UK Sustainability

There are many water refill stations located throughout campus, and we even have a hydration station available to rent for outdoor events through UK Recycling! Learn more here: https://facilities.uky.edu/campus/facilities-services/recycling/hydration-station

Nothing feels better on a hot summer day than a nice, cold drink. It’s easy to grab a reusable bottle before heading out — and even easier to pick up a bottle of water on the go. But does that convenience come with a cost?

Plastic water bottles contain chemicals like bisphenol A and phthalates that make the bottles more flexible and pliable, but are so small that they can be absorbed into the body’s cells and tissues. Prolonged exposure to sunlight, or UV light and elevated temperatures — such as when plastic bottles are left in cars during the warm, sunny months — can speed up that chemical leaching process.

What’s the harm? Bisphenol A, phthalates and certain micro- and nanoplastics are endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which means they can interfere with hormone actions throughout the endocrine system. Exposure has been linked to adverse health outcomes in humans. These include reproductive, developmental, neurological, immune and metabolic disorders.

Although exposure is potentially harmful to everyone, infants, children, pregnant people and older adults are especially at risk. Reusable stainless-steel and glass bottles not only help eliminate waste from plastic water bottles, but also help mitigate risks from the chemicals in plastic.

♻️ 2026 Sustainability Summer Research Fellow Spotlight

MEET MD HIMEL AHAMED JOY

MD Himel Ahamed is a freshman in Ag & Medical Biotechnology. As one of six UK undergraduates selected for the 2026 Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship, MD Himel Ahamed will be spending the summer conducting research under Manoj Sapkota in the Martin Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment's Department of Horticulture.

Project Title: "Water-Smart Tomatoes: Seedling-to-Fruit Responses to Drought Across Wild and Cultivated Tomato Diversity"

Exciting news for sustainability-focused undergraduate research!

In the News!

6 students selected as 2026 Sustainability Summer Research Fellows

Read now: our.uky.edu/news

UK Sustainability
University of Kentucky Pigman College of Engineering UK College of Arts and Sciences UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment University of Kentucky College of Design