Shopping for BPA-Free Plastic Glasses? Here’s What to Know

There are many different types of plastic glasses, but only one type of drinkware plastic contains BPA – polycarbonate. Glasses made from other plastics are considered BPA-free because they don’t contain the chemical bisphenol-A, called BPA. We’ll show you how to spot BPA-free plastic glasses whether you’re shopping in-store or online.

BPA-free plastic is any plastic that’s not polycarbonate. It’s really that easy. But here’s the challenge – polycarbonate plastic glasses look and feel just like many BPA-free drinkware products.

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Retailers and online sellers carry plenty of products like BPA-free plastic glasses in all sizes and shapes, plus water bottles, sippy cups, plastic dishes, and storage containers. Here’s how to identify products made of BPA-free plastics when shopping.

Most BPA-free plastic glasses, dishes and household goods are labeled “BPA-free” as this is a big selling point. If ordering online, look for “BPA-free” in the product description of details. Again, this is something reputable sellers who know their products will highlight.

Tritan and polycarbonate are the only plastic glasses that will be labeled both “Unbreakable” and “Dishwasher-Safe.” However, being BPA-free is a major selling point for Tritan, so Tritan products highlight BPA-free on the label.

Acrylic items are generally marked “Hand-wash,” or “Top-rack Dishwasher-safe.” SAN items say “Dishwasher-safe.” But neither will say “Unbreakable.” Unlike polycarbonate and Tritan, acrylic and SAN can break.

Solid-color plastic dishes are made from either melamine or polypropylene, and both are BPA-free. Melamine is very rigid, while polypropylene is softer and more rubbery. It’s easy to tell the difference between the two.

Here’s a closer look at the five BPA-free plastics commonly used to make plastic glasses and tableware and examples of each.

Tritan plastic is the closest competitor to polycarbonate in terms of glass-like clarity and performance. Products made from Tritan plastic are every bit as durable, unbreakable, and dishwasher-safe as polycarbonate items — and deliver the added perk of being completely BPA-free.

Reliable Tritan drinkware brands include Michley, Cruvina, and others listed below, plus look for Pogo and Nalgene for BPA free water bottles.

Like Tritan, polypropylene plastic is – and always has been – BPA-free. Unlike Tritan and polycarbonate, polypropylene plastic glasses aren’t perfectly clear and may be slightly rubbery in feel. If you notice a rubbery feel, you can be sure the products are made from BPA-free polypropylene. These items are often labeled “Unbreakable” and “Dishwasher- and Microwave-safe.”

Top BPA-free polypropylene plastic brands include US Acrylic, Preserve Everyday, CreativeWare, and of course, Tupperware.

Most Tupperware plastic products are made from rubbery polypropylene, so those are BPA-free. However, Tupperware used various plastics over the years, so there may be some polycarbonate Tupperware items floating around.

Melamine plastic is another common BPA-free plastic generally used for dishes and dinnerware. Melamine plastic tableware is always opaque and closely resembles ceramic and stoneware in look and feel. Melamine dishes are never clear or slightly transparent – always solid.

Ultra-durable melamine is the go-to plastic for many top plastic tableware brands.

BPA-free Acrylic and SAN plastic products can closely resemble polycarbonate items, but there are differences. Goods made from these plastics generally aren’t as durable, so they’re rarely listed as unbreakable. SAN is dishwasher safe, but acrylic will generally be labeled hand wash only.

If in doubt, read the product details or look the item up online if shopping in-store. Online sellers like Amazon and other websites usually list the material that goods are made from. If it says acrylic, SAN, or styrene, the item is BPA-free.

There are several top acrylic and SAN brands available on Amazon, and US Acrylic leads the pack, and most of the collection is Made in the USA.

Eco-friendly plastics are crafted from biodegradable “plastics” made from bamboo, corn, and even avocado pits. All of these bio-plastics are BPA-free, plus the manufacturers are very vocal about the makeup of their goods. So, you’ll definitely know if you stumble across these items in-store and online.

If biodegradable plastics sound intriguing, check out these innovative brands like Shopwithgreen and EKOBO.

Glass is another BPA-free option, and many top glassware brands offer surprisingly durable drinking glasses, food storage containers, and barware. Learn more about tempered glassware and other break-resistant glass alternatives to plastic in our unbreakable glassware review.

Speaking of labels, there is a BPA-free symbol, but not every manufacturer prints it onto their packaging or products yet. What you can’t rely on is the recycling code. Many BPA-free plastic glasses fall under the same code as polycarbonate.

In fact, almost all non-disposable tableware plastics fall under the same catchall #7 recycling code, which simply means “Other.”

“Other” plastics aren’t disposable, so they’re not collected in most recycling programs. Even more confusing, recycling codes aren’t required for “Other” plastics. Many don’t carry a recycling mark at all. Knowing how to tell these plastics apart using these tips above ensures you can spot BPA-free options.

Some researchers claim that exposure to BPA may be harmful to humans, though the FDA lists it as safe for consumer use. Honestly, the science and facts about the effects of BPA could fill a lengthy article. But if you prefer to err on the side of caution, it’s easy to eliminate BPA from your home.

I hope this review of the many BPA-free plastic alternatives helps you narrow down your shopping search. If you have any questions or BPA-free faves of your own, please share them in the comments below. Thanks for reading. Cheers! Krista