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Reusable water bottles were always popular with outdoor enthusiasts who took them on hikes and with environmentalists who opposed single-use water bottles. Now you can see them everywhere, but they are not typical unadorned reusable bottles.
Water bottles have come out of the back of the store and into the front aisles as their popularity soared, according to Tufts Daily. That’s because consumers, especially Gen Zers began to see reusables as more than just functional water containers, they saw them as glamorous fashion accessories. But how did this turn into what is known as Water Bottle Culture?
Social Media Trend
Water Bottle Culture came from social media as young people began to see reusables as part of their personal style, reported The Economist. There are videos galore being posted with the hashtag #WaterTok which has over 2.5 billion views on TikTok.
The water bottles are connected “to their outfit and to their lifestyle,” Matt Navarro, global president of Stanley 1913, told The Economist.
Gen Zers are also decorating their bottles with stickers, key chains, and are purchasing accessories like straps and backpacks for their bottles.
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The manufacturers are following their lead by making bottles in a large variety of colors. Stanley, which was really in three years ago and then out, just released a collection with pop stars and sports figures.
But if you want to be eco-friendly, as most of this generation is, having multiple reusable bottles defeats the purpose, reported Masuk Free Press.
“A water bottle is not supposed to be a collectible or an item that you hoard, it’s a $50 cup which is pretty expensive,” High School Senior Erin Davis told Masuk Free Press. “So, I think that a lot of the customers, especially younger girls, don’t really understand the effects of buying multiple water bottles.”
Benefits of the Trend
There are many good reasons to own a reusable water bottle, according to a blog on the Kwench company’s website. Drinking water is good for your health and having a water bottle with you reminds you to drink. Staying hydrated could improve your focus and energy level.
Switching to a reusable bottle rather than disposable bottled water will help reduce your carbon footprint and will keep plastic out of landfills and oceans. But there are environmental costs involved in manufacturing the bottles.
For reusables to be eco-friendly, stressed Tuft Daily, it must be used 500 times. So, before you head to your nearest Target or Walmart, think about whether you really need a new one. Is having the newest color or design really necessary?
Promoting healthy self-care habits like hydration and health is a big part of Gen Z values but so is taking care of the planet. Water Bottle Culture can be cute and fun but staying true to your core values is here to stay.
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