Student condemns 'morally corrupt' peers for buying plastic water bottles

‘Not having a reusable bottle at this point is like still being homophobic’

An eco-conscious student has urged her peers to stop buying plastic water bottles, arguing that not having a reusable bottle in 2019 is like “still being homophobic or thinking climate change isn’t real”.

Writing for The Tab, 19-year-old Anna van der Poel described people who buy plastic bottles as “morally corrupt” and also argued they were wasting money that could be spent on alcohol.

Ms van der Poel explained that considering how much we now know about the dangers of plastic waste, it was time more people changed their habits to help protect the environment.

“Annoying as this may be, it is no joke, and everyone has to play their part,” she wrote. “If you are unwilling to make the most simple changes, like not buying plastic bags and owning a reusable water bottle, you need re-evaluate what kind of person you are.”

The University of Edinburgh student added how shocked she was at the number of plastic bottles she sees people using in lectures.

“Not only are you killing the planet, but you are also spending money on water that you could be spending on VK,” she added in reference to the popular alcoholic drinks brand.

“Reusable bottles can be bought almost anywhere, in any size, shape, and design,” she continued.

“They aren’t expensive, and you can choose one that will be most practical for you. There are a million places to refill your bottle throughout the day, so having one means you always have water with you – and who can argue with that practicality?”

Ms van der Poel’s comments come after a YouGov survey revealed that the majority of Britons are still happy to purchase plastic bottles of water, despite an increased awareness of the environmental consequences of single-use plastic.

It also found that out of the 2,000 people surveyed, only a third drank from reusable bottles when out and about.

In November, a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace UK found that Britain’s top 10 supermarkets are flooding the planet with 810,000 tonnes of single-use plastic every year.