Plastic-free water bottles are an everyday essential for eliminating exposure to potentially harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and microplastics that can leach from plastic into your drinking water.
Non-plastic water bottles are a planet and budget-friendly essential, and that’s all the motivation we need to support these H2Outstanding brands that not only use low-impact materials but also generally better green business practices.
Heads up: This article does contain some bottles that have plastic lids/components. We’ve prioritized water bottles that don’t constantly expose your water to toxic plastic in that the vessel that holds the water is not plastic.
Additionally, our new Brand Rating System now takes our consideration set for sustainability much further by assessing brands against 22 criteria including things like chemical use, water use and safety. Look out for the rated bottle brands on the list below who have opted in to be m ore transparent with us about their initiatives and find other rated brands in our directory.
You may also be interested in our guides on water filter brands, non-toxic living. non-toxic cutting boards, non-toxic cookware
We independently research all featured brands, and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.
Our Top Picks For Plastic-Free & Non-Toxic Water Bottles
Ocean Bottle’s OB Lite water bottle is made predominantly from recycled stainless steel, and is ethically produced in a BSCI-audited factory. The brand provides funding for the collection of the equivalent of 1000 plastic bottles with every bottle purchase. Ocean Bottle has been comprehensively rated and reviewed by us – find the full rating here.
We’ve used Klean Kanteen for years, they’re a mainstay in our travel and day-to-day life. They offer recycled stainless steel water bottles and food storage containers with reusability and repairability in mind.
Pura is the only MADE SAFE®Certified water bottle company. They make bottles from stainless steel and medical-grade silicone for babies, kids, and adults. And they have designed their range such that a user can use the same bottle forever (from babyhood to adulthood).
Index: Best Non-Plastic Water Bottles
- Ocean Bottle Jump to brand
- Klean Kanteen Jump to brand
- Bambaw Jump to brand
- Black + Blum Jump to brand
- Pura Jump to brand
- Greens Steel Jump to brand
- S’well Jump to brand
Ocean Bottle
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Recycled materials
Some or all products are made with recycled materials
Refillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.
Repairs Offered
Product can be easily repaired directly by the brand.
Take Back Program
Brand offers a take back program for their products and responsibly manages returned items.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
B Corp
Climate Pledge
B Corp
The B Corp Certification, administered by the nonprofit B Lab, recognizes companies that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Certified B Corps balance profit with purpose, committing to responsible practices that benefit workers, communities, customers, and the planet while embedding sustainability into their business model.Ocean Bottle has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Ocean Bottle, a UK-based Certified B Corp, offers a range of reusable water bottles made with a minimum of 65% recycled materials, including 95% certified recycled stainless steel.
For us, their OB Lite stands out for its ultra-lightweight design. The base of the bottle is made entirely from stainless steel. While the lid and other components are crafted from BPA-free plastic, it is possible to ensure that your water touches only the stainless steel part of the bottle. The lid comes off completely and you are able to drink directly from the vessel.
Ocean Bottle also offer their Original bottles in 500ml, 750ml or 1L with double wall insulation – this keeps liquids hot or cold for longer than the OB Lite. Similar to the OB Lite, the base of these bottles are made from stainless steel and the lid can be removed for drinking if you want to limit contact with plastic.
As part of their broader sustainability commitment, Ocean Bottle is Climate Pledge Friendly, meaning they’ve committed to neutralizing emissions.
For every bottle sold, Ocean Bottles funds the collection of 11.4 kg of ocean-bound plastic, partnering with global organizations like Plastics for Change and Plastic Bank to fight plastic pollution. And they back their bottles with a 10-year repair and replacement warranty.
My Personal Review Of Ocean Bottles’ Water Bottles
“My family and I have been using the Ocean Bottle Original throughout the summer, taking it everywhere from workouts to beach days. It holds plenty of water and keeps it refreshingly cool – even on sweltering 39°C (~102°F) days which we’ve experienced quite a lot this summer. For us though, the OB Lite has been the household favorite. Its the ideal size for yoga, gym, running, and jujitsu, and it fits perfectly in the car cup holder. Plus, I especially love that when it eventually reaches the end of its life, the OB Lite will be much easier to recycle. Both bottles are really really good looking and we’ve received a ton of compliments based on their aesthetics – in response we promptly explain that they’re also made with 95% recycled stainless steel ;)”
Review by Joy McConnochie, SJ Co-Founder
Klean Kanteen
Klean Kanteen has not been rated.
Price Range: $20–$65
Klean Kanteen’s drinkware range includes their classic plastic-free stainless steel water bottle, but also tumblers, cups, and thermoses. Several colors, sizes, and accessories are available.
Klean Kanteen’s Rise Reflect bottle is all about “No plastic. No paint. No compromises“. It’s made from certified 90% post-consumer recycled stainless steel, sustainably harvested bamboo, and silicone (food grade).
The designs come out of Chico, California before each water bottle is responsibly made in China. The Certified B Corp is family and employee-owned, allowing them to prioritize people, planet, and product over shareholder profits. They’re Climate Neutral Certified, too.
As a member of 1% for the Planet, Klean Kanteen makes annual contributions to organizations prioritizing plastic pollution, outdoor stewardship, and conservation. The Klean team gets 24 hours of paid volunteer time annually.
My Personal Review of Klean Kanteen’s TKWide Water Bottle:
“Klean Kanteen’s water bottles stand out for their durability – I’ve been using them for years. The recycled stainless steel is robust, and I find that the textured powder coating seems to help me grip it better, reducing the chances of dropping it. Compared to my other bottles, this one has significantly fewer dents at the bottom! I’m also a fan of their wide-mouth tumbler with a snap-on lid, which is perfect for hot drinks.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Bambaw
Bambaw has not been rated.
Price: ~$20
Bambaw offers 2 types of water bottles: insulated and uninsulated. Both come in either plain stainless steel with no coating or with a colorful coating. The uninsulated bottle comes in 3 different sizes and the insulated version comes in 4 sizes.
Both bottle types are compliant with EU and US Food Contact Materials (FCM) regulations. They are both lead and BPA-free and have been tested for heavy metals. Bambaw guarantees their powder coatings are free from BPS and phthalates.
The bottles are made from 304 Stainless steel, they have a bamboo lid with a BPA-free silicone seal.
Bambaw was founded by twin brothers, Max and Augustin and their goal is to offer well made alternatives to single use products. They ship carbon neutral across Europe, the USA, and Canada.
Black + Blum
Black + Blum has not been rated.
Price: ~$40
Black+Blum is a UK based brand (though available in the US) that was founded back in 1998. They offer a selection of sleek, durable water bottles made from high-quality 304 – 18/8 stainless steel and borosilicate glass. Their designs ensure that no plastic comes into contact with your water.
Their range of plastic-free bottles includes insulated or uninsulated options in large, small and slim sizes. The glass water bottle includes a non-slip sleeve (which is made from plastic but does not touch the water).
Black+Blum offset all carbon emissions from shipping, partner with EcoCart for carbon-neutral checkout, and design their products for reuse and recyclability. Product packaging is made from from unbleached and uncoated cardboard and they’re also a member of 1% for the Planet.
Pura
Pura has not been rated.
Price: ~$40
Pura is a US-based brand offering a wide range of 100% plastic-free water bottles for babies, kids, and adults. Their bottles are made from high-grade stainless steel with medical-grade silicone components. No plastic ever touches the water as all parts in contact with liquid are either stainless steel or silicone.
The range includes insulated and uninsulated bottles in various sizes, plus interchangeable lids like baby nipples, sippy spouts, straws, and sport tops. The idea is that these bottles are designed to last a lifetime and grow with the user from baby to adult.
Many of Pura’s non-toxic water bottles also feature a colorful sleeve or collar, which is made from materials like silicone or BPA-free plastic but never contacts the contents of the bottle.
Pura is currently the only bottle brand to be MADE SAFE®Certified, meaning every component is free from known toxins.
Greens Steel
Greens Steel has not been rated.
Price Range: $12–$19
Greens Steel makes stainless steel bottles for every purpose, including water bottles, coffee mugs, and travel tumblers. The business aims to reduce single-use plastics by producing durable, toxin free products that promote low waste living.
Greens Steel uses pure 18/8 304 food-grade stainless steel for their all steel bottles and they’re BPA-free and dishwasher safe. You can opt for powder coated colorful designs but if you’re trying to minimize chemical exposure, stainless is the way to go.
Greens Steel is family run and the founders are actively involved in company operations.
S’well
S’well has not been rated.
Price Range: $40–$50
Long before reusable water bottles were mainstream, Sarah Kauss pioneered S’well’s stainless steel water bottle as the first “reusable hydration accessory.”
In addition to Bottles, Travelers, Roamers, and S’ipers (plastic-free water bottles for kids), they also have tumblers, mugs, and barware for your favorite poison. S’well offers both a double-wall insulated bottle and triple-wall insulated bottles, for maximum temperature longevity.
S’well’s water bottles are made from 18/8 stainless steel that is BPS and BPA-free.
The brand designs all bottles in NYC and has them responsibly manufactured in China. and uses minimal, compostable, and responsibly harvested paperboard packaging for their toxin-free water bottles.
S’well has donated 10,000+ reusable water bottles via their Hydrate EDU initiative to support sustainable hydration for students, teachers, and administrators. Over 1.5 million youths have been further supported through S’well’s joint efforts with UNICEF and more.
My Personal Review of S’Well’s Explorer With Flip Straw Lid & Tumbler XL:
“The S’well Explorer Water Bottle, which I tested in both their smaller and larger sizes, keeps my drinks cold for hours, even on hot days, and the flip straw lid makes it super convenient for quick sips without spilling. I love the sturdy construction and sleek design, and the wide mouth makes it easy to add ice cubes or clean.
I also own S’well’s Tumbler and Tumbler XL, and I have to say, I’m a fan. For a long time, I thought the whole Stanley straw tumbler trend was totally unnecessary – until I was given the chance to test S’well’s equivalent. An improved version of Stanley, which uses lead in the vacuum sealing of their products, S’well’s tumblers are fully recycled and lead-free, and they’re genuinely super useful.“
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Joy has been a passionate advocate for the environment since she was a small child. She grew up in South Africa and has been lucky enough to be exposed to the wonders of nature not just in Africa but all over the world. She founded Sustainable Jungle (together with her husband Lyall) back in 2017 after becoming enraged by the devastating impact of palm oil. She then founded the Sustainable Jungle Podcast and together with Lyall interviewed remarkable people from all over the world who were finding ways to create positive impact. Outside of Sustainable Jungle, Joy has always worked in the corporate world, starting out as an auditor and later moving into management consulting. More recently she specialized in Climate Investing for the Asia Pacific region. Given her experience, her current passion is Brand Ratings. She is very much enjoying going deeper on what it really means to drive sustainability performance and true impact through business operations.
Greens Steel is a plastic lid, so that is grinding of microplastics every time we open & close the bottle, no thank you (which someone else above mentioned too)
Black+Blum does not offer uninsulated at their website. Pura is pretty much out of stock at AMZ, & I am not seeing uninsulated either. Thx for having compiled this list; I am referencing it! – US Shopper
very useful, thank you! as a hiker, the second most important feature for me is the weight (lightweightness!). Any chance you could add those stats?
Very helpful feedback thanks Amber, I’ll see what we can do on the next refresh of this article!
Why are they all made in china? Is there really no factory in EU that makes metal bottles?
I think it would be helpful under “Materials” to note the bottom and the top separately. I still find myself trying to stare at the picture to determine which topics have plastic components, and if so, are they only on the exterior or interior too. Not enough detail on the tops.
I wish there was a true plastic free hydration system for long distance runners. Eliminating the plastic water bladders and tubing.
Ridiculous to recommend bottles using plastic lids as “100% plastic free bottles”. Like, that’s not what anyone wants when looking for “non plastic”. Why aren’t drinking spouts ever made of steel or wood???
Hi Shira, thanks for the feedback. Agree that’s a bit confusing and have removed it.