Blockhuette Stainless Steel Water Bottle $25.97 – $32.97
Stainless steel with steel/bamboo cap
Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Bottle $29.83
Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle $34.97
Silicone straw replacement here
Stainless steel replacement straw here and here
Vinglace Glass-Lined Tumbler $34.95
Glass liner, stainless exterior, plastic (Tritan) lid (can be removed)
Klean Kanteen Plastic-Free Collection $32.95 – $44.95
Stainless steel with bamboo cap
GoodCuppa Artisan Glass Take-Away Cups $55 – $75
Hand-blown borosilicate double-walled glass cup with glass lid and silicone seal
School-Friendly
Often kids are told to bring water bottles as part of their back-to-school supplies. But many schools also ban glass and stainless steel water bottles, leaving us with slim options that aren’t plastic. So we have to kind of get creative. Here are some ideas and workarounds to consider based on your school’s policy. You might also verify with your school whether this is actually a requirement or just a suggested/allowed item. Drinking fountains should always be an option.
Blue Ginko Collapsible Silicone Water Bottle 16.9 oz $16.99
Plastic lid with silicone bottle
Take Today 20 oz Silicone Collapsible Water Bottle $17.99
Mayim Silicone Oversized Water Bottle $24.99 (as of the writing of this page, these are all sold out, but some can be found on second-hand and third-party sites.)
Chicco Duo Baby Bottle $23.99 for two-pack and Chicco Insulated Flip-Top Straw Cup $11.99 for two-pack
Take the flip-top lid (plastic lid components but straw is silicone) and put it on the baby bottle. The bottle is plastic exterior with a glass interior. Helps minimize plastic and keep school admins happy. (Hopefully, check with your school.)
Tritan Plastic
If you have no other options, you may have to resort to using a tritan plastic bottle. Tritan is a type of copolyester plastic commonly used in reusable water bottles because it is clear, lightweight, and shatter-resistant. It is marketed as being free of BPA and other bisphenols, making it a popular alternative to older plastics like polycarbonate. While Tritan is generally considered safer than traditional plastics in terms of hormone-disrupting chemicals, it is still a plastic and can contribute to microplastic exposure over time, especially with repeated use, heat, or wear.
To mitigate microplastic exposure:
Tritan bottles are best used with cold or room-temperature liquids. Avoid putting them in the dishwasher unless the manufacturer explicitly says they’re top-rack safe, and never leave them in a hot car. Try not to use them for acidic drinks (like citrus or sports drinks), which can accelerate wear. Replace the bottle if you notice scratches, cloudiness, or wear, since damaged surfaces shed more microplastics. Use Tritan bottles when required for school and switch to glass or stainless steel when you’re at home. And remember that any reduction in chemical exposure is good!
Here are some studies that perhaps you could print out and send to your school to try to enact change:
Immunomodulatory effects of Tritan copolyester on human neutrophils https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41667017/
Effect of Common Consumer Washing Methods on Bisphenol A Release in Tritan Drinking Bottles https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34381285/
Estrogenic chemicals often leach from BPA-free plastic products that are replacements for BPA-containing polycarbonate products https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24886603/
And here are some studies to hopefully ease your mind a little bit if you’re required to us Tritan plastic bottles:
Lack of androgenicity and estrogenicity of the three monomers used in Eastman’s Tritan™ copolyesters https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22343188/
Polyester monomers lack ability to bind and activate both androgenic and estrogenic receptors as determined by in vitro and in silico methods https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25455886/