With the popularity and convenience of single-use plastic water bottles causing environmental strain and massive waste, there has been a move, especially in the last decade to 15 years, to transition to using reusable water bottles.
At first glance, and for the majority of the population, this is a huge step forward in reducing plastic waste while also helping to increase your personal hydration in a fun and unique way.
Nalgene, Hydroflask, Yeti, Klean Kanteen- you name it, there is a brand out there to fit your lifestyle, activity level, and fashion sense.
Introducing: the Stanley cup.
Although Stanley’s have been around for several years, influencer culture and the rampant nature of online social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have massively increased their popularity. Known for their wide range of colors, durable material, convenient handles, diverse size range and portability, Stanley cups have become the latest trend to define who is ‘in’ or ‘out’ when it comes to sipping your favorite beverages or keeping up on your hydration goals.
However, many individuals have taken this trend to the next level by redefining their cups as a fashion accessory, or even going as far as accessorizing their cup with “jackets” designed to hold phones and wallet essentials, plastic or rubber straw caps, or lid trays to snack and sip at the same time.
Most of all, there’s been a massive influx of influencer content highlighting personal collections of Stanley cups in every size, color, and style depending on athletic clothing, higher-quality outfits, or holiday themes as seen from the recent Target debacle wherein the retailer was flooded with people looking to stock up on the newest red and pink editions of the cup.
As visually pleasing and convenient as this may be, it directly defeats the purpose of purchasing a reusable cup designed to be a solo container. To add insult to injury, many content creators continue to purchase bulk pallets of plastic bottled water, only to pour into their cups for their daily water fix.
One can only imagine that an individual willing to spend upwards of $40 to $50 on a cup would also be willing to shell out for a tap water filter- a minor investment with great value for themselves and the environment.
