

BPA can be released if your plastic bottle becomes heated in some way. For example, if you leave your water in the car and it’s exposed to the sun, the temperature in the car can rise very quickly and increase the water’s temperature as well. It can also be released if the bottle is washed and scrubbed repeatedly in a dishwasher or sink.
The toxic chemical is known to disrupt the hormones in animals and affect the hormone system. Newborn babies are potentially more at risk for experiencing issues from BPA since their bodies are in the process of development. Reproductive problems and cancer in adults has been noted as possible long-term effects from BPA.
Until more research is done on the effects of BPA, avoid these types of plastics for now. An alternative is Ecogen, which is available at Big Green Smile. This plastic is less toxic than the BPA-containing plastics, and it is also biodegradable and produced from renewable resources. There are a variety of containers available for your home as well as other eco-friendly products.
With regard to plastic bottles, start drinking tap water so you can reduce your need for plastic water bottles all together. If you have a newborn, try to breast feed them as much as you can or use Wee-Go’s glass baby bottles so you don’t have to resort to the toxic bottles. For now, it’s uncertain as to what level BPA becomes unsafe, but it’s better to avoid it than to take the risk.

Purchasing a cup of coffee on your way to work is convenient, but if you add up all of the times you buy coffee, you might realize that you can potentially save $500 to $1,000 a year depending on what kind and how much coffee you buy. A simple solution to prevent this unnecessary waste and out of pocket expense is to brew your coffee at home. Many coffee makers come with timers, which can be set so your coffee starts brewing before you wake up. Then all that is left to do is pour the coffee in a tall thermos, and you can probably drink a few cups of coffee instead of just one. You can also go a step further by purchasing organic coffee beans that are packaged in eco-friendly containers.
If you choose to continue purchasing coffee on your way to work, make an attempt to recycle your paper cup so that it doesn’t end up in a landfill. However, some paper cups are coated in a plastic that is not recyclable so check with the coffee shop and make sure the cups can be recycled.
The next time you decide to buy and not brew your coffee, also keep in mind that it takes approximately 20 years for a paper cup to decompose in a landfill. Make an effort to reduce your coffee purchases and see the difference that it makes in your wallet when you decide to brew coffee at home. Brewing at home can preserve the environment and save you money every year.
