Understanding the Anthropocene of a Reusable Water Bottle

 Taylor Schullo

Intro to Environmental & Sustainability

Principe & Parajuli

19 September 2022 

Understanding the Anthropocene of a Reusable Water Bottle

    Every object and living thing has a history, or an anthropocene, an epoch and era. This abstract idea is represented in everyday object that many won't think came from a living thing. For example, I carry around a pink reusable Starbucks cup with me everyday; this cup holds my water, Starbucks, or any drink I have. This water bottle is my everyday object that has an anthropecene.

    The first reusable water bottle was created in 1947, after World War II. Materials like aluminum, plastic, and stainless steel were more widely available. At first reusable water bottles were very expensive; after 1960s, polyethylene, a form of plastic, created cheaper and more efficiently way to produce water bottle. This reusable water bottle is made of polypropylene, another type of plastic. This type is considered the safest because of its high heat tolerance so no toxic chemical will be exposed. This plastic is mostly used for food packaging and water bottles.

    Polypropylene is created from polymerizing propylene gas. It takes up to 30 years for this plastic to break down in landfills. Polypropylene can be recycled by a "sink-float" method then melted at about 400 degrees. It can be created into various new ideas like dishwashers, clothes fibers, composting bins, and so much more. This plastic has several uses because it is the most heat resistant it is used for food and drink packaging mostly. Companies use this to create water bottles, package food, tote bags, tape, and so many products. Consumers or everyday individuals buy these produces and use this plastic daily.

    With the connection between humans and these items, we have a gain from using them but they gain nothing from us. The planet gets a negative effect from this relationship because only 20% of these plastics are being recycled with the already finite amount of gas, oil, and other resources on our planet. Our overconsumption of plastic is having a killing effect in all ecosystems of the world because humans want to gain power and wealth.

    The use of plastic has exponentially grown in over the past 70 years because of industrialization and the population growth of the planet. Plastic hugely support first world countries and its use grown with their growth of cities. The future use of plastic and plastic reusable water bottles need to shift to other materials or be recycled more; our earth has a finite amount of resources that plastic can not be depended on.

Sources: 

AAA Polymer. “A Simple Guide to Polypropylene Recycling for Businesses.” AAA Polymer, 17 Feb. 2020, https://www.aaapolymer.com/a-simple-guide-to-polypropylene-recycling-for-businesses/.

Latmo. “Toxic Plastics and How to Avoid Them.” Little Acorns to Mighty Oaks, LATMO, 6 Apr. 2019, https://www.littleacornstomightyoaks.co.uk/blog/2008/12/01/toxic-plastics-and-how-to-avoid-them. 

Mertes, Alyssa. “History of Reusable Water Bottles.” Https://Www.qualitylogoproducts.com/, https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/promo-university/history-of-reusable-water-bottles.htm#:~:text=Disposable%20water%20bottles%20were%20first,recommended%20bathing%20in%20it%20instead.