Staying hydrated is essential; using single-use plastic bottles is not. Using (or rather reusing) eco-friendly water bottles is one of the most impactful swaps you can make (assuming you do actually use it a lot)—and the effort of doing so is minimal and much cheaper in the long run.
Any brand offering a reusable alternative is a good pick, but some go above and beyond to keep us and our planet happy, hydrated, and healthy. And that’s what we’ve rounded up here, a list of brands making water bottles that not only prioritize low-impact materials but also green business practices and charitable giving initiatives.
Note: Our brand rating system assesses brands based on multiple sustainability-related criteria, including things like climate action, product safety, and chemical use in the supply chain. Brands need to opt in to be rated. Look out for rated brands below and find others in our directory.
You may also be interested in our guides on water purifier brands and how to purify water.
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.
The Best Sustainable Water Bottles
Ocean Bottle’s reusable water bottles are made from minimum 65% recycled materials, including 90% recycled stainless steel. Through each purchase, the collection of the equivalent of 1000 plastic bottles is funded. Bottles are made ethically in a factory audited against the BSCI standard. Ocean Bottle has been comprehensively rated and reviewed by us – find the full rating here.
We’ve been using Klean Kanteen for years. They make super durable stainless steel water bottles out of recycled materials, supporting people and the planet in the process.
Index: Sustainable Water Bottle Brands
- Ocean Bottle Jump to section
- Klean Kanteen Jump to section
- Purifyou Jump to section
- Hydro Flask Jump to section
- S’well Jump to section
- Origin Glass Co Jump to section
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 water bottles, cups, and flasks that are crafted using minimum 65% recycled materials and 95% certified recycled stainless steel.
Their water bottle range includes their Original bottles in 500ml, 750ml or 1L. These have double wall insulation, designed to keep liquids cold (or hot) for longer. They also make the Ocean Bottle GO for on the go hydration. And the OB Lite (which is our personal favorite for it’s lightweight build and ability to be easily recycled at the end of its life.
Ocean Bottle are certified as Climate Pledge Friendly which means they have committed to neutralize emissions. For every product sold, they fund the collection of 11.4 kg of ocean-bound plastic, working with global partners like Plastics for Change and Plastic Bank to prevent plastic pollution.
They also offer a 10-year repair and replacement warranty, as well as recycling recommendations for responsible disposal.
My Personal Review Of Ocean Bottles’ Water Bottles
“We’ve been using the Ocean Bottle Original for a couple of months now over summer. We’ve taken it everywhere from workouts to days out on the beach. It’s a great size, holding plenty of water while keeping it refreshingly cool—even on scorching 39°C (~102°F) days. But for us, the OB Lite has been the real standout. Its sleek, minimalist design, perfect capacity for our yoga, gym, running, and jujitsu sessions, and convenient fit in the car cup holder make it an everyday favorite. I also especially appreciate that, when the time comes, the OB Lite will be simpler to recycle.”
Review by Joy McConnochie, SJ Co-Founder
Klean Kanteen
Klean Kanteen has not been rated.
Price Range: $20–$65
Klean Kanteen revolutionized water bottles, back when even reusable bottles were plastic.
Lightweight but not skimping on durability or variety, the sustainable metal water bottle range includes many sizes, widths, and colors—all with excellent insulating abilities. The Insulated Classic, for instance, keeps hot drinks hot for 20 hours and cold drinks cold for 50 hours.
You can also upgrade with different add-ons like steel straws, interchangeable caps, and other accessories.
Klean Kanteen uses Climate Lock double-wall vacuum insulation and 18/8 BPA-free stainless steel that has been electropolished in a non-toxic process. Each bottle features a chip-resistant, powder coat finish that’s safe for people and the planet, according to the GreenScreen For Safer Chemicals.
Klean Kanteen is a family-and-employee-owned company, as well as a Certified B Corp. The bottles are designed in California and responsibly manufactured in China.
Klean Kanteen is Climate Neutral-certified and regularly measures, reduces, and offsets its carbon footprint. They are also a member of the We Are Still In commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.
My Personal Review of Klean Kanteen’s TKWide Water Bottle:
“Klean Kanteen’s water bottles are super high quality. The stainless steel isn’t just recycled but seriously beefy, and I really like the extra textured powder coating on the outside, which I find makes me a lot less prone to dropping my water bottle constantly. So far, this has way fewer dents in the bottom than my water bottles are known to have. I also like their wide-mouth tumbler with a snap lid for coffee and hot drinks.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Purifyou
Purifyou has not been rated.
Price Range: $18–$49
Family owned and operated, Purifyou is an lifestyle shop that provides an easy way to infuse your water with their eco-friendly glass bottles.
There are a whole rainbow of colors to choose from in a variety of sizes, and you can also pick up a bottle brush to keep your hydration companion clean.
Made from BPA-free glass with a removable silicone sleeve, the bottles are dishwasher safe, with or without the cover on.
Manufacturing takes place in China and distributed in the U.S though we’ve received no details about any ethical protections in the supply chain.
Purifyou helps extend the life of their bottles by offering replacement lids if the originals break or get lost.
Hydro Flask
Hydro Flask has not been rated.
Price Range: $20–$125
Hydro Flask is THE name in the sustainable stainless steel water bottle industry, and they want to be with us every step, sip, and smile—and they can, with a huge selection of designs, lid styles, sizes, and oh-so-many colors.
From eco-friendly water bottles for kids to can cozies to gallon-sized growlers for adults, they truly have bottles for anything. Their 8 oz Insulated Food Flask could even be used for your daily double shot of espresso on the way to work, as well as your lunch leftovers.
Hydro Flask even makes lighter-weight versions for hiking for all you camping gear enthusiasts.
These sports water bottles are made from BPA and phthalate-free 18/8 stainless steel powder coated for durability and an easy no-slip grip. They are insulated using TempShield™ power, which keeps water cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours.
Hydro Flask manufacturing and sourcing is not addressed on their website and we have not received any details about their supply chain policies.
Backing each bottle with the lifetime warranty, Hydro Flask protects your hydration investment (which attests to their durability). Replacement parts for easily lost components (like new lids) are available as needed.
Hydro Flask launched a charitable program called Parks For All designed to create and support green spaces. They’ve donated more than $1.5 million (and thousands of bottles) to nearly 100 nonprofits that are protecting the great outdoors.
My Personal Review of Hydro Flask’s 32 Oz Wide Flex Straw Cap Water Bottle:
“It’s been a solid decade with my Hydro Flask bottles, and I still think they’re the best. They’re so durable—unless a landscaping truck hits one (RIP my first), they are pretty indestructible. I recently upgraded to a wide mouth with a flex straw cap, and it’s perfect for sipping on the move. The flip straw is so handy, but I wouldn’t throw it in my backpack because it’s not as leak-tight as the regular caps.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
S’well
S’well has not been rated.
S’well helped redefine the way we hydrate, launching one of the first premium stainless steel water bottles long before reusables became mainstream. Today, their collection includes a variety of water bottle options for all ages—from sleek Bottles and Travelers to kid-friendly S’ipers, plus insulated tumblers.
All S’well bottles are made from high-grade 18/8 stainless steel and are free from BPA and BPS. Available in both double- and triple-wall insulation, their designs keep drinks hot or cold for hours.
Designed in New York City and responsibly manufactured in China, S’well emphasizes thoughtful production and packaging using minimal, compostable, and responsibly sourced paperboard.
Beyond products, S’well is committed to community impact through its Hydrate EDU program and partnerships with UNICEF and others.
Origin Glass Co
Origin Glass Co has not been rated.
Price Range: $15–$26
Aware that access to clean water can reduce preventable disease and mortality rates, Origin donates 2% of their revenue to solutions that support those living in extreme poverty.
Their glass water bottle range includes a wide and narrow option, an infuser bottle, and a few kid bottles.
These sustainable glass water bottles are made with medical-grade borosilicate glass (think: Pyrex) that won’t expand or contract in extreme temperatures. It’s free of BPA, BPS, lead, cadmium, and PVC.
Lids aside, the bottles themselves are dishwasher safe. This leak-proof bamboo lid is equipped with a food-grade silicone ring to prevent chemicals leaching into your water.
They’re wrapped in a food-grade silicone sleeve that provides impact protection when the extra grip isn’t enough to prevent occasional drops. While silicone is not plastic, it is hard to dispose of, so take care of this component.
No supply chain information is available and they haven’t answered our queries at this time.
Not only do they provide the resources to support access to clean water, but Origin also provides education to improve literacy rates and empower women and children with access to health and hygiene solutions.
They do this through partnerships with communities and organizations rooted in sustainable development.
Why Invest In An Environmentally Friendly Water Bottle?
Globally, 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, leading to a lot of plastic pollution that takes about 450 years to start breaking down—and releases microplastics into our environment as it does.
Not to mention, millions of barrels of oil are required to produce those single-use plastic water bottles.
Even halving that consumption by occasionally remembering to bring your reusable water bottle could have a hugely positive impact.
Considering 90% of the cost for plastic water bottles is for the plastic itself, it doesn’t make sense from a financial standpoint—and certainly makes spending a one-time $20-$40 on a reusable bottle reasonable. Just be sure to reuse and reuse and reuse your water bottle to make sure the environmental tradeoff stacks up.
You may also be interested in our guide on plastic free water bottles.
How We Found The Best Eco-Friendly Water Bottles
We looked eco-friendly reusable water bottle brands that put their money where their wide mouth is and prioritized people and the planet in more ways than just offering products to help with individual low waste living.
Here were our considerations:
Materials:
What are eco-friendly water bottles made of?
The best water bottle material starts with being non-toxic, meaning, among other things, BPA-free sustainable water bottles.
We prefer either borosilicate glass or eco-friendly metal water bottles made from food-grade stainless steel, which are safe, durable, and infinitely recyclable.
While eco-friendly aluminum water bottles have garnered some buzz lately due to the material’s lightweight feel and infinite recyclability, we didn’t consider any due to the possible health risks associated with aluminum’s reaction to certain liquids and BPA in the epoxy resin often used to line aluminum bottles.
Some brands out there are using recycled plastic to make BPA-free reusable water bottles, but we prefer to avoid plastic altogether.
Supply chain and labor practices:
While no fair trade water bottles were found, we were happy to see some Certified B Corporations. However, given recent insights into B Corp greenwashing, we wish they also provided more transparency regarding manufacturing.
For all brands on the list, we either have or will be reaching out to learn more about their manufacturing. Unfortunately, for those we’ve contacted already, we’ve received no reply.
Green business practices:
We were happy to see the larger brands offsetting emissions with carbon offset programs, shipping in recyclable packaging, or using renewable energy.
The best sustainable water bottle brands also offer lifetime warranties, replaceable parts, and extra touches (like a protective powder coat) to increase durability.
Community & charitable giving:
Whether it’s planting trees, giving staff paid volunteer days, or providing people with access to clean drinking water, we love quenching our literal thirst and thirst for social change at the same time.
FAQ: Sustainable Water Bottles
What is the purpose of the article?
We’re spotlighting our favorite reusable water bottles that meet higher sustainability criteria—including non-toxic materials, recycled or recyclable construction, and responsible business practices—to help readers avoid single-use plastic bottles.
What makes a water bottle “eco-friendly”?
To summarize our criteria, an eco-friendly water bottle is defined as one made from safe, durable and low-impact materials (such as BPA-free stainless steel or glass), preferably with recycled content, designed for long life, and supported by brands with transparent supply chains and environmental initiatives.
Why should consumers switch to eco-friendly water bottles?
Because single-use plastic bottles create significant waste and environmental harm, and choosing a high-quality reusable bottle is a simple, cost-effective way to reduce plastic consumption and its associated impacts.
What materials are recommended for sustainable water bottles?
The article recommends food-grade stainless steel (often recycled and BPA-free) and borosilicate glass as preferred materials, given their safety, durability and recyclability.
What additional criteria should a sustainable water bottle brand meet?
Beyond material choice, the brand should feature recycled content, take-back or repair programmes, transparent ethical sourcing, minimal packaging waste, and ideally independent certification or rating.
Final Thoughts on Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Water Bottles
The benefits of reusable water bottles are many, so what are you waiting for?
Grab your sustainable backpack, tools to purify water, and your new bottle and enjoy the adventure! You know how bad single-use water bottles are for our planet, so let’s support the brands who are offering us a sustainable solution.
Plastic free pop quiz: What is the most eco-friendly water bottle? The one you already own, so only buy new if you need to. And if you’re wondering what to do with old reusable water bottles that no longer hold water, consider upcycling them into a vase or pencil jar.
Go remind your friends to stay hydrated by passing along this article, so they too can help keep our planet an H2O-asis!
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.
What is sustainable about stainless steel? It has to be mined using fossil fuels, refined using fossil fuels and transported using fossil fuels. Why don’t we go back to making wineskins to carry what like people have done for thousands of years?
Such a great list! I personally love klean kanteen. Thanks for sharing this helpful post to everyone!