People talk about micro-trends, short-lived trends that gain a lot of attention quickly, and how bad they are. They cause more waste, and we surely don’t need any more waste. People typically talk about the micro-trends we see in clothing; however, there are micro-trends everywhere — especially in water bottles.
We have seen the rise and fall of Yetis, Hydro Flasks, and now even Stanleys, which were widely popular due to their unique design. The new water bottle that many are raving about is the Owala. My friend loves the Owala water bottle and owns four already, but what’s going to happen to them when the new, never-seen-before water bottle comes out? Are they just going to be stuck in the back of her cabinet, never to be used again? Probably. The average American owns about seven reusable water bottles — but why?
These reusable water bottles should last us years and years, only forcing us to buy a new one when we desperately need to. That’s kind of the point — they're used to stop waste, not create it. I have fallen victim to the water bottle micro-trends myself, but after seeing my Stanley sit there unused for almost a year, my eyes have opened. While, yes, by using a reusable water bottle you yourself are potentially saving about 156 plastic bottles from polluting our ocean annually, getting a new reusable water bottle every few months in turn defeats the purpose.
Instead of buying the next trendy water bottle, remember that in a few months it won’t be popular anymore and we will have moved onto the next. Put the money you would have spent on that water bottle somewhere else, save it or get yourself something you actually need. No one needs a new trendy water bottle.
Naturally, people want the newest and best, but when every bottle promises the same thing, like keeping your drink cold for hours or preventing spills, why keep buying them?
People should focus on buying things that are high quality, sustainable and timeless. While most of these qualities do cost a little more, over time, you’ll find that they will start paying for themselves. It’s both good for your wallet and the environment — and who doesn’t love that combination?
For those who have fallen under the micro-trend and overconsumption trance there are a few things you can do to help clear out your cabinets full of bottles and help the environment.
You can donate your old water bottles to homeless shelters or thrift stores. There are a few good spots in Bloomington like Wheeler Mission, Salvation Army, Goodwill and more. It doesn’t hurt to give back and if you aren’t using something, someone else out there might be able to use it. You can also repurpose your water bottles and turn them into something new. You can use bottles for storage or a flower vase — because who doesn’t love flowers. Just be creative with it! You can do so much more than leave these micro-trends for the landfills or in a random cupboard.
It’s inevitable that people will purchase in micro-trends, but remember — just because something is trendy doesn’t mean you should buy it.
Faith Badgley (she/her) is a freshman studying advertising.
