SDGs Essay: 'A Single Reusable Bottle'

Every morning, before I head out, I pour cold tea into my stainless steel bottle. This is my new daily routine.

I used to think nothing of buying bottled tea at convenience stores or vending machines whenever I was thirsty. It was light, convenient, and I could just toss it in the trash when I was done.

'It's just one bottle, it doesn't matter.' That's what I thought, and I consumed them casually every single day.

My perspective changed last summer when I participated in a beach cleanup as part of a local volunteer activity.

That was a place where I enjoyed swimming with my family as a child, and where I talked with friends while watching the sunset when I was in junior high school. It was a beloved beach filled with many memories.

From a distance, the sandy beach looked as blue and beautiful as it always had, but when I looked closely at my feet, I was shocked to see how much trash was buried there.

What stood out in particular were plastic bottles that had weathered and lost their labels, and fragments of plastic that had broken and become rounded at the edges.

'Birds and sea creatures mistake the plastic that has been broken down by the waves for food and eat it.'

Hearing that story on-site, I realized that the fragments at my feet were threatening living things, and my heart tightened.

The 'marine plastic waste problem' was something I had only known about from television and textbooks until then. That was the moment it was thrust upon me as a reality happening in a place of precious memories.

The plastic bottles I had bought and discarded for the sake of convenience until yesterday—they, too, might have ended up contributing to polluting the sea I love.

From that day on, I started carrying a reusable bottle.

At first, I was worried that it might make my bag heavy, but once I started, I found that quenching my thirst with a bottle that keeps drinks cold until the evening was more pleasant than I had imagined.

The changes didn't stop there.

I naturally started paying attention to the 'disposable plastic' in my life, and I began bringing my own bag when shopping. Changes also emerged, such as declining plastic cutlery and choosing refillable options for daily necessities.

Each action is small, but I have come to feel that my choices are connected to protecting the sea I love.

The amount of waste one person can reduce might be very small. However, if the number of people making small choices increases, the future will definitely change.

To protect the future of the sea of my memories and the creatures that live there. I want to continue making the choice that starts with the cup of tea I poured today and this one bottle.

Afterword: Thank you so much for reading to the end.

(The main text is 985 characters, so I am writing this believing that it should fit well within the 1000-character limit...!)

Finally, here is one tip for continuing a personal bottle lifestyle in a fun and sustainable way. I recommend having about three personal bottles!

Choosing one to carry based on your mood, fashion, or the amount of drink for the day will really lift your spirits when you go out. Please find your favorite bottle and give it a try.