Two years ago I tried an experiment. For 1 month, I challenged myself to not use any single-use plastic beverage bottles. I got out my favorite reusable water bottles, filled them with water from my home filter system and made sure I had one with me every time I left the house.
I happened to be traveling to Peru at the end of that month and realized I needed to find a source for purified water after clearing TSA and while flying. During my search for solutions, I found an inexpensive water purification pod called “Go Pure Pod.” The water quality report for this pod was impressive. It not only filtered out almost all VOC’s, pharma waste, and chlorine, but it cleared out nearly all fluoride. There were no moving parts and no instructions other than to drop the pod into your bottle and refill with water as needed. The tiny pod could filter up to 261 gallons before it needed to be replaced. This was a gamechanger for me.
I ended up using the pod for the entire trip to Peru. The manufacturer recommended that for municipal water systems in foreign countries, you should let the pod sit longer than for domestic sources. I let it sit overnight and by bringing a second water bottle I could filter drinking water day and night. I could also use the water to wash fruit or share with companions.
After that 1-month trial, I decided to extend the experiment through the end of the year. At the end of 2024, I decided to do it in 2025. I traveled to Europe, Peru, and even the Galapagos Islands. Not once did I use a disposable plastic water bottle.
I’m not suggesting that everyone should do what I did. But I think there are ways to significantly reduce the number of single-use bottles/containers from beverages as well as on-the-go meals. Especially while in transit. When I look around airports now, I see the massive waste generated by people on the go.
If each of us adopted one small change to our consumption habits, just imagine how that would reduce overall waste. By making one small change in buying habits, with minimum effort, individuals can have a lasting affect on our earthly environment and actually shift the trajectory of how corporations package and sell products.
I’m into my 3rd year of “no single-use plastic bottles,” and heading to Peru again in March where I’ll be handing out pods to my travel companions who want to give it a try!
