Drinkware Material Guide

Every quote starts with one question: what is it made of? Material sets the price floor, decides how the drink tastes, and determines whether a bottle survives a drop or a dishwasher. We make drinkware in all of the materials below under one roof, so this is the same shortlist we walk new buyers through.

Stainless steel: 304, 316 and what "18/8" means

Stainless steel is the default for insulated bottles, flasks and tumblers because it is food-safe, doesn't rust easily and holds a vacuum well. The numbers you see on a spec sheet describe the alloy. 304 stainless is the food-grade standard — it is roughly 18% chromium and 8% nickel, which is exactly what "18/8" means. 18/10 is the same family with slightly more nickel, common in flatware. 316 adds about 2% molybdenum, giving extra resistance to salt and acids — worth it for seawater, salty electrolyte drinks or a premium positioning, but not necessary for everyday water and coffee.

One grade to avoid: 201 stainless. It is cheaper because it swaps nickel for manganese, which lowers corrosion resistance. Some suppliers quietly use 201 to hit a price; we build to 304 food-grade as standard and 316 on request, and the mill certificate is available with your order.

Tritan and food-grade plastics

For lightweight, shatter-proof and clear bottles, Tritan is the premium plastic. It is a copolyester made by Eastman, is BPA- and BPS-free, takes a glass-like polish and survives drops that would crack glass. For lower-cost or specific uses we also run food-grade PP (polypropylene, flexible and heat-tolerant) and AS/SAN (rigid and glossy). All of our plastics are tested to FDA 21 CFR, LFGB and EU 1935/2004; reports come with the order.

Glass: borosilicate vs soda-lime

Glass gives the purest taste and the cleanest look for juice and infusion bottles. Borosilicate glass handles thermal shock — you can pour hot tea in without cracking — and is the grade to specify for anything that sees temperature swings. Ordinary soda-lime glass is cheaper but more prone to cracking with heat, so we keep it to cold-only items. A protective silicone sleeve is the usual add-on for retail.

Bamboo fibre and eco materials

For an eco story, bamboo-fibre bodies (with a 304 stainless-steel lid) and GRS-certified recycled stainless are available. These photograph well and suit a sustainability-led brand, with the relevant bamboo-fibre and GRS certificates on file.

This bamboo-fibre bottle has become one of our steady repeat sellers — and it solves the problem most factories quietly avoid: printing on bamboo fibre. The matte, lightly textured surface resists ordinary inks, so logos smear or peel. We worked out a decoration process that bonds cleanly to it, so the printed logo stays sharp, opaque and wash-durable (you can see it in the photo). Buyers keep coming back for reorders, and the body is tested to EU 1935/2004 for overall migration and heavy metals — download the bamboo-fibre test report.

Inner ceramic coating — the upgrade that changes the taste

This is the one material choice that buyers feel immediately. A bare stainless interior can leave a faint metallic taste and hold onto coffee and tea stains. A food-grade inner ceramic coating seals the steel, so water and coffee taste clean and the inside wipes out easily. It is applied as a sprayed food-grade coating and then cured, and is tested to FDA and LFGB, with antibacterial reports — and it lets a brand sell above plain stainless.

See the materials in our products