“A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute, and the number will jump another 20% by 2021,” reported the Guardian exactly four years ago. This staggering plastic waste never decays, and it’s always increasing faster and faster at a rate that feels infinite. Meanwhile, our planet, the only space we have to house this plastic waste, is incredibly finite. Anyone could fly around the globe in a few days with a little hustle. Sure, plastic might be recyclable, but The Guardian noted that only half of all PET plastic bottles are currently collected for recycling, and just 7% of new bottles are made from reconstituted materials.
If you’re still drinking water from plastic bottles, it’s time to disengage.
The fault for excessive waste doesn’t fall solely on the consumers’ shoulders. Not directly at least. One headline from the BBC reported on the direct correlation between consumer tastes and corporate choices: “Coca-Cola will not ditch single-use plastic bottles because consumers still want them, the firm’s head of sustainability has told the BBC.” Individual shopping habits do matter, and adopting a reusable water bottle does make a difference. In fact, there’s even more reasons beyond eco-ism that makes a glass water bottle the best choice for you to pick up today. With so many great glass water bottles on the market, it only takes one tiny drop to create a ripple.
It doesn’t make much sense to avoid the pitfalls of wasteful consumerism by purchasing something that will eventually become waste itself.
What Makes Glass Superior?
Sustainable water bottles come in all kinds of materials, but glass always reigns amongst the most ideal. Understated, timeless, and always elegant in its own right, this material often avoids the pitfalls of becoming a performative purchase that’s less about eco-ism and more about egoism. Here’s a few further solid reasons why you should consider glass for your next go-to water bottle.
Taste
In my home, I keep tap water in a glass bottle first and foremost because I think it tastes better. While there’s not a wealth of scientific evidence to back up this claim, there is the empirical phenomenon that people across message boards have returned to this question time after time to discuss why drinks taste better from glass bottles. Some might say it’s because glass water bottles don’t leach or stain, but we all know the truth. They just do.
Recyclable
It doesn’t make much sense to avoid the pitfalls of wasteful consumerism by purchasing something that will eventually become waste itself. Of all the materials available for water bottles on the market today, glass stands apart as one of the most environmentally friendly options. It’s relatively clean to make glass, a simple alchemy of sand, soda ash, and limestone.
Sustainability blog Ecogradable notes that while glass is degradable, it is not biodegradable. Biodegradable means that microorganisms eat the material, thus breaking it down. Glass does naturally degrade though, breaking into microscopic pieces that pose no harm to the surrounding environment. The blog also notes that “Glass is one of the few materials that can be endlessly recycled without suffering in quality,” so long as you honor proper guidelines.
As you will see, many glass water bottles on the market today come with less eco-friendly silicone sleeves. It’s true that there isn’t a perfect science to affecting positive change. While glass might not prove an absolutely foolproof option for consumer containers that can’t harm the planet, it makes a great start on the path, bringing many benefits. Keep your ear to the street for all the exciting further alternatives hitting the market every day.
Style
Something else we all know innately, I think: Glass is just sexy. It’s shiny in an iridescent way, it feels cool to the mouth with no metallic aftertaste. The clink of two glass Coca Cola bottles over a car hood far out does what an aluminum can could achieve in any aesthetic sense. Maybe you have deep seated opinions about the difference in quality between popping champagne bottles built from glass versus plastic. Skyscrapers careen towards the heavens with a flash off their glass-plated facades. From the satisfying heft of its weight to the slope of its surface, glass undoubtedly ranks the sleekest material most anything could be made from.
The Best Glass Water Bottles to Buy Today
We haven’t just outlined any old glass water bottles for you—we’ve rounded up the most (actually!) eco-friendly options. That means minimal plastic or metal parts here. Where possible, these bottles even include further sustainability additions. They are simple, but there are subtleties in sizes and shapes. Happy hydrating!
Yomious 20oz Glass Bottle with Bamboo Lid
Most glass water bottles are made with borosilicate glass. This type of very durable glass utilizes silica and boron trioxide as the main glass-forming constituents, a combination which renders the glass more resistant to hot or cold temperatures and thus less likely to break. This streamlined glass water bottle by Yomious comes from the same stock, and continually ranks one of the most sustainable glass bottles on the market. It does come with a silicone sleeve to protect the glass and lend a colorful skin. Its bamboo lid is both biodegradable and leak-proof. Aside from this piece, you can also stick this bottle in the dishwasher for an easy clean.
Contigo Purity Glass Water Bottle
This extremely affordable glass water bottle by Contigo stands apart as one of the few glass water bottles on the market to completely omit plastic parts. While Contigo does incorporate silicone and steel, they also skip all plastic. Instead, this bottle offers a leak-proof lid that’s tethered to the bottle—that means less likelihood of losing it. Even better, it features a wide mouthed opening for fast and easy hydration. Of course, the most sustainable option would include buying this water bottle anywhere other than Amazon, but the Purity water bottle enjoys so much well-deserved love that it often sells out across other outlets. Available in a range of colors, this easy glass water bottle will quickly become a staple throughout your daily routine. One step at a time.
Glass Bottle with Silicone Sleeve by Squireme
Design platform AMEICO collects a variety of cool products in modern silhouettes for everyone who likes their objects to have some more style. Designed in Switzerland, this glass water bottle by Squireme bucks the status quo with its square shape, sharp without looking too suspiciously like a flask. This durable glass water bottle comes equipped with the industry-standard silicone case, but beneath the hood you’ll find a construction that delights even further. Squireme builds this bottle from thick borosilicate glass but it still comes out more lightweight than rest of its competitors. This glass water bottle even features a sturdy cap that feels safer than other leak-proof models on the market.
25oz Glass Water Bottle by Soma
NYC-based Soma affirms their ultra-commitment to sustainability. “Soma joined the community for business as a force for good in August 2014,” their site explains. They are a specific type of business built as a force for good. “B-corporations translate ideas into action, and are reviewed on standards of transparency, accountability, and performance.” Their glass water bottle holds more than most others on the market, storing a whopping 25oz. It packs this punch with elegance, a simple and sloping shape with only half a silicone sleeve to keep it safe. Up top a natural bamboo cap and soft-grip silicone lid round out the streamlined user experience of sipping from this glass water bottle you can feel good about.
Syndicate 20oz Glass Water Bottle by Ello
Chicago-based brand Ello offers another favorite for glass aficionados with their Syndicate glass water bottle, large enough to hold the equivalent of a large coffee. Rather than wasting all the silicone of a sleeve with full coverage, their checkered approach might just minimize the surface area. Furthermore, sustainability blog Treehugger writes that Ello “partners with H2OpenDoors, which installs solar-powered water filtration systems in communities without access to a safe water source.” On the ergonomic front, their lid differs from most options out there—rather than screwing on, it flips off with an easy one touch system. This dishwasher safe glass water bottle even comes with a lifetime warranty, courtesy of the very passionate people at Ello!
Tronco 20oz Glass Tumbler with Straw
Everybody likes something with a little style. Glassware manufacturer Tronco offers another new shape for your reusable glass bottle. Their 20oz glass tumbler comes with the perfunctory bamboo lid and silicone sleeve. Less perfunctory, however, is the flat top and wider body that helps this glass bottle feel a little bit more leisurely, great for all kinds of weekend sips while kicking it at home. This bottle is only top-rack dishwasher safe, and it also comes with a handy 360 warranty for the first full year after purchase.
Glass Water Bottle by Laird Superfood
Where most glass bottles out there err on the larger size, closer to the 20oz mark, Laird Superfood offers a smaller option for anyone looking for a more compact water bottle. At 13.5oz, this little lifesaver works great for mixing super potent shakes and carrying a little extra sip for the road. This water bottle also comes with a silicone sleeve for insulation and protection, but aside from that its simple design skips the frills that alter its sustainability. Check out that cap, the lid’s appendage is made from rope rather than silicone, emphasizing this glass water bottle’s rugged air. Ready for the road!
