Plastic water bottles displayed at a shop in Kozhikode. With increasing resistance to plastic, campaigns against plastic water bottles are also gaining strength. | Photo Credit: S_RAMESHKURUP more-in New bag, new umbrella, new books.... A water bottle is one of those new things that a child gets as the school reopens. While most parents pay attention to the material used in lunch boxes, those in water bottles are often taken for granted. Mostly made of low-grade plastic, water bottles pose a grave threat to children’s health in the long run. With increasing resistance to plastic, campaigns against plastic water bottles are also gaining strength. Student Army for Vivid Environment (SAVE), an environmental organisation, is launching a campaign, Nalla Vellam, Nalla Pathram (good water, good vessel) in all schools in the district, urging parents to avoid plastic water bottles. “The bottles come in different qualities of plastic. Whatever be the quality, they are not appropriate to hold warm water,” said Vadayakkandy Narayanan, SAVE coordinator. He pointed out that plastic bottles often shrink when warm water is poured into them. SAVE suggests steel or glass bottles in place of plastic bottles. “Arguments that they [steel and glass bottles] are heavier does not hold ground. Steel bottles are not much heavy compared to plastic bottles,” Mr. Narayanan said. “We should have started this project much earlier, as most children have already purchased water bottles. But we plan to sensitise them and their parents slowly and urge them to purchase steel or glass bottles next time,” he said, adding that that steel and glass lasted longer and would not have to be replaced often. The campaign will be first launched at Government TTI UP School at Mananchira and will be extended to other schools in the district. However, an announcement in this regard will be made only after ensuring that a majority of students and staff of schools have shifted to steel or glass bottles.

Stay updated with all the Latest Kozhikode headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.