The controversy about plastic bags and plastic bottles has been going on for as long as we can remember. Some older folks will remember the times when soda and seltzer were sold in return glass bottles, and no one even thought about an alternative. As disposables became more popular, be it flatware or drinking bottles, this alternative became popular doing away with glass as the main receptacle of liquids in stores.

Yes, we are now officially called the disposable society and as much as conservationists try to campaign for green beliefs, we cannot seem to get away from throwing away our food and drink receptacles. Even holdovers such as Snapple brands who continue to bottle their drinks in glass cannot get their consumers to hold on to the glass bottles and those bottles are thrown away after a single use. It seems that plastic drinking containers are here to stay as people continue not to leave their homes without them.

There are different grades of both the exterior and interior of water bottles and we will try to find out exactly what the best dispensers for our personal thirst quenchers are. The most publicized three letters when it comes to plastic types is BPA.

What Exactly are BPA and BPA Free Plastics?

Since the 1950’s plastics have been made from the industrial chemical called BPA or Bisphenol A. This chemical is known to interrupt the way our endocrine system operates disrupting our body’s hormone operation. This chemical can intrude and harm organs such as the heart, the reproductive system and cause excessive weight gain in certain individuals. The harmful effects increase as the containers are heated or tampered with, which is why in the past we were told not to leave our plastic water filled bottles in the trunk of the car in warm weather. The storage of plastic water bottles in the car trunk was convenient for folks who would not have to remember to bring a water bottle with them when going on outings such as biking or exercising.

Since finding out that the chemical Bisphenolis unhealthy many plastic manufacturers have been producing products that do not contain BPA. and some states have prohibited the use of drinkware such as baby sippy cups and bottles that contain BPA. When you see BPA-free on the label of filled or empty plastic drinkware it certainly is a good and safe choice. Some cheaper brands of bottled water may still be made with BPA. and that may be just as much a worry as what type of water is inside the bottle.

How to Identify Which Plastic Units are BPA-Free

It is always pertinent to become knowledgeable in what plastic products are made of. In the past this was not required, and manufacturers could use different grades of plastic with different components, and no one would be the wiser. When glass containers were being discontinued folks were wary of buying their liquids in plastic but as glass was phased out there was little to be done for the consumer themselves. The higher prices of glass items and the decrease in their availability led consumers as years passed to “forget” about the safety of glass containers and give in to their plastic counterparts.

Thankfully, organizations looking out for the safety of plastic products have introduced methods that consumers can find out what their plasticware is made of, whether it’s plastic flatware, dishes, or water bottles. By being able to read the symbols on the packages of different types of plasticware you can tell how much if any BPA. is present in the product. Each package of a plastic item should have a resin id code sometimes called the recycling symbol. There should be an arrow-shaped triangle on the bottom part of the item for you to read. Here are some examples of plastic recycling codes and their contents.

Code 1: PET, or polyethylene terephthalate which is used to make drink bottles, food containers and even fabrics. Free BPA. It is also easily recyclable.

Code 2: HDPE, or High-Density Polyethylene is a product used to make home cleaners and milk containers and is BPA-free.

Code 3: PVC, known as polyvinyl chloride, is used to make pipes, package materials and floors. These plastics contain BPA. and other harmful chemicals.

Code 4: LDPE, or Low-Density Polyethylene which is used to make plastic bags and plastic wrap for food storage and is generally BPA-free.

Code 5: PP, or polypropylene used for drugs and food packaging is not only BPA-free but also resists heat.

Code 6: PS, or Polystyrene used in foam products such as coffee cups and is BPA-free. Proceed with caution for very hot food because other chemicals can be radiated when containers are exposed to very high temperatures.

Code 7: OTHER, is for a variety of other plastic chemical compounds which must be researched on an individual basis and sometimes it will be necessary to contact the manufacturers to get further clarity.

In summary, even though a material may be BPA-free proceed with caution with high temperatures or products with code #3.

How Do Plastic Containers Compare to Glass Ones?

Many folks agree that at first glance glass containers are safer and more reliable as far as taste and quality of food or drink. Yes, glass is generally non-toxic and does not turn simple food or drink into chemically harmful substances even when stored at high temperatures. Drinks such as wine, Snapple, cold brewed coffee in shatterproof bottles offer a high-class alternative to plastic. Glass containers will not bend out of shape when on the shelf too long or become overheated. Glass used to be preferred by health-conscious individuals, but now plastic drink bottles are almost all BPA-free, especially the name brands.

One advantage of plastic over glass is the shipping expenses of transporting glass containers. Not only are they heavier than plastic but also more sensitive to breakage even though they are labeled shatter resistant. For those conservationists, shipping plastic will use less oil and gas which is certainly an important consideration with the high cost of fuel. When manufacturing plastic containers the point where plastic melts is lower than glass which uses less energy during the manufacturing stages.

Surprisingly, even though glass is made from natural resources and is recyclable it does take a long time to break up in landfills and on the beach. Most of us have come close to being cut by a shard of glass when walking barefoot on the beach. Glass cannot be “downcycled” as recyclable plastic which means that one plastic bottle can make another or even a pair of sneakers.

Although glass is still popular for carbonated drinks and wines when it comes to non-food items plastic is the sure winner. Who would tolerate lotions or shampoos in glass bottles? Most showers are made of ceramic tiles which is certainly a dangerous venue to keep glass and how will your child squeeze out the shampoo in a glass container?

BPA’s and The Law

No one wants to risk a family member’s health or life because of products containing BPA. As of this writing there has been no national ban on these plastic chemicals although they are forbidden in baby bottles and sippy cups.

The Food and Drug Administration rejected a petition calling for a ban on the use of BPA’s for food storage usage as of 2023. Even though scientists such as Tunde Akinleye have run tests to see how dangerous BPA’s are there still has been no official general ban on them. The state of California has authorized several laws against BPA.’s. For example, there is a preposition which requires warning labels on products consisting of substances such as BPA. According to California Proposition #65, any product consisting of more than one part per million must contain a warning label about BPA. Here are a few examples of people attempting to sue over the use of BPA.’s even though they are not illegal.

California, March 2018: There was a class action lawsuit filed against the company called Champion Pet Foods. The plaintiff’s claim was that on the package it was written that this dog food was “biologically appropriate”. That term was not enough for the plaintiffs to win the case which claimed that the dog food contained BPA. Champion Pet Foods won the case because the judge could not find enough evidence that the levels of BPA in the dog food were at a dangerous level.

California, June 2024: A Class action lawsuit was filed against Dr. Brown’s Baby Company (a subsidiary of Philips, North America and Handi-Craft) that the display of BPA-free labels were not explicit to the fact that when the bottles are heated they can release harmful chemicals. The lawsuit explained that even low exposure to low doses of microplastics can be very dangerous to infants, possibly affecting their nervous, immune, reproductive and circulatory systems. Even though these baby bottles were labeled BPA-free the lawsuit alleged that when heated the chemical makeup changed causing danger to the infants.

Final Words

It would be comforting to know that when a plastic container such as a water bottle is labeled BPA-free it means that they are safe for bodies and endocrine systems. However, as we have learned, different plastic items have different safety features. For example, baby bottles and sippy cups have their own regulations since infants are susceptible to injury even with low levels of harmful chemicals ingested. A baby bottle is safe when it’s at room temperature but as we have read in a recent lawsuit when the bottle is warmed chemicals are released and that’s dangerous. Of course, glass baby bottles would be the safest, but they are not practical when traveling or even in the kitchen with a ceramic floor.

Plastics are here to stay, and the good news is there are safety codes on most name brand items that explain which chemicals the water bottles are made of. BPA-free is a wonderful code but make sure you do not keep your water bottles in a hot car because the heat can cause certain chemicals to emerge. Plastics are more practical for transportation, saving gas and money. They are also recyclable and those people who bring them back to the store are helping our environment and planet stay safer. So many products today have labels that say,” made from recyclable material “and that’s a good thing. We must move forward and not look back at the times when we were not a disposable society. That will not change but what can change is how to be careful with the products we purchase by making sure they are BPA-free and keeping them out of highly heated venues.