Aluminum Water Bottle vs. Styrofoam / Polystyrene Food Container

Materials

• Aluminum exterior
• Epoxy or other interior lining

Common claims

• Lightweight
• BPA-free
• Recyclable aluminum

Concerns / watch-outs

• Most aluminum bottles use an epoxy interior lining to prevent corrosion; some older linings contained BPA
• Bare aluminum without lining can leach aluminum into acidic beverages
• Verify the interior lining material; modern food-safe linings should be BPA-free

Notes

Aluminum itself would react with beverages, so all aluminum bottles use interior linings. Modern BPA-free linings are generally considered safe, but stainless steel bottles skip this concern entirely.

Cleaner alternatives

• stainless water bottle
• glass water bottle

Materials

• Expanded polystyrene (EPS, recycling #6)

Common claims

• Lightweight insulation
• Cost-effective packaging

Concerns / watch-outs

• Styrene — the building block of polystyrene — is classified as a possible human carcinogen (IARC Group 2B)
• Leaches styrene into fatty or hot foods
• Essentially non-recyclable and environmentally persistent

Notes

One of the worst food contact materials for both health and environmental impact. Avoid using for hot or fatty foods. Opt out whenever possible in favor of glass, stainless, or even HDPE.

Cleaner alternatives

• borosilicate glass container
• stainless steel food container
• paper lunch bag