Reusable travel mugs: stainless steel vs plastic vs glass(3)

Disadvantages

Taste: Like stainless steel, plastic bottles can affect taste and smell by absorbing certain liquid particles. This is particularly true for hot liquids.

Leaching: Plastic bottles have a bad reputation for BPA leaching. BPA is a chemical linked to cancer and other diseases, and it is used to make many plastics. Most reputable companies will ensure that their bottles are made without BPA - but the risk remains. Before buying a plastic bottle, research the company and its manufacturing process.

Glass

Glass reusable bottles are not a common choice due to their fragility, but they are an environmentally friendly and healthy option for home use.

Pros

Flavour: glass tends to retain the purest of flavours, which is why most wines and spirits are bottled in glass.

Availability: glass is dishwasher safe and does not degrade over time. It is suitable for hot or cold drinks and will not absorb odours or flavours.

Disadvantages

Fragility: Glass is fragile and brittle. Because of this, many places restrict the use of glass bottles. You may not be able to take a glass water bottle into a gym, sports facility, swimming pool, or even a park hiking trail.

Production: Although glass is a more sustainable production process, it has a similar carbon footprint to PET plastic bottles. Recycling 50% of the energy used to make a new glass bottle is a very high expense. However, despite the energy used, glass is made from naturally abundant materials such as sand, limestone and soda ash.

Recycling: Although 80% of glass is recyclable, most Americans do not recycle glass as fast as they should. In fact, the recycling rate for glass in the United States is only 33%. In addition, glass takes 4,000 years to decompose, which means it can sit in landfills for centuries.

Which is the right one?

You need to choose the reusable glass that best suits your needs. If you like sports and exercise, you will want a more durable cup, such as a stainless steel or plastic cup. If you want to keep the flavour of your drink in your own home, a glass mug may be a good solution.

We usually recommend stainless steel as the first choice. It is the most durable and practical material with no obvious drawbacks. It is the most sustainable long-term option and the safest for your family and home.

Conclusion

You drink water and other liquids every day. You don't want to fill your body with harmful toxins and bacteria just from the bottles you use.