How many plastic water bottles does one reusable bottle save?

Before they became extremely popular, reusable water bottles only seemed to be used by avid hikers who hooked them to their camping backpacks on long trips. Nowadays, almost everyone is carrying reusable water bottles to work, the gym, and pretty much anywhere for easy access to a personal supply of water.

Having a reusable water bottle is one of the best ways to save plastic and water. But how much plastic does one reusable bottle actually save? It’s a lot more than you may think.

How much can a reusable water bottle hold?

The average reusable bottle holds about 32 oz of water, whereas the average plastic water bottle can only hold 16 oz. Put simply, one reusable bottle can hold twice as much water as an average plastic bottle, resulting in fewer refills and more water at a lower price.

The average human should be drinking at least 8 cups, or 64 oz, of water a day. This means that if you fill up your reusable bottle once, you are already drinking half of your daily goal. This amount of water alone would require you to use two 16-oz plastic bottles; you'd need four for the entire day.

So how many plastic water bottles would I be saving?

Since you, the average human, need to drink four plastic bottles per day, you would be saving 1,460 plastic bottles per year by using a reusable bottle. Even if you only purchased one plastic bottle per day, you’re still wasting more than 300 non-reusable containers that could be spared with one reusable bottle.

How expensive are reusable water bottles?

The average reusable bottle ranges from $5-10. An average plastic bottle costs around $1, but can be almost $3 depending on where you purchase it.

Although plastic bottles are cheaper per bottle, they are much more expensive in the long run. If you drink four or more bottles of water per day, for example, you’re paying upwards of $20 each day to drink from a non-reusable container. To purchase a reusable bottle, there's only a flat, one-time cost of $10 at most.

So how much money would I be saving if I purchased one?

Over the course of a year, if you drank four bottles per day at an average cost of $2 per bottle, you would spend almost $3,000 per year just on water. With a reusable bottle, even if you needed to buy a new one within a year, you would only be spending $20 per year at most. This would leave you with an extra $2,980 in the bank.

What about all of the other liquids I drink?

There are reusable bottles, like the S'well Bottle, that are designed and used to transport liquids other than water. With products like S'well, you can carry hot and cold liquids, such as coffee and tea, and save on the cost and impact of packaging your daily caffeine fix. Although these bottles are a little more expensive (up to $35 or higher), they are worth the price in the end.

How much is my coffee costing me?

A daily cup of coffee ranges from $2-5, so you're likely spending more than $1,200 per year on coffee that you could simply make and transport from home. Of course you'll still have to pay for the coffee itself, but buying in bulk rather than paying for a container at a coffee shop will help you save.

If you’re already spending around $3,000 just to drink water, adding an extra $1,200 per year for coffee is daunting. Avoid these high costs by purchasing a $10 reusable bottle and a $35 coffee and tea transporter. You'll save thousands of dollars in the long run.