Why It’s Important To Have BPA Free Bottled Water – And Beneficial Alternatives To Consider

Water is a key element in keeping our bodies functioning properly, and because of this, workplaces are constantly in pursuit of the best ways to keep their employees, guests, and consumers hydrated. Ensuring that valuable team members and consumers drink enough fluids can go a long way toward supporting organizational efficiency and productivity long term. 

However, organizations that leverage plastic bottle solutions, whether that be large gallon jugs or single-use water bottles, run the risk of exposing their teams to a widely used chemical called Bisphenol A (or BPA). Considering human beings reportedly use 1.2 million plastic bottles per minute, per a report from Earth Day, this will be incredibly important for organizations to keep in mind. 

Fortunately, consumers and businesses are increasingly moving away from using non-reusable bottles in favor of sustainable, recyclable options, according to Persistence Market Research. And, as your company works to reduce BPA, improve hydration, and implement sustainable practices, it might be a great time to make the switch. 

Organizations are in search of a water solution that keeps employees hydrated in both their professional and personal lives without running the risk of ingesting BPA. Read on to learn more about alternative options to branded plastic water bottles and how you can improve access to BPA free water at work. 

What Is BPA Free Water?

The average person should drink between 4 to 6 cups of water every day, according to a report by Harvard Health. However, these needs may vary depending on both the temperature and activity.  The consensus is that 2 to 3 cups per hour may be necessary if a person is “sweating heavily” and is in danger of dehydration. And while the water will bring welcome relief, it would be wrong to think that BPA isn’t along for the ride.

BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used in consumer-facing plastic products since the 1960s. In fact, its use is not limited to the humble water bottle –water jugs, food containers, and baby bottles, for example, are part of the BPA family. The chemical’s key selling point is that it’s incredibly resilient, which is one reason for its widespread use in packaging.

For most people, drinking water from a plastic bottle is as natural as turning on a tap. Yet, as consumers grow more concerned with the environment and their personal wellness, they are demanding more from bottled water brands. The rising awareness surrounding both packaging and a product’s overall impact on the environment has caused the demand for BPA free water bottles to skyrocket.

As a result, there has been a defined shift toward what the report called “premier” brands that can offer nutrient-fortified and clean water to customers. But the onus is also on the beverage industry to produce and distribute BPA free water.

Brands have been quick to jump on the BPA free bandwagon, and there are numerous examples in the market of plastic bottles that claim to fit into this category. How can you find out if a plastic bottle contains BPA? Luckily, it’s pretty straightforward. 

• Turn the plastic container upside down and check for a number printed on the bottom — this indicates the plastic resin identification code.
• If this number is either a 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6  then you can rest assured that your beverage is officially BPA free.
• On the other hand, if you see a 3 or 7, there’s likely BPA present. This means it might be prudent to return the bottle to the shelf.

The Consequences of BPA Exposure

BPA can leach into food or beverage packaging that has been made with an epoxy resin containing the chemical. This is a considerable potential risk to the health of your team members and customers, making it essential for organizations to introduce water solutions that reduce the possibility of exposure to BPA. Keep in mind that on hot summer days, the chances of BPA being an unwelcome part of your bottled water intake are increased, especially if you’re drinking from a warm bottle.

Researchers have found, for instance, that BPA can be a hormone disruptor, and it has been linked to health issues in men, women, and children. The health risks associated with BPA include:

• Affecting hormone levels: Our bodies can be incredibly sensitive to any change in hormone levels, which makes BPA’s ability to “mimic” both the structure and function of the hormone estrogen in bottled water concerning.

• Heart disease: Even low doses of BPA exposure can lead to chronic cardiovascular problems. This includes coronary artery heart disease, angina, heart attack, and hypertension.

• Breast and prostate cancer: The hormone-like behavior of BPA has led scientists to believe that individuals exposed to the chemical in the womb can experience an increased risk of cancer.

• Other conditions: Unfortunately, the risks don’t end there. Obesity, diabetes, loss of memory, asthma, and depression have all reportedly been linked to the presence of BPA in our daily lives.

Bottled water is a familiar sight in the modern workplace. But, when you increase awareness around health risks associated with BPA exposure, you can help drive an effort to reduce plastic bottle use in your workplace. The key point to remember is that there are always alternatives, and hydration does not have to come from a plastic bottle.

Drinking Water Alternatives to Consider

What’s important to remember is that it is only in the last 20 years or so that we have become used to getting our drinking water from plastic bottles. And that is one reason why BPA exposure has never really gone away. However, the good news is that alternatives are already available.

One of the increasingly popular options in workplaces across industries is leveraging a bottleless water dispenser. With a bottleless water cooler in place, your organization can: 

• Eliminate the need for water delivery: A bottleless water cooler from a dependable water service provider like Quench is installed in your workplace and connected directly to your water line. This means your organization no longer has to rely on a third party to deliver water and employees will have access to an endless supply of drinking water when they need it.

• Reduce your environmental impact: The drive to reduce the amount of plastic bottle waste has shone a spotlight on reusable (and BPA free) water bottles that can be filled from a standalone source. By providing reusable water bottles and leveraging a bottleless water cooler, organizations can encourage both hydration and sustainability moving forward.

• Take advantage of filtration technology: A bottleless water dispenser leverages a filtration system to remove particles, materials, and debris that occur naturally in water. Plus, any other undesirable elements – bacteria, algae, or unwanted chemicals like BPA – can be removed and allow only clean water to flow. In other words, the system exists to provide the end drinker with the purified water that they require for daily hydration.

There are many benefits to providing people with easy access to clean, mineral-infused drinking water.  Installing a system that uses advanced filtration techniques such as reverse osmosis and advanced sanitization technology can give your team the high-quality water they need while saving money, time, and the environment.

Elevate Your Water Systems With Help From Quench

Long before bottled water became “America’s most popular beverage” and the choices became overwhelming, tap water was table stakes. In fact, most people put their trust in the water that came out of an installed faucet for years.

This was one of the reasons why we developed our quenchWATER+ technology, a next-level water filtration system that goes through a 5-step process to deliver a pure drinking water experience.

Our aim was to both eliminate the uncertainty that comes with water from a plastic bottle and provide the end drinker with a reliable product that delivers clean water glass after glass after glass. . Many of the water pipes that are still in use today were installed decades ago, a delivery infrastructure that can have an impact on the water quality itself. 

The Quench range of dispensers solves this problem by filtering out the impurities before the water is poured, creating a water-as-a-service model from bottleless machines. In addition, we align the point-of-use to be relevant to what people want from a water dispenser, irrespective of whether that is plain water, sparkling and flavored water, ice, or even coffee. 

Drinking water is important for our health and well-being, but so is the taste of the water itself. That’s the Quench difference. And let’s not forget that premium water doesn’t need to come in its own branded container to be drinkable and environmentally friendly!

If you’re ready to elevate your drinking water systems — to support the health of your employees and promote sustainability — get a free quote to get started. Or, try our product finder to get matched with the bottleless water dispenser that’s the right fit for your business.