The refreshing world of sustainable hydration filters out the bad vibes and pours in the planet-friendly H2O with the best (nearly) plastic-free water filters around.
But how can you filter water without plastic, you ask?
Well, the truth is that in most cases, you can’t. Most water filters—especially advanced water filtration systems (AKA those that are best for your health)—still have little bits of plastic in the filters, if nothing else. For instance, reverse osmosis plastic-free water filter systems are currently still impossible to find, but health-wise, it’s one of the best ways to purify water.
Still, we tapped all sides of the market to minimize plastic in our choices and provide you with a list of sustainable water filtration systems to top up your eco-friendly water bottle.
Besides we all need refreshment, and so will this list, so take note of our brand rating system which assesses brands based on multiple sustainability-related criteria, including things like product safety, chemical use, and ethics in the supply chain. Brands need to opt in to be rated. Look out for rated brands in our directory.
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.
Index: Non-Plastic Water Filters
- Berkey Jump to brand
- Amwater Jump to brand
- Waterdrop Jump to brand
- Invigorated Water Jump to brand
- Aarke Jump to brand
- GOpure Pod Jump to brand
- Brondell Jump to brand
Berkey
About Berkey
Price Range: $344–$575
Berkey has designed a selection of gravity-fed water filtration systems that require no electricity, costly installation, or tools and provide economical water filtration for just a few cents per gallon.
Ranging in size from 1.5 gallons right up to 6 gallons, these stainless steel water purifier systems use replacement filters in the upper reservoir that have been engineered to last and you can expect to get up to 3,000 gallons of filtered water before needing to purchase a replacement filter.
The stainless steel filters have been independently tested for their ability to remove or reduce over 250+ commonly found contaminants like heavy metals and bacteria that could be lurking in your plastic-free water bottle.
Berkey’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Berkey’s non-toxic water filter systems rely on Black Berkey Elements as the interior filters. While they’re not plastic-free, they’re also single-use disposable and last extensively longer than other filter systems.
Plus, they can be cleaned and reused up to 100 times before you need to buy a replacement.
Amwater
About Amwater
Price Range: $36–$250
Amwater is a rare brand making zero waste water filter systems using stainless steel filter cartridges instead of plastic ones. Their gravity-fed filter systems can purify water sufficient for 1-4 people daily, and no electricity is needed.
The filter system is NSF42 Certified and uses 4-stage filtration which can eliminate harmful contaminants such as chlorine, organic and inorganic arsenic, mercury, and more. At the same time, it keeps minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium that benefit your health.
There is the option of purchasing stand-alone filters you can conveniently place on your countertop or there is a Whole House Water Purification option.
Their plastic-free products rely on high-quality food-grade 304 stainless steel bodies and mesh filters out debris down to 50 microns in size. The wire mesh is 100% cleanable and reusable.
Amwater’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Amwater’s filters use natural coconut-activated carbon to remove contaminants such as chlorine, sediment, sand, odor, rust, and other large particles. We will be reaching out to ask about the origin of this material.
The product’s sustainability credentials are further improved by the fact that they can filter up to 6,000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced.
Waterdrop
About Waterdrop
Price Range: $119–$197
Waterdrop offers two sustainable ways to filter your water, depending on your needs.
There are stainless steel countertop filters that utilize a gravity-fed system. You can use these 100% non-plastic water filters in your home or outdoors to reduce fluorine and chlorine by up to 98% and reduce rust, sediments, heavy metals, spore cysts, and other harmful substances using a natural coconut shell carbon.
If you want something less obtrusive than a counter water filter, the second option is one of the best plastic-free faucet water filters made from stainless steel.
These reduce chlorine, heavy metals, and bad taste, while at the same time maintaining beneficial minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium ions in water—which are things RO also filters out, so RO drinkers either need to remineralize their water or ensure they’re getting these trace minerals elsewhere in their diet.
Waterdrop’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
The name Waterdrop comes from the desire to deliver clean, safe, and healthy drinking water and a sustainable future. Buying Waterdrop products means you are helping offset more than 50,000,000 plastic bottled water containers yearly and reducing plastic pollution.
The company continues to develop more sustainable products. For example, their flagship product achieves a 3:1 drain ratio and less water consumption. In addition, only responsible materials are used for product packaging.
Waterdrop works in partnership with ClimatePartner addressing the environmental impact of their reverse osmosis system and has made significant progress toward carbon neutrality.
In addition, Waterdrop partners with The Water Project for their Water4Smile initiative. Together they are promoting water stewardship and helping communities gain access to clean, safe, and healthy drinking water.
Invigorated Water
About Invigorated Water
Price Range: $32–$120
Invigorated Water’s functional pitchers and dispensers are ideal for the home, office, or studio. Choose between various food-grade materials, like BPA-free plastic, glass, and stainless steel.
Their filters have a backed brand membership of The Water Quality Association.
Invigorated Water’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Invigorated Water partners with trusted third-party certifications and their products are Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly. Plastic is used in the housing of the filters, but the pH001 and pH002 types are recyclable. Filter pouches are made of non-woven fabric.
Aarke
About Aarke
Price Range: $125
Aarke’s patented water purifier is one of the best non-plastic water filter pitchers we’ve researched with its elegant design made from glass and stainless steel.
Your water is filtered using a unique, refillable cartridge and Aarke filter granules. Simply pour the filter granules, which consist of activated carbon and ion exchange resin, into the stainless-steel filter cartridge to reduce chlorine, heavy metals, and limescale. The filter cartridges also contain minerals that increase the pH value and add magnesium to your water.
The product has been designed in collaboration with BWT, one of the world’s leading water technology companies.
Aarke’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Aarke is a Swedish design company founded in 2013 by two experienced industrial designers and friends. Products include water carbonators and energy-efficient kettles.
All products are designed, developed, and tested in the company’s Stockholm workshop.
GOpure Pod
About GOpure Pod
Price Range: $56
With a GOpure Pod portable water purifier, you can purify tap water wherever you go. This non-toxic water filter is a fully sustainable, package-free glass vial and when it’s reached the end of its life you can send back your pod and it will be recycled for you.
Your water is filtered using a ceramic pod that acts as a magnet to attract impurities and release valuable trace minerals. The pod helps to eliminate harmful contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, fluoride, and microplastics.
The power within each GOpure pod is an unlimited and renewable resource in the form of food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE), which is essentially silica from the earth’s crust. Every pod features a ceramic core made from DE and trace silver that acts like a magnet to attract, bind, and absord heavy metals.
There’s also one for your pet to help you keep your zero waste dog away from plastic.
GOpure Pod’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
GOpure’s product packaging is earth-friendly, plus there’s the option to go even greener with the package-free Pod delivery service. Every Pod is recyclable after its 6 month life and you can send it back to GOpure who will recycle it for you to prevent plastic pollution.
Brondell
About Brondell
Price Range: $269–$449
Owning a water filter pitcher is a great way to reduce contaminants in your drinking water or improve water taste and smell of tap water. But if you want to take your water purification process to another level with a reverse osmosis water filter system.
This type of system uses various “stages” (typically 3–5) of semi-permeable membranes to remove contaminants, applying pressure to force water molecules through while blocking impurities.
Pre-filtration removes larger particles, and post-filtration removes any chemicals like chlorine and heavy metals before it’s collected for consumption, resulting in purified and safe natural drinking water.
However, because they work by flushing all just junk back into some of the water run through it, they only render about half of the water filtered as purified. The rest is flushed away, making them inherently wasteful.
While some (ourselves included) combat this waste by using the wastewater reservoir in other ways—like watering our sustainable garden and cleaning—Brondell has an even better answer with two systems that are between 10 and 20 times more efficient.
They have found a way to eliminate back pressure with their Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration systems making them far more environmentally friendly.
The two available systems provide filtered water with between 10x and 20x less wastewater and are certified by the WQA for the trustworthy reduction of heavy metals, chlorine, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, fluoride, and emerging contaminants.
Brondell’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Aside from their water filtration systems, all Brondell’s products including their non-toxic shower curtains, bidets, and air purifiers are designed to conserve non-renewable resources. Their showers, for example, have already saved over 500 million gallons of water.
Their water systems are designed to help you reduce your dependency on throwaway plastic, and save water, and energy. They also disassemble and recycle unsellable products to further reduce their impact.
As a partner with 1% for the Planet, Brondell also donates 1% of purchases on select bidet attachments to fully-vetted, global environmental nonprofits and works with several other sustainable global and US organizations.
Why Choose Non-Plastic Water Filters?
Opting for non-plastic or zero waste water filters aligns with sustainable living, minimizing plastic waste and environmental impact.
Unlike disposable filter cartridges, zero waste filters, such as those in the systems we’ve featured, promote a circular economy by extending the lifespan of components. However, as we noted in the intro, truly plastic-free water pitchers or other filtration systems are still a work in progress.
The fact remains that, aside from using a zero waste charcoal water filter—as in, a literal pieces of activated charcoal sticks submerged in your water, which tackles toxins but isn’t the best water filter to remove microplastics and other sediments—we haven’t found anything 100% plastic-free.
However, choosing a comprehensive water filter system is about more than the planet’s health—it’s about yours. That’s why we think as long as we’re being mindful to reduce the plastic in our filters, a little bit is okay if it means we’re getting cleaner, safer water.
Though here’s hoping sustainable technology keeps advancing until plastic-free water filters are the norm!
How We Chose The Best Sustainable Water Filter Brands
As we quickly discovered, selecting the best sustainable water filter brands unfortunately isn’t as simple as selecting a water filter made without plastic. That’s why we looked at several different factors to select brands that not only ensure clean water but align with our broader ethos of conscious consumerism.
Materials:
The chosen most sustainable water filter brands have exemplified a commitment to sustainability, opting for innovative materials that eschew plastic without compromising on efficiency. By embracing alternatives like stainless steel, glass, natural ceramics, and recyclable plastic components (where used, though a plastic-free way to filter water is always preferred), they’ve redefined the landscape of water filtration.
Supply chain & green practices:
We prioritized brands committed to transparent supply chains, ensuring fair labor practices. Materials sourced responsibly, also played a crucial role. Our selection criteria also emphasized brands with a strong commitment to reducing their environmental footprint, implementing green manufacturing processes, and utilizing thoughtful packaging.
Final Thoughts On Non-Plastic Water Filter Brands
Water purity need not come at the cost of our planet.
These best sustainable water filter system brands not only deliver crisp, clean water but also champion a plastic-free future, contributing to the global shift towards eco-conscious living. So, as you hydrate responsibly, remember that with these brands, your water is not just filtered; it’s a sip towards a greener, plastic-free tomorrow.
If you know of anyone who wants to join you on your (almost) plastic-free water filter journey and adopt a more zero waste lifestyle, don’t forget to share this post and help us make sustainable hydration hip (er, sip).
Dawn is an avid animal lover and vegetarian currently living as self-sufficiently as is possible in the beautiful country of Bulgaria. She made this move from the UK ten years ago with the desire to better understand and experience living life sustainably and low-waste. Dawn is an ardent advocate for sustainability, using her writing as a platform to address critical issues and ignite a passion for impactful solutions in others.
Hi there,
I love this! That said, I was reading a recent article that stated Berkey water filters were lacking aluminium into the water…..
Do you have any info on this? Just wondering if you did any independent water tests of water coming from these filters too…I would love to see the results, to make the most informed decision. (Really looking for something that can filter out fluoride and that is sustainable, and doesn’t leach forever plastics into my water.)
Thanks!
Hi Leslie, unfortunately no we don’t do any independent tests of the water quality – we are planning to ramp up our product testing but we’re not able to test to that extent just yet. That is concerning re the Berkey filters. Do you by any chance still have that article handy and can share it here so we can validate it? Totally get the desire to have a more sustainable product that does the job without leaching (that’s what we’re really trying to achieve here so will remove any that don’t tick these boxes).