With the continued increase in social media usage and the chronic need of consumers to keep up with new trends, our society is falling deeper and deeper into a habit of overconsumption. Recently, some of the most sought-after items have been reusable stainless steel water bottles. An emerging problem that I have noticed is the frivolous habit of buying items, like these bottles, that are specifically marketed to reduce waste and minimize carbon footprint. We are glorifying gluttony and materialism. For some reason, people carry water bottles around like they are a status symbol. People wait in lines and cause riots to get their hands on these items, just for them to be phased out in a few months and a new trend to shift into the spotlight. 

Companies that produce water bottles have taken full advantage of this widespread insanity and have been constantly producing products with new colors, patterns, and features to keep up with the demand. They also collaborate with other companies and popular brands to entice even more customers. Despite metal water bottles taking 1000 years or more to break down in landfills (How Long Does Our Everyday Items Break Down? | E & E-Waste, 2022), in a matter of months, a new water bottle will become popular and the “old news” or “no longer trendy” bottles will fall into misuse and be completely wasted. This undoes the intention of using metal water bottles instead of plastic to reduce waste.  

Similarly, the trends of having metal straws and using cotton tote bags have had an expanding cult following in recent years. Between 2023 and 2032, it is estimated that the reusable water bottle market will grow from 1.7 billion dollars to 2.7 billion (Johnson, 2024). It is very evident that despite the mountain of waste we are creating and the harmful mindset we are enabling, this problem is only becoming more prevalent. Although these items are better for the environment overall when used correctly, consumers have a falsified perception of these items’ impact on the environment. Marketing and social media influencers have given consumers the impression that buying these reusable items will be better for the environment. However, this becomes untrue when one person has 12 water bottles and 15 tote bags that they barely use.

Practically every store currently has a rack near the cash registers displaying tons of different tote bags. They normally have fun colors and patterns on them that draw consumers in. They also have bags that are themed for each holiday and that display recognizable characters to increase the likelihood of the bags being purchased. Metal straws are also in almost every retail store and large beverage chain, such as Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. Just like the metal water bottles and tote bags, consumers will purchase these straws in a myriad of colors, shapes, and designs. However, the next time they use a straw, the consumer will just grab a disposable plastic one instead of carrying the metal ones with them and using them daily, as intended. 

The fact remains that the key to sustainability is buying less and using what you already have, not continuing to buy trendy items and discarding the “old” ones when the next trend comes around.  In this blog, I will detail how these “sustainable” products came into the pop-culture spotlight and how the misconception of sustainability that surrounds them developed. I will also analyze the production process of metal water bottles, reusable tote bags, and metal straws and demonstrate how and why the overconsumption of these items is harmful. Lastly, I will provide solutions and steps one can take to reduce consumption and maximize the benefit of items one already owns.

Before we begin to dissect the argument of why the practice of buying too many reusable items such as metal straws, tote bags, and reusable water bottles is a terrible and unsustainable habit that is becoming more and more widespread, we must first define sustainability. In simplest terms, the word sustainable refers to practices and behaviors that can be maintained over time (Heinberg, 2010). Sustainability is the practice of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (United Nations Brundtland Commission, 1987). Sustainable practices support ecological, human, and economic health and vitality and use materials conservatively and wisely to prevent pollution and other long-term consequences (Khang et al., 2024). 

In most cases, the merit of reusable items hinges on how often they are used. This means that when an individual has, for example, 15 tote bags and 12 stainless steel water bottles, they cannot possibly use each one enough for the item’s impact on the environment to be less than that of a single-use alternative. Also, if this same individual continues to use the single-use-plastic counterparts of these items in addition to the reusable versions, they are harming the environment even further. The consumption of both types of each item in tandem can do nothing but harm future generations. 

The best way to pursue reducing your carbon footprint and living more sustainably is to simply buy less. If you have one or two water bottles and use them regularly, the environmental impact that their production creates is essentially canceled out. Sustainable products use as few resources as possible, have a high proportion of renewable raw materials, and minimize environmental harm in terms of emissions, waste, and toxins (What Makes a Product Sustainable?- Fibo, 2023). In the following sections, each of these categories will be examined for stainless steel water bottles, cotton tote bags, and metal straws. Also, we will analyze the regulations and laws that have already been passed about reusable items and assess whether or not they have met the goals they were intended to achieve.

Surprisingly, the consumption of reusable items to be more sustainable goes back to about the 1970s beginning with the Nalgene water bottle. These bottles were classically marketed to hikers and campers to be used outdoors as an alternative to single-use plastic and heavy metal canteens. Other brands emerged offering similar products such as CamelBack and Contigo. Slowly since the 2010’s, pop culture has made a definitive transition to stainless steel bottles instead. Some of these have included Swell, Hydro Flask, Yeti, Stanley, and Owala. 

In 2019, Hydroflask was launched into popularity on TikTok, a short-form social video-sharing app, after the emergence of the “VSCO Girl” trend. A VSCO girl is characterized by accessories like hair scrunchies and constantly carrying around her Hydro Flask water bottle. Hundreds of thousands of teenagers saw these videos and purchased the bottles immediately after to make videos and take part in the trend. Also involved in the VSCO girl trend was the goal of saving the turtles. Many influencers made videos through TikTok claiming that the best way to save marine life was by using metal straws and reusable tote bags. Although this trend was mostly a joke, it still caused people to believe that the key to being more sustainable was buying more items to replace the plastic single-use versions. Teens and adults began to buy metal straws and canvas tote bags and post photos using them to prevent plastic from going into the ocean and harming the quality of life of turtles and other sea life. Since then, sustainability has remained in the social spotlight, mostly as an excuse to continue to justify buying cute new tote bags and water bottles. 

Some of the biggest debate about the sustainable merits of using metal water bottles, reusable tote bags, and metal straws stems from the processes of how they are made. How an item is manufactured is an important factor to consider when discussing sustainability because the manufacturing process plays a big part in the carbon footprint of an item. In the case of cotton tote bags, for example, you also must consider the cotton production industry and the resources used in that process. The manufacturing process depends on a lot of resources and human labor to be completed. The use of these resources also factors into how sustainable an item is. Generally, the production of reusable items is more strenuous. This, however, is counteracted by the longevity of the product being produced. 

One of the metrics used to measure the sustainability of an item and its production processes is carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is a figure that describes the amount of gaseous emissions that are associated with human activity or the production of products (Pertsova, 2007, p. 2). Calculation of a carbon footprint involves various factors such as energy consumption, transportation, waste generation, and lifestyle choices (Madden & Madden, 2023).

Although the manufacturing process can be difficult to measure, the processes of the single-use plastic items and the reusable alternatives can be compared and some distinctions can be made. 

The process of manufacturing stainless steel metal water bottles has approximately 30 steps including water expansion, necking, welding, and cleaning. Also, a myriad of tests are necessary including leak tests, temperature tests, and polishing (Manufacturing Process of Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Bottles, 2019). 

First, the stainless steel tube must be cut and the shape of the bottle is formed, most commonly, with water swelling. A few steps later, the bottle must be vacuumed inside the vacuum machine for about 4 hours which uses a very significant amount of electricity. There are also around 9 different tests that are performed to ensure quality control (Manufacturing Process of Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Bottles, 2019). Along with the steps of the actual production of the bottles, the mandatory quality tests performed on them should also be considered as they also require resources such as water, electricity, and manpower. On average, it takes about 103.4 liters of water to produce a single stainless steel water bottle ‌(DiNicolantonio et al. 2010).

The manufacturing process of single-use plastic bottles includes significantly fewer steps than that of stainless steel water bottles. There are only about 6 steps including labeling and testing for quality assurance. It takes only about 8.23 liters of water to produce one single-use water bottle. This means that for every stainless steel water bottle produced, 12.5 plastic single-use water bottles can be produced with that same volume of water (DiNicolantonio et al. 2010). However, plastic water bottles are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (Hawkins et al., 2015). This material has issues including chemical leaching, low heat tolerance, and permeability which can affect the health of affected plants and animals. Recently, many activist campaigns have materialized to fight against plastic bottles because they harm humans and the environment (Hawkins, 2011). This backlash and protest against plastic water bottles demonstrates that this is a very prevalent issue. Also, in plastic water bottle production alone, the United States uses approximately 1.6 million barrels of oil meaning the production process is also a huge strain on fossil fuel supply. PET plastic production accounts for 8% of global oil demand and 4.5% of greenhouse gas emissions. Metal water bottles do not have these issues.

Although they will take much longer to decompose, a stainless steel water bottle will not release any toxins or pollutants into the environment as the decomposition of a plastic bottle does (Stainless Steel Water Bottles: Everything You Need to Know, n.d.). Plastic bottles take 450 years to decompose. According to EE Waste, stainless steel takes 1000 years to decompose into natural materials.

At first glance, it may seem like an easy answer to conclude that plastic water bottles are better for the environment because their production is less strenuous. However, upon closer examination, It is clear that stainless steel water bottle alternatives are much more sustainable than their single-use-plastic counterparts. This is the root of the entire issue, though. It is important to make the distinction that these bottles are only sustainable when used over and over again for years into the future. These water bottles are not sustainable when many are bought by one consumer and they sit unused in a cabinet collecting dust. In that case, the water bottle will just eventually be discarded into a landfill and it will take 1000 years to decompose. That is why it is so important to buy only one or two water bottles, use them every day, and cut plastic water bottles out completely.

Metal straws can be formed using either the methods of extrusion or stretching. The straws are then cut to length and finishes are applied. To produce plastic straws, plastic resin, and other components are mixed and the mixture is extruded into a tube shape (How Drinking Straw Is Made – Material, Manufacture, Making, Used, Processing, Components, Dimensions, Steps, n.d.). These processes are both fairly similar but differ in the amount of energy necessary. The energy used to produce 90 plastic straws is equivalent to the amount of energy needed to produce a single metal straw. Concerning carbon emissions, the production of a single metal straw is equivalent to the production of 150 plastic straws (The Impact of Reusable and Biodegradable Straws, n.d.). 

Upon one’s initial examination of this data, it may seem like a no-brainer that we should be using plastic straws because the production process places less strain on the environment. However, it is also important to consider the lifespan of these products to fully understand why it is more sustainable to buy one or two metal straws that you use over and over again for years. For example, the disposal rate for plastic straws is 100% while that of metal straws is only 3% (The Impact of Reusable and Biodegradable Straws, n.d.). These figures have the resulting conclusion that to make the metal straw have a positive impact on the environment, you must use it at least 150 times. This high volume of required use to not impact the environment supports my stance that the key to being sustainable is buying a few reusable items and using them daily rather than using single-use items. 

If you buy 10 metal straws in 10 different colors, you will not be able to use each straw enough times for them to make a positive impact. Although we have seen that metal straws are definitely better than plastic straws, when used correctly, the most sustainable option is to use no straw. You are then buying less, saving money, and also creating less waste.

Just like the production of metal straws and stainless steel bottles, when compared directly, the production of cotton tote bags is more taxing on the environment than the production of single-use plastic bags. A cotton tote bag must be used 173 times to be more eco-friendly than a plastic bag (Gammage, 2021). Although it is an issue that cotton tote bags are currently being overproduced and over-consumed, at the same time the world uses 5 trillion plastic bags a year. Per year, the UK uses 100 billion plastic bags (Tudor et al., 2018).  If people made a conscious effort to buy a few tote bags and use them daily for groceries and other shopping a huge impact could be made.

Additionally, cotton tote bags decompose in about one and five months while plastic bags take hundreds of years to decompose (Md Nurul Islam, 2023). This time frame increases significantly though when you factor in the thickness of the fabric decomposing, the presence of microorganisms, and the presence of moisture and oxygen. The average time for a cotton tote bag to decompose is approximately a few years in a landfill. Also, unlike the decomposing single-use plastic bags in this example, pure cotton tote bags won’t release harmful chemicals as they decompose. On average, a normal plastic bag that is given in most grocery stores is used for 12 minutes (The World Counts, 2023). This single bag will take 1,000 years to decompose. Based solely on these statistics, it may be difficult to see at first what option is better for the environment.

Some states have recognized this burden on the environment and have tried to take preventative measures against this issue. Although they intended to become more sustainable, this ban has just encouraged the consumption of other bags like plastic and cotton totes. 

Since scientists have discovered the implications that decomposing plastic has on the health of humans, soil, and plants, some states have banned the use of plastic bags altogether. In recent years, 12 million people throughout five states and cities have cut single-use plastic bag consumption by about 6 million bags per year. This is enough to circle the Earth 42 times (Well-Designed Single-Use Plastic Bag Bans Reduce Waste and Litter Plastic Bag Bans Work, 2024). Bans similar to this have reduced the number of bags found in the environment in particular cities or states by more than one-third (Well-Designed Single-Use Plastic Bag Bans Reduce Waste and Litter Plastic Bag Bans Work, 2024). So far, these bans have successfully reduced litter, pollution, and the amount of single-use plastic being used. However, it has not been accounted for that these bans would likely inadvertently encourage consumers to buy tote bags in lieu of flimsy single-use plastic bags.

Since California banned single-use plastic bags in 2016, the state allowed thicker reusable plastic bags to be offered at checkouts in stores for a 10-cent fee. Because of this, the amount of plastic bag waste discarded per person, measured by weight, has increased following the law’s implementation (Well-Designed Single-Use Plastic Bag Bans Reduce Waste and Litter Plastic Bag Bans Work, 2024). This proves that it is so important to reuse the items that you have already purchased to truly allow them to have a positive impact on the environment instead of constantly rebuying them. If we perpetually rebuy these items, we undo the sustainability we are striving to achieve. 

Although not as widespread, Massachusetts has enacted a procurement ban on single-use plastic bottles. On September 21, 2023, Governor Maura Healy of Massachusetts signed an executive order eliminating the Purchase by the Executive Department of single-use plastic bottles. She stated that these bottles are a threat to the environment and their production consumes too many fossil fuels.  Although these efforts have been made and have accomplished some change, this same attention and energy must be given to the fact that these bans may turn consumers to over-purchase sustainable items instead of the banned single-use plastic versions. When these types of laws are enacted, it should also be made clear that the citizens who are affected by these bans should just buy less. This would be incredibly helpful to the cause of bringing people’s attention to the fact that overconsumption will never be sustainable, even with the best intentions. We have to remember that as we continue to develop new products to attract more consumers and revenue to businesses, what we purchase has implications on the environment that will last far past our time on this planet. 

For some reason, there is little to no discussion of the fact that we are producing reusable products at a rate that will quickly saturate the market. At what point will people stop buying these items because they already have too many? Will companies ever stop handing out branded water bottles and tote bags as free gifts? No one has answered these important questions. The fact that no one is talking about this encroaching issue shows that the consumer base of these items is incredibly blinded. They do not realize how harmful the collecting of these items is. It also shows that companies are fine with continuing to unethically mass produce these items. Companies will continue to feed us new colored water bottles and branded tote bags because we continue to purchase them. Consumers must be educated on the environmental hole we are continuing to burrow into as a society. 

Although the issue of overconsumption of sustainable items is a problem that continues to grow and gain traction in pop culture, you and I can still make a difference. One of my favorite ideas about sustainability is well summarized in this quote from Anne-Marie Bonneau.

“We don’t need a handful of people doing sustainability perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly” (The Best Way to Do Zero Waste Is to Do It Imperfectly-Danielle Johnson, 2020).

We need to make an effort to normalize this idea. Sustainability is not all or nothing. Even if you have already bought an extensive collection of water bottles, tote bags, and metal straws, you can still make a conscious effort to make more sustainable choices in the future. If you have fallen victim to the recent trends of overconsumption and have an extensive collection of water bottles, tote bags, and metal straws, here are a few things you can do:

Metal Water Bottles:

1. Determine which bottles you actually use. To do this, move all of the water bottles out of their current home in your kitchen and put them in a different location. Over a week or two, as you use your favorite bottles, return them to their original location after using them. After about two weeks, you will have a good idea of which bottles you reach for daily because those will be the ones returned to their original location.
2. Replace old parts. If you have bottles that have fallen into disuse because the lid is broken or a part is missing, instead of buying a whole new bottle, replace the missing part. Many websites including Amazon and Hydro Flask sell straws, lids, and other essential parts separately from the actual bottle itself. 

1. Donate items you will never use. Once you have deduced which bottles you actually use, you can donate ones you know you do not need. You can donate them to charity stores, friends, and family members. Donating them to others prevents the purchasing of even more brand-new bottles and can help spread the word about being sustainable and switching to reusable items. 
2. Completely repurpose. If the bottle is truly unusable to transport liquids sufficiently anymore, you can use them for more than just vessels to transport drinks. You can completely repurpose old bottles by using them to:
   • Water plants
   • Refill a pet’s water bowl.
   • Hold flowers
   • Roll out dough or cut cookies with the mouth of the bottle. 
   • Roll out sore muscles at the gym
   • Create a waterproof first-aid kit
3. Recycle. If the water bottle is completely broken and cannot be donated or repurposed, you can recycle your metal water bottles. However, these bottles cannot be recycled in the normal cans emptied weekly at your house. They must be taken to recycling centers. 

Tote Bags:

1. Assess. Look around your house and collect all of the tote bags you have. Put them in one spot. This will help you to see what you have and decide what to do with them 
2. Determine which ones you use. Similar to the water bottle example, put every tote bag in a central location in your house. For a week or two, as you reach for the tote bags and use them, return them to where they were originally kept in your home. After a few weeks, the bags you use will be back where they belong as the ones that have fallen into disuse will not. You do not need these bags.
3. Make them accessible. With the bags you do use, make sure they are in locations that allow you to grab them quickly before leaving the house. Leave them in your closet near your shoes and coat so you are reminded to take them to the store with you. Put a couple in the glovebox of your car so they will always be readily available. 
4. Donate. Take the remaining bags to charity stores or to friends and family that will get good use out of them. This will also help to reduce the use of single-use plastic. 
5. Repurpose. Some of the remaining bags can be used for other purposes including:
   • Wrapping/ packaging gifts
   • Use them as aprons
   • Storage/ organization for small household items
   • Make them into cleaning rags (if they are canvas or material)
   • Placemats for kids

Metal Straws:

Although straws cannot be repurposed as easily as metal water bottles and tote bags can, we can still make an effort to use them properly and more intentionally.

1. Make Them Accessible. Ensure that your metal straws are always within reach in your backpack or purse and return them there immediately after washing them to ensure that they are used. If you do not do this, it is likely that they will be left behind in your home and you will have to use a plastic straw when you go out anyway. 
2. Donate. Give straws you never use to family or friends who will use them or donate them to a charity store so someone else can use them instead of plastic straws.

Sustainability is a goal that most consumers share and that society generally shares. No one has the goal of purposefully killing the planet that sustains us and ruining the lives of our children and grandchildren. However, if consumers continue in this habit of addictive consumption of items that are meant to reduce the strain on our planet, we are in trouble. It is clear that these items are sustainable, but they are only sustainable when used responsibly. It is important to stop buying these items immediately and remember that the key to sustainability is simply to buy less. Everyone should make it their goal to reduce their carbon footprint by ceasing to buy reusable items, using the ones they already have daily in place of their single-use plastic counterparts, and telling everyone they know the enlightening information they have learned from reading this blog.

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