Looking for BPA-Free Plastic Glasses? Here are Three Simple Ways to Tell
A popular plastic, polycarbonate, has been the focus of recent media stories questioning whether the chemical BPA, used in this particular plastic, is safe for use in plastic glasses and dishes.
In truth, the facts, science, pros, and cons behind the BPA question could fill a lengthy article. But if you’re a concerned shopper, you probably aren’t too into scientific arguments… you just want to know how to find BPA-free plastic glasses. Unfortunately, the media reports about polycarbonate and other types of plastic are confusing and sometimes downright wrong — making it tough to choose plastic tableware with confidence.
Happily, we can offer a little peace of mind. There are many different plastics used to make quality plastic dishes and glasses, and most are, and have always been, BPA-Free! The video we made for our sister site, KidSmartLiving, explains everything you need to know when shopping, plus we’ve highlighted the details below.
Tip 1: If it’s not polycarbonate, it’s BPA-free
Among the many different plastics used to make glasses, cups, and dishes, only ONE contains BPA, and that’s polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is FDA-approved for food use and is usually found in better quality, unbreakable, dishwasher-safe plastic tableware. It’s often clear or tinted, feels rigid, and appears glass-like.
But it’s not the only type of plastic used in plastic tableware. Acrylic, an acrylic blend called SAN, Tritan co-polyester, and even corn-based bioplastics are all used to make clear, glass-like items similar to polycarbonate. Plus, opaque plastics like melamine and polypropylene are used to make a variety of dinnerware. Unlike polycarbonate, these other plastics are, and always have been, BPA-free. So, if the BPA question worries you, look for items made of plastics other than polycarbonate.
Tip 2: How to tell if an item is made of polycarbonate… or not
Identifying plastic tableware by the label can be discouraging since items are not always marked by plastic type. Your best bet is to shop somewhere that clearly identifies the type of plastic used in products like we do on our website.
If you’re shopping in a store where product information is scarce, first look for items labeled “BPA-free.” With media attention on BPA, many manufacturers are clearly labeling their non-polycarbonate plastic items “BPA-Free.” These include acrylic, SAN, or Tritan for clear items, and rigid melamine or rubbery polypropylene for solid or semi-opaque items.
If not labeled BPA-Free, look at the care instructions. In clear and tinted plastics, acrylic items are generally marked “Hand-wash,” or “Top-rack Dishwasher-safe,” while most SAN items are marked “Dishwasher-safe” and occasionally “Microwave-safe.” But these plastics aren’t usually labeled “Unbreakable.” Unlike polycarbonate, acrylic and SAN can break.
Solid-color plastic are rarely made of polycarbonate. Solid-color plastic dishes are more commonly made from melamine and marked “Not for Microwave Use.” Polypropylene is also used for solid and semi-opaque dishes and is easily identified by its rubbery feel.
The only clear tableware plastics you’ll find labeled “Unbreakable, Dishwasher-Safe” and occasionally “Microwave-safe” are Tritan and polycarbonate. Luckily for shoppers, being BPA-free is a major selling point for Tritan, so these items are always labeled as such. If a clear or tinted glass-like item is labeled “Unbreakable, Dishwasher-Safe” but is not marked “BPA-Free,” it’s probably polycarbonate.
Tip 3: Don’t count on the numbers… because they don’t count for identifying these plastics
Contrary to some media reports, the recycling numbers printed on plastic items don’t specifically identify polycarbonate or BPA-free plastics. In fact, it’s the reverse. Almost all non-disposable tableware plastics fall under the same catchall #7 recycling code, which simply means “Other.”
“Other” plastics are usually durable and have a longer useful life than disposable plastics, so they’re not collected in most recycling programs. These widely different #7 plastics include acrylic, SAN, Tritan, bio-plastics, melamine — and polycarbonate.
Even more confusing, recycling codes aren’t required for “Other” plastics and many of these items don’t carry a recycling mark at all. So, knowing how to tell these plastics apart, or shopping with a reliable seller is really much more helpful than relying on the numbers when it comes to buying BPA-free plastic dinnerware.
Check out these best-selling BPA-Free plastic glasses and dishes from several reliable manufacturers, just click to see more information or to order from Amazon.
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Bentley Plastic Glasses – Small 11oz. Tumbler
$3.95 -
Bentley Plastic Glasses – Medium 16-oz Glass
$4.15 -
Bentley Plastic Glasses – Large 20-oz Tumbler
$4.25 -
Bentley Plastic Dishes – Dinner Plate
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Bentley Plastic Dishes – Side Plate
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Bentley Plastic Dishes – Cereal & Salad Bowl
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Bentley Plastic Drinkware – 2-Qt. Pitcher with Lid
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Bentley Plastic Tableware – Round Serving Tray
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Bentley ExtremeWare Plastic Dishes – Dinner Plate
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Bentley ExtremeWare Plastic Dishes – Side Plate
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Bentley ExtremeWare Plastic Dishes – Cereal Bowl
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Bentley Collegiate Plastic Glasses Set/4 – 16oz
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Bentley Collegiate Plastic Glasses Set/4 – 20oz
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Bentley Collegiate Plastic Pitcher – 2qt.
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Sale!
Tervis Tumbler, 16-Ounce, Clear
$11.99$8.95 -
Sale!
Tervis 12 ounce Clear Tumbler Set of Four
$44.00$36.25 -
Sale!
Tervis Wavy Tumbler, 10-Ounce, Clear
$14.29$9.99 -
Sale!
Stackable Premium Quality Plastic 8oz Wine Glass – Set of 8
$24.99$17.99 -
Stackable Premium Quality Plastic 15oz All-Purpose Glass – Set of 6
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Bellevue Break-resistant Plastic 20oz Restaurant-quality Beverage Tumblers | Set of 16
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Sale!
Rhapsody Premium Quality Plastic 12oz Water Tumblers | set of 8 in 4 Assorted Colors
$14.99$12.97 -
Sale!
| Set of 16 | Spectrum Unbreakable Plastic 10oz Kids Juice Tumblers in 8 Assorted Colors
$13.99$11.97 -
Essex Unbreakable Plastic 30oz Iced Tea Tumbler – Set of 8 Multicolor
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12pc Newport Unbreakable Plastic Cup Tumblers in 4 Assorted Colors, four 10oz juice, four 20oz water and four 32oz iced tea
$13.99 -
Sale!
18pc Ellie Kids Plastic Tumblers, Snack Bowls & Snack Plates in 6 Colors
$19.99$13.99 -
Cambridge Plate, Bowl and Tumbler Dinnerware 12 Piece Set Blue
$14.99 -
Sale!
8pc Clarus Tritan Unbreakable Plastic Tumblers, four 14oz rocks and four 16oz water
$29.99$25.97 -
Clarus Tritan Unbreakable Margarita Glass 18oz.
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Clarus Tritan Unbreakable Plastic Wine Glass 12 oz. by “U.S. Acrylic, LLC”
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Bistro Premium Quality Plastic 20oz Water Tumbler | Set of 6
$17.99 -
Bistro Premium Quality Plastic 15oz Rocks Tumbler | Set of 6
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Optix Break-resistant Plastic 20oz Water Cup Tumbler – Set of 8 Clear
$16.99 -
Optix Break-resistant Plastic 26oz Iced Tea Cup Tumbler – Set of 8 in 4 Assorted Colors
$17.99 -
Sale!
Classic Premium Quality Plastic 24oz Iced Tea Tumbler – Set of 6
$24.99$18.99 -
Premium Quality Plastic 16oz Beer Pint Glass | Set of 4
$12.99 -
Luxe Premium Quality Plastic 14oz Rocks Tumbler | Set of 4
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Sale!
8pc Classic Break-resistant Restaurant-quality SAN Plastic Tumblers, four 14-ounce rocks and four 18-ounce water
$24.99$19.99 -
Emme Premium Quality Plastic 16oz Water Tumbler | Set of 6
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Sale!
Rhapsody Premium Quality Plastic 12oz Water Tumblers | set of 8 in Clear
$14.99$12.97 -
Sale!
Café Break-Resistant Plastic 20oz Restaurant-Quality Beverage Tumblers | Set of 16 in 4 Assorted Colors
$26.99$17.99 -
Bellevue Break-resistant Plastic 20oz Restaurant-quality Beverage Tumblers | Set of 16 in 4 Assorted Colors
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Sale!
Splash Premium Quality Plastic Plastic 28oz Iced Tea Cup Tumblers | Set of 8 in 4 Assorted Colors
$16.99$15.97 -
Sale!
Rhapsody Premium Quality Plastic 8oz Juice Tumblers | set of 8 in 4 Assorted Colors
$12.99$10.97 -
Etched Fish Pattern Premium Quality Plastic 20oz Water Tumbler | Set of 6 in 2 Assorted Colors
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Emme Premium Quality Plastic 16oz Water Tumbler | Set of 4 Blue
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Hampton Premium Quality Plastic 28oz Iced Tea Tumbler | set of 8 in 4 Assorted Colors
$14.99 -
Stackable Premium Quality Plastic 8oz Wine Glass – Set of 8 in 2 Colors
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Cambridge Plate, Bowl and Tumbler Dinnerware 12 Piece Set Purple
$14.99