Tritan Water Bottles: What Brands Should Know Before Ordering in Bulk
Tritan is the clear plastic many brands choose when they want a light bottle that looks like glass and does not contain BPA. Here is what Tritan is, how it compares with PC and PP, and what to specify on a custom order.
By Feng, Head of After-Sales Service & Online Marketing Lead
A Tritan water bottle is a reusable bottle made from Tritan, a copolyester plastic from Eastman that is clear like glass, resists shattering and, according to Eastman, contains no BPA, BPS or other bisphenols. Brands choose it for clear sport, infuser and kids bottles that need to be light and dishwasher-durable. Eastman also notes that most recycling systems cannot yet handle Tritan, which is resin code 7, so avoid recyclability claims. BG Drinkware, a drinkware manufacturer in Yongkang, China, makes plastic bottles with PC as the standard body on several models and offers a Tritan body as an option on several models, including a 700 ml and a 500 ml infuser bottle. Tritan can also be used for straws. The upgrade applies to the parts you specify, not automatically to every component. Most plastic models start at 500 pieces per colour, and a sample of an existing model takes up to 7 days.
What is Tritan, and why do brands choose it?
Tritan is a copolyester made by Eastman. It is clear like glass, tough enough to resist shattering, and Eastman states it is free of BPA, BPS and other bisphenols. For a brand, that means a light, clear bottle that can carry a "BPA-free" message backed by the material supplier.
Eastman also says Tritan lasts through hundreds of dishwasher cycles in third-party tests and stays clear with repeated use. Those are material claims; your finished bottle still needs its own testing, because the lid, seals and decoration behave differently from the body. For what to check behind a BPA-free label, see BPA-free water bottles in bulk.
How does Tritan compare with PC and PP bottles?
PC is clear and rigid, PP is light and slightly cloudy, and Tritan is clear like PC without bisphenols. Many plastic bottles combine materials: a PC or Tritan body with a PP lid and a silicone straw. The body material is the choice that most affects clarity and the BPA message.
| Material | Look | Typical use on BG bottles |
|---|---|---|
| Tritan | Clear, glass-like | Optional body on several models; straws |
| PC | Clear, rigid | Standard body on models such as the 480 ml easy-clean bottle |
| PP | Light, slightly cloudy | Most lids |
| Silicone | Soft | Straws, carry loops, seals |
Even on a Tritan bottle, BG Drinkware makes most lids in PP, because PP gives better solid colours than Tritan. If you want a solid-coloured lid, PP is the better choice.
For a wider comparison with metal bottles, see stainless steel vs plastic water bottles.
Which bottles can be made with a Tritan body?
On BG Drinkware's plastic range, Tritan is offered as a body upgrade on several models rather than as a separate line. The upgrade covers the parts you specify; a silicone straw or strap stays silicone. Name every part you want in Tritan on the order, and confirm it on the sample.
- 700 ml tea infuser bottle: standard PP, PC and silicone straw, with an optional Tritan body.
- 500 ml infuser drink bottle: standard PC body, Tritan body on request.
- 600 ml camera-shaped kids bottle: components can be changed to Tritan, except the silicone straw and shoulder strap.
Straws can also be made in Tritan, alongside PP, SK copolyester, silicone and stainless steel. See tumbler straw materials and our plastic drinkware range.
What can you claim on a Tritan bottle?
Keep claims to what the material supplier and your own tests support. "Made with Tritan" and "BPA-free body" are supported by Eastman's statements when the body really is Tritan. Recycling claims are not: Eastman says recycling systems for resin code 7 materials like Tritan do not yet exist at scale.
| Claim | Supported by |
|---|---|
| "Made with Tritan" | A Tritan body specified on the order and confirmed on the sample |
| "BPA-free" | Eastman's material statement, for the parts made of Tritan; other parts need their own check |
| "Dishwasher safe" | Your own test on the finished bottle, lid and decoration |
| "Recyclable" | Not supported for Tritan at present |
In the EU, Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 bans BPA in food-contact materials, including reusable plastic drink bottles, with transition periods from 20 January 2025; check PC parts for EU sales with your test lab. For environmental claims in general, see sustainable water bottles and green claims. Testing for a specific market can be arranged to the buyer's requirements.
How do you order custom Tritan bottles?
Send the model, capacity, quantity, colour, which parts should be Tritan, the logo method, packaging and terms. Most plastic models start at 500 pieces per colour, and some at 500 per colour per capacity. A sample of an existing model takes up to 7 days.
Bulk production takes 7–12 days after the sample is approved. As a packing example, the 700 ml tea infuser bottle is packed in an OPP bag, with a listed 60 pieces per carton; confirm the carton basis before shipping. For how samples are approved, see sampling. For infuser bottles in Tritan, steel and titanium, see tea infuser bottles.
Tritan water bottle FAQ
Short answers to the questions brands ask most about Tritan water bottles: what Tritan is, whether it is BPA-free, whether it can be recycled, and how to specify it on a bulk order. Each answer uses Eastman's published statements and BG Drinkware's product details.
Is Tritan plastic BPA-free?
Yes, according to Eastman, which makes it. Eastman states that Tritan is free of BPA, BPS and any other bisphenol compounds. On a finished bottle, that applies to the parts made of Tritan; lids, seals and straws in other materials need their own check before you print a BPA-free claim.
Can Tritan water bottles be recycled?
Not in most systems today. Eastman says the recycling infrastructure for resin code 7 materials, including Tritan, does not yet exist at scale, although the material itself can be recycled. Avoid "recyclable" claims on Tritan bottles, and focus on reuse and durability instead.
Is Tritan better than PC for a water bottle?
Both are clear and rigid. Tritan's advantage is that it contains no bisphenols, according to Eastman, which matters for a BPA-free message. BG Drinkware uses PC as the standard body on several plastic models and offers a Tritan body as an option. For the EU, note that Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 restricts BPA in food-contact materials, and PC is made from BPA.
What is the minimum order for custom Tritan bottles?
Most of BG Drinkware's plastic bottles start at 500 pieces per colour, and some at 500 per colour per capacity. Say which parts should be Tritan when you ask for a quote. A sample of an existing model takes up to 7 days, and bulk production takes 7–12 days after approval.
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Specifying a Tritan bottle?
Send the capacity, quantity, model, colour, logo method, packaging, payment terms and trade terms, and say which parts should be Tritan.
