Tag: PiMag® Sport Bottle

Water is Life

Published on by Nikken

Growing populations, irrigated agriculture, energy production, manufacturing and livestock needs have increased demand for water over the years. Since 1960, demand has more than doubled and around the world, demand now exceeds what is available.1

Water stress refers to a situation where the water resources in a region or country are insufficient for its needs. Water stress also refers specifically to plants that suffer from a lack of moisture. Whether for plants or people, water is life, and the lack of it threatens health, economic growth and food security.

According to data from Aqueduct, 31% of global GDP (gross domestic product) will be exposed to high water stress by 2050. Just four countries—India, Mexico, Egypt and Turkey—account for more than half of the exposed GDP in 2050.  A country facing extreme water stress is using at least 80% of its available supply, while high water stress refers to 40% withdrawal of its supply.2

Humans are more dependent on water than many other mammals. Without enough water, physical and cognitive functions decline. Without any water, humans die within days. Water can be sourced from food, and depending on culture and region, people ingest varying amounts of water from their food. For example, in the U.S., about 20% of the water people take in comes from food, while adult Japanese obtain half of their water from foods eaten. In northern Kenya, people drink little water but consume a great deal of milk, which is 87% milk, and they chew on water-laden roots.3

In areas where there is a scarce supply of clean water, eating instead of drinking more water helps decrease exposure to harmful bacteria. Fruit such as papaya, and whatever grows locally, can help hydrate while preventing gastrointestinal issues. In places like the Amazon and other similar populations, dietary traditions have developed to incorporate low-alcohol, fermented beverages, which can be essential sources of hydration. Fermentation happens to kill bacteria.

Obtaining enough water is one of humanity’s oldest challenges, and now it has become a global crisis. Aquifers around the world are being depleted  and the need to diversify water sources is critical. Nations that have invested in desalination and water recycling have been the most successful in addressing water scarcity. For example, 70% of Israel’s potable water is from desalination and 90% of its wastewater is recycled!4 Israel also uses drip and micro drip irrigation, which is more efficient than traditional flood irrigation. In South Africa, where water stress has reached critical levels, Cape Town lessened reservoir losses by removing invasive, water-hungry plants and replacing them with drought-resistant species.

Wherever you live, drink wisely. Don’t keep the tap running. Avoid waste. Be safe, filter your tap water with the PiMag Waterfall® and PiMag® Sport Bottle.

1, 2 https://www.wri.org/insights/highest-water-stressed-countries

3, 4 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/0424–kinard-mexico-city-run-out-of-water/

Show Your Love with the Gift of Health and Hydration

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There are so many ways to show your love and it should be a year-round effort. Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many parts of the world as a special day to show your love to your beloved, and the standard gifts are chocolates, flowers and jewelry. If you step out of that box, what about a gift that benefits the health of those you love?

Hydration is something people often take for granted, until they suffer the consequences of not having enough water in their systems. There are many reasons to stay hydrated, including to help digest food and absorb the nutrients, to lubricate our joints for smooth movement, to help remove waste from the body and even to help regulate body temperature.1 Proper hydration also helps ensure the teeth, gums and entire mouth stay healthy—water helps you make saliva, which helps keep food away from your teeth, as well as aiding in chewing, tasting and swallowing.

Did you know that water helps to produce hormones and neurotransmitters? Water also helps protect your internal organs and tissues and deliver oxygen throughout the body, while supporting the growth and reproduction of cells. In other words, water helps the body’s natural cycle of renewal.

What happens if you don’t stay hydrated? You will definitely not feel like your usual self, as your body doesn’t function well when dehydrated. You may feel dizzy, brain fog, fatigue, dry mouth, and even faint. Dehydration also puts you at risk of kidney stones, constipation, urinary tract infections and recurring headaches.

Depending on your activity levels, gender, age and diet, how much water you need to drink for health, varies. Since approximately 20% of the water we need comes from food, people who don’t eat plenty of fruits and vegetables need to drink more water. Rule of thumb: men need about 10 cups a day, women need about 8 and children need between 4 to 8 cups.2 The more active you are, the more water you need, especially if you exercise a lot and sweat. You need to replenish the water your body secretes.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day (February 14), why not give your loved ones a PiMag Waterfall® or PiMag® Sport Bottle so they not only can keep hydrated at home and on-the-move but also benefit from filtered alkaline water, almost like drinking spring water from nature? You will also be helping them use fewer plastic bottles and decrease their carbon footprint. And, through the end of this month, filter replacements are 20% off!  Happy Valentine’s Day from Nikken!

1,2  https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/drinking-water-and-your-health#not-enough

Do You Know About Plastic Microfibers?

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Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are smaller than 5 mc. They come from household items such as synthetic clothing, furniture and packaging. Every year, about 16% of the plastic produced in the world consists of textile fibers. In recent decades, production has grown by 6% and now equates to 60 million tons per year. Synthetic clothing is responsible for endless amounts of microfibers, which can even be found in drinking water.1

Microplastics washed off from synthetic clothes contribute up to 35% of the plastic particles polluting our oceans. When we do laundry, an average of nine million microfibers end up in wastewater treatment plants that cannot filter them.2 These unfiltered microfibers add to the plastic waste in the oceans.

Microplastics have been filling the oceans for years, but they also can be found indoors, especially within the dust on floors. Research shows that individuals may ingest microplastics at the rate of 11 particles per hour, and this occurs more through household dust and textiles than through consuming seafood, such as mussels. Researchers have found that the microplastics in wild mussels were low compared to those found in household dust.3

Until recently, research was focused on microfiber pollution through laundry washing. A recent study, however, shows how simply wearing synthetic clothes can pollute the environment. As many microplastic fibers are released into the air whenever we wear synthetic clothing as when we do laundry.4

To help reduce the amount of microplastics indoors:

• Choose products with less plastic packaging.

• Wear natural fabrics, such as cotton and wool, instead of synthetics, which are derived from petroleum-based chemicals.

• Wash synthetic clothing on a gentle cycle to decrease shedding.

• Use a HEPA air filtration system because it is effective at capturing microparticles.

From now through February 29, 2024, take advantage of 20% off select replacement filters! Be sure to check your KenkoAir Purifier® and keep its HEPA filter up-to-date. PiMag Waterfall® filter cartridges, PiMag® Sport Bottle filters and PiMag® Shower Systems filters are available at 20% off. Even Air Wellness Pro and Aqua Pour replacement filters are included in this special offer!

1, 2, 3, 4 https://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org/en/2018/03/how-damaging-is-breathing-in-microplastics/#:~:text=Plastic%20microfibers%20are%20not%20just,of%2011%20particles%20per%20hour.

Minimize Your Risk of Ingesting Micro- and Nano-Plastics

Published on by Nikken

Bottled water. There probably isn’t anyone you know who doesn’t drink it sometimes. It’s just so convenient, it’s hard not to take advantage of it. Almost all of it is in plastic bottles and has been a major contributor to landfill and ocean waste. Just this month, bottled water is prominent in the news for yet another bad reason: microplastics and nanoplastics within in specific brands. The researchers are not disclosing the actual brands, but they’re letting the public know what the issues are.

A liter of bottled water contains nearly a quarter of a million pieces of nanoplastic on average, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.1Nanoplastics measure less than a micron, so picture a speck of household dust and think of a tiny part of that speck. The new research showed that nanoplastic particles in bottled water measured between 10 to 100 times higher than previously estimated.

Researchers contend that nanoplastics and microplastics, which are about the size of a grain of rice, end up in food and beverages during the manufacturing process as well as through plastic tubing used in machinery and leaching from packaging such as plastic bottles. How exactly they affect our overall health is being studied. So far, it is known that these nano- and micro-plastics can cross the blood-brain barrier, enter the placenta and even show up in urine.2

Dr. Konstantinos Lazaridis, a gastroenterologist who studies the role of environmental factors in liver disease at Mayo Clinic says, “It’s possible that tiny plastic pieces simply pass through most people’s bodies without causing much harm, or it might be that these environmental particles only have an impact in people who already have genetic predispositions to disease.”3

Nevertheless, it seems that avoiding bottled water may be most prudent. Douglas Walker, an analytical chemist at Emory University says, “Additives and chemicals found within plastic, like BPA, have been linked to increased blood pressure and type 2 diabetes; PFAs may affect fertility; and phthalates may interfere with hormones.4

So, what is the best way to limit your exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics? Drink filtered tap water whenever possible. Filters that have a pore size of one micron or less can help reduce microplastics in your water; smaller micron pores will be better at filtering out smaller particles. Dr. Walker warns not to use filters that are made of plastic and to use ceramic or carbon filters instead.5

From now through February 29, 2024, take advantage of 20% off select PiMag replacement filters! And while you’re filtering your tap water through the PiMag Waterfall® and PiMag® Sport Bottle, why not check your KenkoAir Purifier® and keep its filter up-to-date as well?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/11/well/live/bottled-water-nanoplastics.html

Make 2024 a Year of Fresh Air and Clean Water

Published on by Nikken

Nikken has been at the forefront of water and air filtration for years. Our water and air filtration units are inspired by nature. PiMag filters mimic the natural filtration processes found in waterfalls as they flow over streams and rocks. The KenkoAir Purifier uses negative ion technology that replicates the fresh air quality found in natural surroundings such as forests and lakes. Using Nikken filtration systems not only keeps your indoor air and water supply fresh and clean, they help bring nature into your Wellness Home.

Not only do Nikken air and water filtration units perform above expectations, they have unusually long lifespans, which decreases your carbon footprint. However, to maintain their potential longevity, the filter replacements should be regularly changed according to specific schedules.

  • The PiMag® Sport Bottle uses state-of-the-art filtration technology that exceeds standards for reducing particulates, chlorine, chloramine, taste and odor, cysts, lead, bacteria, VOCs, MTBE and more.

The recommendation for changing the filter is approximately three months of average use or up to an estimated 250 refills per filter. Choose item #13503 for the Replacement Filter Pack.

  • The PiMag Waterfall® is the eco-friendly Sport Bottle’s counterpart for the home and office. It also exceeds standards as mentioned above.

The recommendation for changing the filter is 3-6 months or 238 gallons or 900 liters, whichever comes first. Choose item 13845. Mineral stones should be changed annually. Choose item #13846.

  • The PiMag MicroJet® Shower System has been tested and effectively helps reduce chlorine exposure. While most chlorine-reduction systems in shower filters merely trap chlorine or add other chemicals to counteract it, the PiMag MicroJet uses a reduction/oxidation process to neutralize chlorine ions. The MicroJet injects air into the shower stream to increase the electronegative potential of the water for more effective filtration. Micro-bubbles are released through the nozzle to provide an exceptional cleansing action.

The recommendation for changing the filter for the hand-held model is every 6,600 gallons or 22, 700 liters or three months, whichever comes first. Choose Item #14661.

The recommendation for changing the filter for the wall mount model is every 12,000 gallons or 45,400 liters or six months, whichever comes first. Choose Item #13831.

  • The KenkoAir Purifier® exceeds the measured efficiency of capturing up to 99.95% of 0.3 micron particles in the air. It’s more efficient than standard store models and unlike typical air filters, this advanced system helps generate negative-ions similar to those found in natural environments.

The recommendation for changing the filters is every six months. Be sure to clean the reusable prefilter when the other filters are replaced. Choose Item #1445.

As we ring in 2024, take advantage of the replacement filter offer of 20% off, now through February 29!

Walking Helps You Feel Wonderful

Published on by Nikken

Every animal species moves by land, water or air. The human body is made for walking. Walking increases blood flow throughout the body and this has multiple benefits, especially when contemporary lifestyles too often are sedentary.

Walking provides many benefits:

•          When the heart pumps faster, it is exercising. Increased blood flow gives the heart a workout by raising the heart rate.

•          Joint discomforts? If you can work through the discomfort gradually by walking a little bit every day, eventually you will become more flexible and less uncomfortable, because walking daily can help ease stiffness. Since walking is low-impact, it is much safer than jogging or running.

•          It’s a safe way to build up the bones and help retain the bone mineral that is necessary to keep bones healthy. Since exercise supports bone density, regularly walking may help with balance, flexibility and overall fitness. Good balance and flexibility decrease the likelihood of falls that may lead to bones breaking or fracturing.

•          Do you spend a lot of time seated? Sitting actually strains back muscles, especially if you have poor posture. An easy way to relieve back tension is to stand up, stretch and take a brisk walk. Walking can help strengthen your core back muscles and therefore help to reduce strain.

•          Walking can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. When your heart rate increases, your body begins using more glucose that’s in the blood.

•          You can speed up your metabolism with regular exercise such as walking. Metabolism is the rate at which the body converts calories into energy. If you input calories without burning them, you gain weight. When you walk, the muscles use up calories, converting fats and sugars into energy, helping to manage weight.

•          Walking gives your lungs a workout by requiring them to supply more oxygen to the body than when you’re at rest or not moving. Walking, like other exercises, force the lungs to work harder and therefore become stronger. Even when you’re not aware of it, you inhale and exhale more fully when walking.

•          A great way to reduce stress, walking helps release endorphins and hormones, which may help you feel happy and energized. Walking also may help uplift your spirits if you are feeling down. Reducing the release of stress hormones helps the body become less susceptible to illness.

•          Physical activities such as walking may help clear out the airways before they can manifest into any number of issues in the body. Because blood flow increases during movement, antibodies and white blood cells are circulating in the body more quickly, which supports the immune system. The increased blood flow may also help remove particles in the air around you, and the body’s response to them.

•          In some cultures, the whole family takes a walk together after the evening meal. It serves as a bonding ritual, but physiologically, it helps digestion! In fact, walking stimulates the digestive system to work faster, which in effect, helps excess food leave the body more quickly!

•          A study conducted among people who have difficulties sleeping found that walking reduced the time it took them to fall asleep. It also lengthened the time they spent sleeping. The increase in body temperature and the cooling afterward can also promote sleep.1

•          Walking increase blood flow throughout the body and the skin is the largest organ. Blood flow to the skin encourages the skin’s natural cycle of repair and helps keep skin moist—well-hydrated appears less wrinkly.

•          “Use it or lose it.” If you don’t use your feet for walking, they will weaken. To strengthen foot muscles (link to https://nikkenactivewellness.com/2023/07/20/your-feet-are-your-bodys-foundation/) walk! If you haven’t been on walking consistently, start off slowly and increase your time a little bit every week.

When walking during the hot summer months, be sure to wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, sunglasses and a hat. Drink a tall glass of water before starting out and remember to bring a PiMag® Sport Bottle with you and sip along the way. Try to avoid the hottest hours of the day, and look for trails or streets with plenty of shady areas.

If walking has been part of your personal Nikken Summer Challenge, congratulations, and we hope you will keep it as part of your permanent total wellness regimen!

1 https://medical-news.org/30-things-that-happen-when-walking-every-day/11703/

Keeping Your Kids (and Yourself) Hydrated

Published on by Nikken

One of the best ways to keep your kids hydrated is to start them on a water-drinking habit early in life. Healthy habits created during childhood help little ones grow into healthy adults.

The key to developing a good water-drinking habit is to introduce water as the drink of choice. It’s easily done when the little ones are weaning off breast milk and formula, but as they grow up and see what the older kids and the adults are them are drinking, it becomes more of a chore. Those juice boxes with convenient straws are tempting beverages to serve, but once the kids get a taste for a sweet liquid, it might be difficult to convince them that water is best.

Look around you and check out the grownups you know. Who drinks water and who avoids water? There are those who carry water bottles everywhere as well as those who pop a soda can whenever possible. There are the so-called health buffs who drink expensive “pure, not from concentrate” juices. By the time teenagers grow into adults, it’s much harder to break the habit of drinking sugary beverages and to focus on water. Nonetheless, it can be done.

Here are a few “tricks” to keep kids and grownups hydrated with water and to help them develop good drinking habits:

•          When they’re little, choose colorful straws and special sippy cups that are designated just for them. Drinking water can be fun and desirable when presented as “special.”

•          At home, set up a water station that’s within reach of children who can pour and serve themselves. This allows them to feel independent and make good choices on their own. Compliment them for making the right choice and helping themselves, even if they make a mess or spill.

•          Appeal to older kids’ sense of logic and responsibility. Teenagers want to look good, so discuss how water has no calories and is a great hydrator. Remind them that when water is dispensed from the faucet or a water filtration system such as the PiMag Waterfall® or PiMag® Sport Bottle, it can help decrease the amount of plastic waste humans create. Contemporary kids care about the ecosystem and may be even more aware of the environment than the adults surrounding them.

•          Have lemon, lime or orange slices available to add to the water you drink. You can also have on hand raspberries, sliced strawberries or kiwi and blackberries. These are healthy yet flavorful fruits to help transition from sweet beverages to water.  

•          Carry a water bottle such as the PiMag® Sport Bottle wherever you go and refill it throughout the day.

•          To help your water habit, choose water as your beverage even when eating out.

According to the authors of a 2015 study, “Ingesting water along with amino acids, fats and minerals seems to help the body take up and retain more water, and therefore maintain better levels of hydration, which is especially important following exercise and periods of heavy perspiration. Sipping water a little bit at a time prevents the kidneys from being overloaded and helps the body retain more water. For those hoping to stay optimally hydrated, a slow-and-steady approach to water consumption and coupling water with a little food is a more effective method than knocking back full glasses of water between meals.”1

Why not invite your family members to make hydration with water part of your Nikken  Summer Challenge?

1 https://time.com/5646632/how-much-water-to-drink/

All the Water We Will Ever Have

Published on by Nikken

The water on Earth today is all the water we will ever have. Water is the liquid that makes life on Earth possible. As water cycles from the air to the land to the sea and back again, water shapes this planet and allows us to survive.

The ocean holds most of it, so more than 97% of the water on Earth is salty. That leaves less than 3% as fresh water—for land creatures to drink and for humans to use to make things. Most of the fresh water is locked up in glaciers and ice caps, and as those shrink, so does the fresh water supply.

Since human population continues to grow, that leaves less water for more people to use, and there is already a shortage of potable water in many parts of the world. In fact, half of the world’s fresh water can be found in only six countries! More than a billion people live without safe, clean water, and the number of thirsty people is growing.1

Water exists in three states: liquid, gas, and solid.

  • Liquid water comes out of clouds and fog in the air. It flows underground, in rivers and oceans. 
  • When water molecules escape from liquid water and float into the air, they turn into an invisible gas called water vapor.
  • When water freezes into a solid, ice forms—the water molecules arrange themselves into crystal structures. Most other solids are dense and sink, but ice floats. This is because the the empty spaces between the molecules act as flotation devices, similarly to the way a life preserver holds you up.

Because water is so useful, most people live along coastlines, rivers, and lakes. Where fresh water is limited, people have used many technologies — wells, dams and canals, to name a few — to store and move it. These technologies may damage habitats, and other species have to compete with humans for water. This may help explain why so many creatures that live in fresh water are becoming endangered species.2

Water is precious and the human race needs to respect and use it wisely. It is part of nature that needs to be conserved. Swamps, riverbanks, sources of groundwater, all need to be protected. Wetlands provide clean water for many species, including wild birds, fish and even plant life.

Chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides pollute lakes and oceans, harming wildlife and also harming human life. Plastic is a major polluter of our waterways and every single human being who drinks bottled water contributes to that growing mound of pollution.

The PiMag Waterfall® is designed to filter potable water the way a natural waterfall filters water. It even has mineral stones to replicate conditions found in nature.

The PiMag® Sport Bottle affords the convenience of a portable filtration system—similar to a mini Waterfall you can bring with you practically everywhere you go.

When you develop the filtered water habit and ditch bottled water, especially single-use plastic bottles, you contribute to the preservation of wildlife, both land and ocean, and the conservation of planet Earth’s precious water resources. Why not make the filtered water habit part of your Summer Challenge?

1, 2 https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/water/what-is-water#:~:text=All%20living%20things%2C%20from%20tiny,almost%20no%20water%20at%20all.

Why Filter Potable Tap Water?

Published on by Nikken

We often take water for granted, especially when we live in areas with free-running tap water 24/7. Then the unthinkable happens and we become more aware. For example, in 2014, there was a water crisis in Flint, Michigan, due to lead contamination. It’s been nine years and the people who live there are still dealing with the after effects. And, as recently as last year, the residents of Jackson, Mississippi, were left without potable water and that problem is ongoing. Even in Canada, a country that has multitudes of lakes, is home to First Nations people who continue to have to boil water to decontaminate it.

What’s going on? Why is potable tap water not the “safe” and convenient choice even in North America and parts of Europe? We’ve long known not to drink tap water in many countries when we travel, and that has added to the rampant use of single-use bottled water.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates public tap water used for drinking. The EPA sets limits on how much of an element that may be harmful to human health is allowed in the water supply. Limits are based on the amount deemed safe for human consumption and how much the water treatment facilities are capable of removing.

According to Sarah Grady, a science analyst at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), “There’s a gap between what is legal and what is safe.”1 She explains that many regulations are based on “old science” and therefore are insufficient to keep current water supplies safe. In other words, even when tap water is considered potable, it might not be completely safe. The EWG therefore maintains their own tap water database with stricter limits determined by peer-reviewed studies, research from state agencies and their own scientists.

Drinking tap water can be risky, not just when traveling to so-called third-world countries.

•          In the United States, about 90% of the population obtain tap water from a public water system. This water comes from a lake, reservoir, river or aquifer, which is piped into a water treatment facility. The “treatment” involves adding chemicals that bind to pollutants that may be in the natural water, so that they can be sifted out.2 This process makes it drinkable, but  the water contains chemicals.

•          The chemicals added to the water are disinfectants such as chlorine and chloramine. These chemicals are known to help kill pathogens in the water as well as any that might be contained in the water pipes themselves.3

•          Water treatment facilities vary in their capabilities, depending on location and funding. A study published in 2018 cites that 21 million people were exposed to tap water that violated federal guidelines in 2015. According to Maura Allaire, a water quality expert at the University of California in Irvine, the most common sources of the violations stemmed from unsafe levels of bacteria and viruses, nitrates, arsenic and harmful byproducts from the disinfectants themselves.4 It’s a catch-22 in that disinfectants are added to address contaminants but they create a whole different set of potentially harmful aspects.

•          Studies conducted on drinking water have shown that PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are commonly found throughout the U.S. These chemicals have been found in our blood and are linked to serious health issues, including cancer. PFAS are pollutants that are sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they last in the environment for so many years. The EPA just this year has proposed rules to address PFAS at the federal level in order to try and remove these toxins. Meanwhile, PFAS have been contaminating water supplies for decades.4

•          The EPA has identified and regulates 90 water contaminants. There are many more that are identified and not yet regulated. They include 66 chemicals, 12 microbes and all PFAS, six of which were recently named as specific ones to limit.5 The gap between identifying toxins, providing substantiated proof of harm, proposing regulations, and finding funding to enact the rules is unfortunately huge. Meanwhile, people continue drinking the so-called potable tap water.

Nikken has been a vocal champion of hydration and clean drinking water for decades and now more than ever, our Global Wellness Community is at the forefront of the movement to filter potable tap water for our health and that of our children. The PiMag Waterfall® and PiMag® Sport Bottle are simple to use and help make potable tap water cleaner and better tasting. They provide convenience at home and when traveling.

Now through the end of the month, get PiMag® replacement filters at 20% off!  The PiMag Waterfall filters 900 liters or 238 gallons before replacement is needed, and the PiMag Sport Bottle filters 40 gallons or 151 liters per cartridge. You benefit from clean alkaline water, and help decrease plastic waste!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 National Geographic, Is tap wate rsafe to drink?, Sarah Gibbens, March 20, 2023.

We Can Help Curtail the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is twice the size of Texas, is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. The patch is bounded by an enormous gyre –the biggest of five huge, spinning circular currents in the world’s oceans that pull trash towards the center and trap it there, creating a garbage vortex.

The Ocean Cleanup initiative estimates there are about 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the patch that weigh an estimated 80,000 tons. The majority of the plastic found in the patch comes from the fishing industry, while between 10% and 20% of the total volume can be traced back to the 2011 Japanese tsunami.1

According to the UN Environment Program (UNEP), the world produces around 460 million tons of plastic a year, which will triple by 2060 without urgent action. Globally, only about 9% of plastic waste is recycled, and as much as 22% of all plastic waste is mismanaged and ends up as litter, with large amounts making it into the oceans.2

The Ocean Cleanup has built a huge trash-collecting system, a U-shaped barrier with a net-like skirt that hangs below the surface of the water. It moves with the current and collects faster-moving plastics as they float by, but cleanup is only part of the solution. A study published recently said that without urgent policy action, the rate at which plastics enter the oceans could increase by around 2.6 times between now and 2040.3

More than one million bottles of water are sold every minute around the world and the sindustry shows no sign of slowing down. Global sales of bottled water are expected to nearly double by 2030. Researchers analyzed data from 109 countries and found that the bottled water industry saw a 73% growth in sales from 2010 to 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. In 2021, global bottled water sales reached 350 billion liters and were valued at an estimated $270 billion, a figure expected to soar to $500 billion by 2030.4

Bottled water is popular throughout the world, with the US, China and Indonesia having the largest number of consumers. Countries in the Global South together represent roughly 60% of the market. A report by the UN University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health showed that the bottled water industry generated roughly 600 billion plastic bottles and containers in 2021, resulting in 25 million tons of plastic waste, most of which was not recycled and ended in landfills.5

Fossil fuels are the raw ingredient for the vast majority of plastics, which have a heavy carbon footprint from manufacturing through to disposal. Around 85% of plastic water bottles, which can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, end up as waste in the ocean, adding to a vast swirl of plastic waste that poses a serious threat to marine life.6

The UN Environment Assembly passed a historic resolution last year to end plastic pollution and create the world’s first global plastic pollution treaty by 2024 – a legally binding agreement that would address the full life cycle of plastic, from its production and design to its disposal.

Each one of us can make it a personal goal to reduce plastic disposals every single day. The easiest way is to break the habit of single-use plastic bottles. All we have to do is make it a matter of routine to use re-usable water bottles and carry them with us. Nikken has outstanding water filters, namely the PiMag Waterfall® and PiMag® Sport Bottle. The replacement filters are recyclable, the water is refreshing and alkalized through the filtration process, and each time we drink from them, we know we are doing our part to live in harmony with nature.

Now through June 30, receive 20% off the PiMag® replacement filters for both the Sport Bottle and the Waterfall, along with the replacement filters for the PiMag MicroJet® Shower Systems and the KenkoAir Purifier®. It’s a win-win as we practice our total wellness lifestyle and help our oceans and marine sustain their survival.

1, 2, 3 https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/17/world/plastic-pollution-ocean-ecosystems-intl-climate/index.html

4, 5, 6 https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/16/world/plastic-water-bottles-un-report-climate/index.html