At the end of June, during peak travel season, Los Angeles International Airport announced a ban on the sale of single-use plastic water bottles, making it the second U.S. (and California) airport to do so, following San Francisco in 2019.
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So far, the LAX ban applies to water containers only – not sodas, sports drinks, etc. – but SFO expanded its policy in 2021 to prohibit the sale of any beverages in plastic bottles.
Once past the security checkpoint, travelers can still buy water in recyclable containers – or better yet, refill their own reusable containers at the hydration stations that have popped up in airports throughout the country over the past decade.
These filtered water stations started to appear in airports around 2011 and began to spread in 2017. LAX first announced its water bottle refill stations in 2018, and the airport has installed more over the past two years to meet increased demand.
Many refill stations feature a counter that tallies how many bottles each dispenser has saved. In a 2022 Facebook post, the Nashville International Airport in Tennessee reports that its stations have kept more than a million bottles out of landfills.
Overall, Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, averaging about 13 bottles per month (roughly one every other day) for every person in the United States. That means one person switching to a reusable water bottle has the potential to save an average of 156 plastic bottles annually.
Promo is here to help. With hundreds, if not thousands of brandable drinkware options, there’s something for every taste and budget, and PPAI research shows that drinkware is one of the best ways to promote your client’s brand because it’s kept longer than other promo items, yielding more than 1,400 impressions for the average item’s lifecycle.
- According to PPAI research, drinkware was the second highest-selling product category for distributors in 2021.
- Brand names matter. Contigo is the most used brand, followed by Coleman and Yeti.
Here are just a few of the drinkware possibilities, from coveted prestige brands to more practical pieces for travel – including two bottles rated as top performers by Travel + Leisure magazine:
Named best stainless steel bottle by T+L, the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth With Flex Sip Lid is soft to the touch with a comfortable drinking lip and an easy-to-hold handle. Its 20-oz. capacity offers plenty of hydration without getting too heavy. Available in five colors (Pacific shown).
PCNA / PPAI 113079, S15
Another T+L favorite, the Yeti Rambler 26-Oz. Bottle with Chug Cap makes it easy to steal a sip without slowing down. It keeps beverages cold all day, plus it’s shatter-resistant and dishwasher safe. Available in six colors (black shown), laser engraving included.
Buckeye Incentives / PPAI 786878, S1
This ultra-portable 17-Oz. Collapsible Silicone Water Bottle is a great travel item because it shrinks from 8 inches tall down to about 4.5 inches. Made from food grade silicone, this bottle is dishwasher and microwave safe (except for the lid) and safe for liquids up to 140 degrees. Available in five colors (red shown), laser engraving of the metal cap included.
High Caliber Line / PPAI 205801, S10
The Contigo Chug Chill, a 20-oz. double wall stainless steel bottle with vacuum insulation, one-touch push-button spout and carrying handle with carabiner, is ideal for staying hydrated on the go. For cold beverages only, this bottle comes in stainless (shown), white or black, with one-color imprint included.
ETS Express / PPAI 135148, S11
This white stainless steel, double wall insulated RTIC 26-Oz. Water Bottle keeps your drinks ice cold longer with no sweat on the outside. Price includes laser engraving with optional upgrade to digital/four-color process print. Gift box included.
Hirsch / PPAI 221823, S10
The BPA-free Cupanion Bottle is made sustainably in New York of durable Tritan plastic and comes in 15 lid colors. The carbon emissions generated in production are offset after only two uses, and each bottle connects to an app through the QR code printed directly on the bottle so users can track the social and environmental impact of each reuse.
Fill it Forward / PPAI 792815, S1
