more info.