Bengaluru: A city-based NGO REWA (Raise Empower Women Around) has come up with eco-friendly water bottles to raise awareness against the hazards posed by plastic ones and improve the livelihood of underprivileged women
As part of “Neer Patra” drive, the NGO has already sold more than 1,000 such bottles.
“The idea is to empower underprivileged women while creating awareness among people about health hazards of using plastic bottles,” said Abhishek Saran, Director, REWA.
He pointed out that though plastic bottles have made drinking water easily available, people don't pay heed to ‘leaching,’ that takes place if these bottles are used continuously.
“Leaching means that some of the chemical content of the plastic bottle is discharged into the water. This makes bottled water hazardous to health,” Abhishek added.
The increasing awareness about eco-friendly products and earthenware got the NGO to foray into making earthen water bottles.
“It is now produced on a large scale in Bengluru and is sold in shops and streets throughout the city. We have also started making earthen bottles which can be used for storing drinking water. It comes with a cap which prevents dust and dirt from entering the bottle. The bottle keeps the water cool, maintaining an ideal temperature for consumption,” he adds.
As for the bottles Abhishek said, “The clay prevents green algae from forming inside the bottle, hence, they are easy to maintain as light rinsing is all that it takes to wash away all the dirt. But if one finds the need for a thorough wash then it can be done by using a bottle brush. The outer layer can be washed using normal scrub and soap used in the kitchen.”
Regarding environmental impact he said the clay bottles are made out of natural elements of the earth and are biodegradable. Whereas, plastic poses a major threat to the environment.
For REWA, this initiative also means helping underprivileged women improve their livelihood by making the clay bottles. So far they were eking out a livelihood by making earthen pots.
