Here, we outline the pros and cons of each bottle material type available to buy. This will help you choose the best water bottle based on your specific preferences.
Plastic water bottles are widespread, especially among sports professionals who need lightweight, portable bottles. However, they come with some serious negative health and environmental impacts. You should probably keep them as your last option.
Pros: Versatile, lightweight, affordable
Plastic is obviously a wildly versatile material. That’s why plastic water bottles come in limitless shapes, colors, and textures. You can get a rigid plastic bottle with a screw-top lid that doesn’t weigh much, or you can get a flexible bottle that you can use to squirt water into your mouth.
Plastic bottle designers have also come up with handy collapsible bottles that you can stuff into your backpacking gear without adding too much weight.
Generally, plastic bottles are also inexpensive
Cons:Health safety concerns, bad for the environment, ages quickly, can be smelly
You may recall how in the late 2000s, Nalgene became enmeshed in a controversy over the safety concerns about its see-through hard-plastic bottles.
This is because hard plastic bottles labeled with the number “7” leach the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) into the beverages they contain. The chemical is found in materials as diverse as receipts, CD cases, and the liners of tin cans.
BPA exposure has become so pervasive that in a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which sampled 2,517 people in the U.S., 93 percent of people above the age of six had BPA in their bodies.
BPA is an industrial chemical used to create resins that resist corrosion. The likelihood of leaching also increases when a plastic bottle made with BPA heats up in the sun or contains hot beverages.
The properties of BPA mimic estrogen hormone cells, so it confuses the body and interferes with cell functioning and reproductive processes. That’s why it’s been classified as an endocrine disruptor.
All kinds of health impacts are linked to BPA from obesity to infertility. Medical News Today lists the following health risks based on its compilation of peer-reviewed studies:
Many countries have restricted the use of plastics containing BPA to some extent. In the U.S. the FDA has banned the use of BPA in baby care products such as formula packaging, sippy cups, and infant bottles. France has banned the use of BPA in all food containers, packages, and utensils. The EU also restricts the level of BPA in food packaging.
Here are some tips for avoiding BPA. Anyone concerned with the potential health risks linked to BPA should search for BPA-free products and avoid the use of canned foods and plastic labeled with numbers 3 and 7.
Even though reusable plastic bottles are designed for longer use than single-use plastic bottles, they tend to wear out quickly compared to other materials. Therefore, it’s likely that they, too, will go into landfills at the end of their life. The only way to truly eliminate the harmful effects of plastic is to avoid it as much as possible.
Plastic doesn’t retain its youthful luster as much as other materials. It can easily crack or get scratched or warped over time through general wear and tear. In fact, the more wear and tear you see on your plastic bottle, the more likely it is that they are leaching chemicals or shedding microplastics into your drinks.
Because of the increased chances of health risks when heat is applied to plastic, you should only hand wash your plastic container.
Plastic bottles may acquire a strange scent over time because food scents attach to their chemical bonds.
If you do decide that no other water bottle material is suitable for taking care of your needs, try to follow these best practices with plastic bottles to avoid heat.
Pros: See through, dishwasher safe, no health risks, zero effect on taste
You can easily track how much water you’ve drunk with a glass bottle. That way, you’ll know when it’s time to fill up. Glass bottles are the only bottles with this option apart from plastic bottles that come with health risks.
Glass bottles are generally safe to put in the dishwasher as you would with any thicker glass bowl or jar around the house.
Glass bottles have no known health risks.
When you drink from a glass water bottle, you’ll appreciate the virtually non-existent smell or impact on the taste of your water or drink.
Cons:No insulation, breaks easily, heavy
Glass bottles do not provide insulation. Unless you fill your bottle with some ice cubes, your beverage will not remain cold. However, the exterior of your bottle may become too cold to the touch if you fill it with ice. For that reason, as well as to support its fragility, many glass water bottles come in a plastic casing intended to solve some of these design flaws.
Glass can shatter easily when you drop it. For that reason, glass water bottle companies have developed plastic casings and thicker-walled glass to reduce the chances of breaking. But thicker walls and more materials mean more weight and glass is already heavy. Remember that accidents do happen and if you drop a glass bottle, there is no guarantee it won’t break.
Among the different water bottle types, glass water bottles are the heaviest. That’s why they’re fine for activities that don’t require you to carry them, but for people who want a bottle they can easily tote all day, we recommend a lighter model. Glass bottles work fine at indoor offices or the gym, but for people who travel or have lots of other things to carry (like moms), skip the glass models and go for stainless steel.
Pros: Lightweight, durable, no health risks, dishwasher safe, affordable
Second to plastic, these are the lightest bottle option. They’re great for backpacking, since you’ll want to keep your pack’s weight down. through
Unlike plastic and glass, stainless steel bottles won’t break when you drop them. They can definitely get dents, but they won’t lose their main function of holding liquid.
Stainless steel bottles have no known health risks.
Like other simple hardware around the house, stainless steel vessels don’t require much fuss and you can toss them in the dishwasher next to your ceramic dishes and flatware.
Considering their long lifespan, stainless steel bottles are of great value. You might use one over the course of ten years, while other people are buying bottled water, which gets more and more expensive each day.
Cons: Transfers heat, no insulation, dents easily
Since metal transfers heat easily, single-walled stainless steel bottles are not a good option if you want to use your bottle for hot beverages. You might burn your hands unless you wrap them in fabric.
Cold drinks will also lose their temperature quickly in a stainless steel water bottle, since the bottle will quickly adapt to the outside temperature.
Even though they don’t break easily, single-walled stainless steel bottles are known for getting dents easily. Even a small impact can lead to dents, which can turn a great-looking bottle into a dud with one minor accident.
Pros: Keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, durable, portable, no health risks, stylish, can be affordable
Most insulated water bottles feature double-wall thermos-like engineering that improves their ability to maintain the temperature of their contents.
For instance, Healthy Human Steins can keep a drink hot for 12 hours, or cold for 24 hours, thanks to their Tempmax Vacuum Insulation.
The vacuum insulation prevents any temperature transfer to the outer wall.
Insulated water bottles are extremely durable, because their double-wall construction gives them an added layer of protection against dents. And since they’re stainless steel, the risk of breaking is a non-issue.
Because insulated water bottles prevent heat transfer, you won’t see any condensation form on the outside of your bottle. If you place your bottle in a tote bag, it won’t leave any traces of moisture.
The sweat-free design of insulated water bottles also ensures that your hands will not get burnt or chilled when you hold your bottle. This means you don’t have to bring a towel to wrap around your bottle just to protect your hands.
Finally, insulated water bottles are not as heavy as glass water bottles, so they can be carried throughout the day with ease.
Again, stainless steel bottles have no known health risks.
Pro tip: How do you know that Healthy Human bottles are safe? First of all, we use 18/8 food-grade stainless steel in our products, commonly used within the food and drink industry. The number 18/8 stands for the percentages of chromium and nickel in the steel. The 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel reinforce the strength and durability of the stainless steel. The result is a product that eliminates rust, corrosion, stains and metal odors and tastes impacting your drinks.
Insulated stainless steel bottles come in a wide array of colors, so you can mix and match them with your outfits. Some have a matte, opaque finish while others come in a shiny shellac-like finish. Check out the bright solids, stylish fades, marble and wood grain designs offered by Healthy Human.
Depending on the brand, insulated water bottles have a great price point, considering their durability. For instance, Healthy Human Steins start at $22.99 for a 16 oz bottle.
Heavier than plastic, hand wash only if vacuum insulated
While stainless steel insulated water bottles are not as heavy glass, they are also not as light as plastic. If you need something ultra-lightweight, you might consider other options.
To protect the integrity of the vacuum insulation design of these water bottles, you’ll need to hand wash them and let them air dry with the lid off.
A soft-bristle bottle brush makes hand washing easy. However, if your bottle has sharp interior corners, it may be hard to clean the bottle even with the bottle brush. All Healthy Human water bottles were designed with few interior corners for maximum cleaning ease.
Pro tip: Here are the Use Care Guides for Healthy Human vacuum insulated products, and if you’re looking for cleaning tips for stainless steel, check out our blog post titled: How to Thoroughly Clean your Stainless Steel Bottle.
Pros: Lightweight, affordable
Aluminum is very lightweight, so it’s a great alternative to plastic bottles, when you need to shave off every ounce of weight.
Again, as a cheap material to produce, aluminum bottles will not break your budget.
Cons: Interior lining may pose health risks, flavors cling to lining, less durable than stainless steel
Aluminum bottles require a lining, so the metal does not contact any food or beverages. This is because aluminum can emit toxic chemicals, which renders food and drinks unsafe to eat or drink. Most of the linings used in aluminum bottles are made with plastics and resins that contain the chemical BPA. This chemical has various negative health risks, especially for children, as mentioned earlier in the section on plastic water bottles.
The other downside to the interior lining that aluminum bottles contain is that traces of the flavors of your drinks will cling to the interior of your bottle. If you fill your bottle with iced tea, for instance, the next smoothie you make might end up tasting bitter. Of course, no one likes to taste the residue of previous beverages in their bottle. If you choose an aluminum bottle, you may want to reserve it strictly for use with water.
Because aluminum is a lightweight metal, it dents more easily than stainless steel. However, an aluminum water bottle will not likely break if you drop it.
As the world becomes increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of plastic, many consumers are seeking alternatives to traditional plastic bottles. Biodegradable plastics, made from plant-based materials, offer a promising solution to this issue. These plastics break down in a shorter period of time with the help of industrial composting facilities, reducing their impact on the environment.
However, finding top-quality biodegradable plastic bottles can be a challenge. In this blog post, we will explore where to buy biodegradable plastic bottles and evaluate the best options on the market based on sustainability, safety, quality, and value. Read on to learn more about how we chose the best biodegradable plastic bottles, or jump straight to our top picks.
Many plastic bottle brands on the market today claim to be biodegradable, but the materials used and how they manufacture their products are not completely transparent. This may overwhelm you and lead to you purchasing a less-than-sustainable bottle. To help you find the right ones, we scoured the market to find top brands and evaluated each biodegradable bottle to ensure we only recommend products that meet our standards of the following criteria:
We chose items that are free of toxins and other potentially harmful chemicals like BPA, BPS, and phthalates. We also ensured that the materials used for our recommendations were completely biodegradable and met biodegradability standards. We also chose plastic bottles produced from eco-friendly and biodegradable materials. These materials are used to create products that have the same features as traditional plastic bottles, but have a lower environmental impact. Unlike traditional plastic, these bottles are made with renewable resources and can fully biodegrade without releasing harmful chemicals. Examples of these materials include:
We made sure to only recommend biodegradable plastic bottles that are durable and can meet or exceed the quality of traditional plastic bottles. We thoroughly evaluated each bottle’s volume, durability, and usability, and we carefully reviewed the overall user experience of each bottle on our list.
We researched each brand’s manufacturing process to make sure the products are produced in an ethical and sustainable manner. We also checked for their participation in any programs or projects that benefit the environment or their communities.
Here’s a list of our top recommendations for the best biodegradable plastic bottles.
Biodegradable Plastic Bottles
Top Picks
Source: Tyler/Amazon
Elite Jet’s biodegradable plastic bottle is made of food-grade, toxin-free polyethylene treated with a special bio-additive substance that attracts microorganisms to consume the plastic once discarded, making it completely biodegradable within just 3 months to 5 years depending on the industrial composting facility.
This bottle is made for outdoor activities, and is particularly suited for cycling since it fits perfectly in a bicycle bottle carrier. It features a push-pull nozzle that provides a fast flow with just a few squeezes. We love how light this bottle is, making it easy to carry around and put in your backpack’s side pocket when going hiking, running, or just taking a walk in the park.
Elite Jet’s biodegradable plastic bottle is 100% compostable, so it is important to send it to an industrial composting facility at the end of its life, rather than just throwing it out!
Elite promotes transparency in their company and manufacturing process by releasing their company code of ethics to the public where they explain their ethical principles and practices, as well as their environmental commitments and goals.
Looking for a different color and size? Elite Jet biodegradable plastic bottles are also available in yellow, black, red, and transparent colors that are available in 350ml, 750ml, and 950ml.
Source: SuburbanMom/Amazon
Water-To-Go’s bioplastic water purifier bottle is made of ethically sourced sugarcane. It has a built-in filter that can purify water for up to three months, allowing it to purify up to 200 liters of water. While the Water-To-Go bottle is 100% recyclable, only the filter is 100% biodegradable, so it is important to send this bottle to the recycling and composting facilities after it has reached its end of life.
This water purifier bottle allows you to easily scoop water from lakes or streams and convert it into potable, safe drinking water, which is perfect if you run out of drinking water when hiking, trekking, camping, or going into any outdoor activity. We are astounded by the filter’s ability to remove viruses, germs, parasites, chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, and even microplastics without pumping or putting purifying chemicals in the water. Furthermore, this bottle has an ergonomic shape for a firm and comfortable grip.
Water-To-Go is also collaborating with Just a Drop to provide clean water to remote communities all over the world.
Looking for a different color? Water-To-Go bioplastic water purifier bottle is also available in brown, purple, black, blue, red, and green options. You can also get this bottle on Amazon.
Source: Nadya/Amazon
Simpl’s wheat straw fiber water bottle is sturdy and durable, giving you the same quality as hard plastic bottles or tumblers. This bottle, however, can withstand extreme temperatures, making it ideal for your morning coffee or a refreshing afternoon cold drink. We love this biodegradable plastic bottle’s leakproof lid and light weight, making it easy to carry around or toss it in your bag. Additionally, Simpl biodegradable plastic bottle features a bottle leash so you can hook it in your backpack or tote bag for more convenience.
Wheat straw fiber is fully compostable, so make sure to send this bottle to an industrial composting facility when you’re done with it.
Simpl also offers a bamboo fiber biodegradable plastic bottle on Amazon.
Source: Julia C./ S’wheat
S’wheat’s plant-based bottle is made of 100% natural fiber from bamboo and wheat straw. It is extremely durable and can handle both warm and cold drinks. The sliding lock lid is fully leak-proof, so you don’t have to worry about any spillage when you put it inside your bag. This biodegradable plastic bottle also includes a carabiner, allowing you to quickly clip it outside your bag for more convenient use.
S’wheat bottle is 100% compostable, so it can be decomposed in an industrial composting facility.
Additionally, with each purchase of their biodegradable bottle, S’wheat plants a tree, and the growth progress can be tracked. We find this a very nice and unique addition to their sustainability mission.
If you want a different color of this biodegradable plastic bottle, the S’wheat plant-based bottle is also available in blue, black, green, and oat colors.
Source: Twitter/UrthPact
UrthPact offers biodegradable water and juice bottles similar to regular disposable plastic bottles. These bottles are entirely made of plant-based PLA, including the caps, making them 100% compostable in industrial composting facilities. These biodegradable and compostable plastic bottles are as durable as conventional plastic bottles, but are more eco-friendly because they are carbon-neutral. Plant-based PLA is also non-toxic and does not contain any harmful chemicals or additives, making it a safer choice for food and beverage packaging.
Interested in UrthPact biodegradable and compostable bottles? You can inquire using their contact form.
Top Picks
If you’re still unsure about which product to choose, let our top picks help you make a decision.
For only $7.99, the Elite Jet biodegradable plastic bottle is the most affordable of our recommendations.
With Water-To-Go bioplastic water purifier bottle’s ability to convert stream or lake water into safe drinking water by removing viruses, germs, parasites, chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, and microplastics, it is without a doubt the biodegradable bottle with the best feature in our picks.
S’wheat and Water-To-Go are dedicated to expanding their sustainability and ethical efforts beyond just creating biodegradable substitutes for plastic bottles. They are actively involved in initiatives such as reforestation and providing access to clean water in remote communities.