Why Are Glass Water Bottles Better?

If you haven’t noticed, we heart glass water bottles. Frankly, glass is superior to plastic and stainless steel in every way, at least in our humble (and very well-researched) opinion. It isn’t just because it’s really really good looking, 100% dishwasher safe, or because it’s CLEAR so you can see if a bee got in there before you drink from it. And it isn’t just because it doesn’t taste of metal or the last ten drinks you put in it. In the matchup between the main materials, glass slays in the following categories: eco-friendliness, durability, purity, versatility and style. Basically, it’s a straight-up 10 out of 10 and clearly a hard yes for us. Here are some specifics re: why glass water bottles are simply better.

• Glass is Eco-Friendly—Because it’s made of a natural, plentiful resource (sand that gets melted into a liquid) and is 100 percent recyclable, glass outshines plastic in the eco-friendly showdown. In the United States, about 3 million tons of glass are recycled per year, accounting for about a quarter of all recycling. Just think: all of that material is going straight back into the rotation again and again! Plus, unlike your typical sauce jar or glass milk jug, your glass water bottle will get thousands of uses before it even sees a single recycling bin. 
• Glass is Longer-Lasting and Better Quality—Glass takes a lot longer to break down than plastic, which means two things for your glass bottle of H2O: it’s gonna taste better (when plastic breaks down, it releases chemicals into your water that make it taste bad) and it’s going to stay in great shape longer. You can use it longer because it won't leach plastic into your water, it doesn't interact with your water, it's not porous and is inert (meaning it doesn't react to whatever you put in it). Plastic does not maintain its integrity and will break down, but glass will maintain its integrity for the long-term. Also btw, how many metal water bottles have you seen totally thrashed with scratches and dents or unable to stand because they've been dropped once or twice? Reusables that look like trash end up being trash. Your glass water bottle is a smart investment. It won't dent, scratch or ding, it'll look pretty for the long haul and it’ll save you some serious cash over time, especially if you use a protective silicone sleeve to keep it safe. 

• Glass is Chemical Free and Inert —Remember how we said plastic breaks down over time, releasing chemicals into your water? This is especially true when plastic is exposed to extreme heat. The chemicals that are leached can be toxic in high doses, and some have even been linked to hormone dysfunction and other serious health issues. Many of the chemicals in plastic are known endocrine disruptors that alter our hormones and have been linked to a variety of health issues including cancer, heart problems, obesity and diabetes and impacts to the reproductive, immune and nervous systems. It’s definitely not something to mess around with. Aluminum bottles are a no-go, too. Aluminum is a neurotoxin, and although these bottles are usually lined with plastic, if the plastic is in any way compromised, you could ingest aluminum, which, news flash, is dangerous.
• Glass Keeps Water Pure—For all the reasons we mentioned already, glass delivers the most authentic hydration experience, free of any unintentional additives that could make you sick. That’s because it’s non-permeable and doesn’t absorb odors or decompose. When compared with stainless steel, glass water bottles maintain the flavor of water better (tbh, it’s more like a lack of flavor). We’ve all experienced that gross metallic taste from a metal water bottle and we’re not into it. (We would never drink our wine out of metal, so why would we drink water from it?) Also, glass bottles are also a lot less likely to stain and can be sterilized in boiling water if need be (or, spoiler alert, in the dishwasher even daily if you so choose...keep reading…).

• Glass is More Versatile—Given that you can use glass for all kinds of beverages—including your peppermint tea, hot cocoa, or a manhattan, if that’s what you’re into—it definitely wins in the versatility category, too. Glass is the perfect insulator for hot and cold beverages, so it’s equally useful for trips to the gym when you want to keep your water cool, as it is to keep your triple, venti, soy, no-foam latte hot (we see you and your simpatico complicated order, girl). Serious heat-resistance also means you can blast your glass water bottles with hot water when you’re giving them their daily scrub-down or sticking them in the dishwasher.
• Glass is dishwasher-safe—Hello best news ever. This makes your water bottles easier to clean than metal or plastic bottles and ensures that it's truly clean and sterilized. As much as we do appreciate the occasional hand-wash, it’s so much easier to just toss your bottle in the dishwasher at the end of the day.
• Glass is Better-Looking—Especially when you pick a style that’s actually cute. There’s a reason why fashion icons like Gisele Bundchen and Minka Kelly sip from glass water bottles (and not just any old glass water bottles, by the way). These trendy water vessels not only help you stay hydrated, but they also elevate your whole look and vibe. 

The Queen of All Water Bottles

When it comes to finding the best reusable water bottles, your search should start and end with glass (I mean, and we have some serious opinions as to which). When you toss these essentials in the rotation, you can expect them to outlive a plastic or stainless steel version tenfold. Coupled with a lower environmental impact and the undeniable omg-these-are-so-pretty factor, glass is the obvious queen of the water bottle kingdom.