I've got a few different Contigo bottles and me and the kids love them. They have innovative lids and come in a variety of cool colors. They have really made drinking more water so much easier, but what exactly are Contigo bottles made of?
Contigo bottles are made of Eastman Tritan plastic (which is considered BPA-free and EA-free) with Microban antimicrobial protection. Contigo stainless steel bottles are made from dual wall, kitchen grade 18/8 stainless steel with a Thermalock vacuum insulation.
I care a lot about the materials in the bottles I drink from, so it's really important to me that I only drink out of bottles made from safe ingredients.
It's reassuring to know that Contigo bottles are made from one of the safest plastics you can possibly get. That way, you’re not ingesting any potentially harmful chemicals.
What Are Contigo Plastic Bottles Made Of?
Contigo water bottles are designed to be daily driver water bottles that you use every single day.
Their unique and innovative lid designs make drinking water fun and easy. The Autospout lid on my Contigo makes it super easy for me to sip water all day without having to take the lid on and off. It's really helped me drink enough bottles of water per day to reach my water intake goals.
While Contigo bottles look great and function even better what I care most about is what exactly it's made of and whether or not it's good for me.
The Contigo bottles are made from a BPA-free plastic called Eastman Tritan. The plastic used in Contigo bottles is considered safe to drink from and is even consider EA-free, which means it's free from
BPA-free plastic is plastic that has not been made with the organic compound Bisphenol-A. This compound is known to leach into water and can cause a variety of issues – including being an endocrine disruptor.
Contigo is not only BPA free but they are mostly made from Eastman Tritan plastic which is considered EA-free. This means it's considered completely free from other chemicals that mimic estrogen.
I couldn't find any information on the types of plastics, rubber or silicone used in the lids of Contigo bottles.
From their opaque appearance and from the knowledge of other water bottles lids I would assume Contigo lids are made from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic. I also assume the plastic straws are made from the same material and the spouts are made from silicone.
However, I cannot confirm. I have contacted Contigo for more information and if I hear back from them I will edit this section.
Are Contigo Bottles BPA Free?
With the realization in 2008 and wide-spread news that BPA can leach from plastic bottles into your water and can be harmful to humans it's normal to wonder whether or not Contigo bottles are BPA-free.
Yes all new Contigo bottles are BPA free. They are made from Eastman Tritan plastic which is naturally BPA and BPS free. You can check by looking for the phrase “BPA Free” molded onto the bottom of the bottle.
While the plastic itself is free from BPA there was a small study (source) that tested 10 bottles made with Eastman Tritan plastic and it found 2 of these bottles had BPA present.
After 6 washes there was no longer any detectable BPA, so this means the BPA is likely from cross-contamination during the manufacturing process.
If you've purchased a new Contigo bottle make sure to wash it well before drinking out of it to minimize your chances of being exposed to BPA. For the safest results wash your Contigo bottle multiple times before drinking from it.
More about Eastman Tritan Plastic
Most Contigo bottles are made from a type of plastic called Eastman Tritan plastic.
This type of plastic is BPA-free. Therefore it is not manufactured with Bisphenol A nor Bishphenol S.
In some studies, Bisphenol S has been linked as a cause of breast cancer, so you definitely don’t want to be drinking from a bottle that uses this compound.
What is in Eastman Tritan plastic?
- Dimethyl terephthalate
- cyclohexanedimethanol
- Tetramethyl
- Cyclobutanediol
These fancy words are just compounds that are non-toxic and safe.
What makes this type of plastic so unique is that there is no Estrogenic or Androgenic activity.
The absence of estrogen mimicking chemicals in the plastic means there is no hormone leakage happening in the bottle and the bottle should be safe to drink from.
However, some people still have some concerns about this type of plastic and some small early studies seem to suggest it may not actually be completely EA-free. However, more studies need to be done and currently the plastic is deemed safe to drink from.
The benefits of using Eastman Tritan plastic:
- It is impact-resistant
- It is dishwasher safe
- Lighter than glass
- Has a long-life expectancy
- Odor resistant
- Stain resistant
What Are Contigo Metal Bottles Are Made Of?
I personally own and use a metal Contigo water bottle with an Autoseal lid.
I try to avoid drinking out of plastic wherever possible and I also love that the stainless steel bottle is vacuum insulated so it keeps my drinks cold all day long.
It's also great to know I can put hot drinks in my stainless steel Contigo without having to worry about the plastic leeching chemicals into my drink because of the high temperatures.
The metal Contigo bottles are made from 18/8 kitchen-grade stainless steel. The stainless steel that they use in their cups is the same food-grade stainless steel.
Stainless steel is a good alternative to plastic as it does not corrode or leach any harmful chemicals into the drink as some plastic bottles do.
While stainless-steel bottles are more expensive than plastic and glass bottles, they do seem to last longer, which saves you money in the long run.
Stainless steel is a great way of keeping the bottle’s contents hot or cold for longer, and Contigo uses a THERMALOCK Vacuum seal to create insulation in their bottles.
The Different Parts Of The Contigo Bottles
While the main body of the Contigo is made from Eastman Tritan plastic I also wanted to find out what the lids and straws of the bottles are made from.
So I got in contact with Contigo to see what they said about it. I assumed the lids were made from a different plastic because it was opaque but it seems it's made from the same plastic.
Here's what the Contigo team wrote to me in their email:
Hello Ryan ,
Thank you for contacting Contigo. This is Jane from the Consumer Care Team. We apologize if there has been a delay in our response. We are working diligently to respond as quickly as possible.
We use high-quality, BPA free, Tritan copolymer plastic which is certified BPA-free on the overall lid and body inside and outside make of the plastic product. All plastic that comes in contact with food or beverage in your Contigo® product is BPA-free. Validation that this plastic is BPA-free and is supported by robust testing by independent third-party accredited laboratories.
What Are Contigo Lids Made Of?
The plastic Contigo bottle lids are made of the same plastic as the exterior of the bottle, the BPA-free Eastman Tritan plastic.
This plastic means that the lid is durable and can be used in the top rack of the dishwasher.
What Are Contigo Straws Made Of?
Some of the plastic Contigo bottles come with a straw, which in my opinion makes drinking your daily water intake a lot more fun.
Contigo straws are also made from Eastman Tritan plastic.
There is also a flexible part to the AutoFlip straws and AutoFlip Chug lids. While I'm still waiting to hear back from Contigo about what this part is made from given it's look and flexibility I'm assuming it's made from silicone.
