In Singapore, February 2010 saw its hottest and driest month in 140 years since 1869, with temperature soaring to 35 degree Celsius. Not far off in India, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 41.6 degree Celsius in April 2010.
Intense rainfall and storms began hitting Singapore since June, way before the usual monsoon season. PUB announced that “the amount of rainfall is approximately more than 60 per cent of the average monthly rainfall for June”.
Flash floods followed, causing costly damages and inconveniences to transportation, businesses and housing estates.
Is there anything we can do to save our earth in face of such unpredictable shifts in weather pattern? You have probably heard of the “Bring Your Own Bag Day” campaign.
You Can Reduce the Use of Plastic Product
First launched in April 2007, it is an on-going effort introduced by the National Environmental Agency to encourage shoppers swap plastic bags for reusable bags at supermarkets.
Excessive use of plastic products not only exhausts earth’s natural resources but also contributes to the severe climatic effects that are directly affecting our lives today.
On the same note, have you ever considered ditching disposable plastic bottles and carrying your own bottled water instead?
The truth is, environmental pollution does not come from dumping bottles alone; negative impacts are already present from the stage of bottling and shipping drinking waters even before they reach the shelves of your nearest supermarkets and grocery stores.
Production of plastic bottles and plastic wraps require the burning of fuel fuels. Such acts generate air, water and land pollution, which in turn create human illnesses due to the release of poisonous gases into the atmosphere.
Consumers unknowingly participate in speeding up global warming and harming life forms on earth just through frequent use of disposable bottled water.
In 2006 alone, four billion gallons of plastic bottled water were consumed by Americans. The Earth Policy Institute estimated that 1.5 million barrels of oil were used to make those bottles – and we have not added in the amount of fuels used to ship them around the world.
Here’s the catch – plastic bottled water is often marketed in chic or even “limited edition” packaging. “Sparkling”, “natural” and “pure” are some fancy terms used to entice consumers.
Tagged with an affordable price, it impresses upon consumers as the trendy and convenient way to drink premium quality water. Even though plastics are considered recyclable material, recycling efforts are voluntary. This means the plastic bottles you dispose could be dumped in landfills, with harmful gases being released much faster than the bottles could disintegrate.
In fact, there are more eco-friendly ways to create your own “Swiss Alps Spring Water” at home. One method is to invest in a water filtration system with biodegradable components such as the Swisspro SMART.
Designed to filter harmful impurities while retaining essential minerals and great taste, you could prepare bottled water for your family before heading out for outdoor activity in the park instead of purchasing from stores. If you are an avid adventure seeker or backpacker, consider using a portable sports bottle with water purification function.
Filtered water is the highly recommended alternative to bottled water. It not only allows you to play your part in preserving the earth, but also saves you more money per year and still provides you with clean, healthy water.
As an informed consumer, bring not just your own bag on the next shopping trip. Bring your own bottle too.
