Benefits of Using Eco-Friendly Materials vs. Recycling
In the past few years, we have seen a significant increase in reusable items like insulated water bottles. The idea behind these products is to protect and rebuild the environment by reducing the use of items such as plastic bottles. Not every idea goes over well, for example, paper straws continue to get very mixed reviews.
Why is there a big push for reusable items? Are they really better for the environment and how do they help? What is the difference between re-usable items and items made from sustainable materials? Which is better? Is using sustainable products or reusable products better than recycling? We’ll answer all of these questions and more, so keep reading!
The Truth About Recycling
When you throw a water bottle in the recycle bin, only 22% of it is recyclable and used for other products. As a matter of fact, more than 300 million tons of plastic is produced each year, and it is a shame to say that only 10% of it is recycled.
Plastic tends to degrade every time it is processed for recycling, whereas aluminum is 100% recyclable. This is why you find insulated tumblers and reusable water bottles made from aluminum. Not only are they recyclable, but often they are made from recycled materials, and you can use them an infinite number of times. Glass is also something that doesn’t break down when recycled; however, we tend to break these products more often than not.
So, consumers have turned to sustainable products, in addition to their reusable products, to help cut back on the amount of plastic that they’re using.
Reusable Items and Sustainable Products
The point of reusable items was to reduce the demand for plastic. Reusable items can often be beneficial in doing this, but it seems that the convenience of being able to stop at a gas station and buy a bottle of coke is going to continue to keep the plastic companies in business. When it comes to plastics, we can increase awareness and let people know that grabbing a can of soda at the store is better than buying a bottle, but this doesn’t solve the problem for every product on the market.
This is where creating containers and convenience items out of sustainable products comes in. Sustainable products are made out of organic materials that can continue to be reproduced, such as bamboo, cotton, hemp, and more. Not only can we continue to produce more and more of these items, because bamboo, cotton, and hemp are something we can grow, but we can even reverse damage to our environment. Think about it: those plants are putting valuable oxygen into our atmosphere, and they become a product that is completely biodegradable.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Products Have Massive Benefits
And these benefits don’t just impact the environment, although that is the main point, after all.
- Safety – Regular products are often created with chemicals. Eco-friendly products are usually manufactured with natural and organic ingredients, which makes them safer for the consumer.
- Reliability – Eco-friendly products actually last longer than regular products. For example, a hemp shirt can last 3 times longer than a cotton one; energy efficient light bulbs also have triple the life of a regular one.
- Price – Sometimes customers complain that eco-friendly products are more expensive, but when they last three times as long, you’re buying 3 of a regular product versus 1 eco-friendly, sustainable product.
And the most important thing? The more we use eco-friendly, sustainable products, the less demand there is for products that are harmful to our world. At Boobam, our goal is to help our customers learn about and find sustainable products that are both convenient and eco-friendly. Our products are style worthy, planet friendly and a modern alternative to plastic. If you have questions, we encourage you to keep browsing our website, or contact us today to learn more!
