Over the last few years, awareness of the risks of bisphenol A has increased significantly. This and an EU directive that has been in effect as of 2025 have resulted in more and more BPA-free alternatives on the market. In this blog, you will find out why BPA-free products are important, which alternatives are available and how you can make sure that your everyday items do not contain the chemical BPA.
What does BPA free mean?
BPA free means that a certain plastic product is free from bisphenol A. Other bisphenols such as BPS, BHPF or BPF may still be contained in the plastic. Products made of metal, glass or wood are inherently free from BPA and other bisphenols. However, this may not necessarily apply to their plastic lids, seals or painted surfaces.
What is BPA exactly? It’s a chemical compound from the group of diphenylmethane derivatives. It was first synthesised in the 19th century. This chemical compound is produced synthetically. The abbreviation stands for bisphenol A. In addition to this compound, numerous other bisphenols are used for different applications in the chemicals industry.
Is BPA a softening agent?
No, BPA is strictly speaking not a softening agent, even though it’s often referred to as such in everyday language. The chemical has an antioxidative effect. Simply put, it prevents plastics from becoming hard or brittle over time.
Where does bisphenol A occur?
Many everyday plastic products can contain BPA, such as:
- Beverage containers
- Plastic drinks bottles and their lids
- Food containers
- Coatings on the inside of tins
- Outdoor cutlery
- Camping crockery
- Hydration systems
- Plastic toys
- Packaging
- Varnishes
- Paints
- Adhesives
- Coatings
Did you know that baby bottles containing BPA have been banned since 2011? Thermal paper for receipts must also be BPA free as of 2020. Even more good news: EU Directive 2024/3190 has been in effect as of 2025, prohibiting BPA in products that come in contact with food in the EU.
Does BPA pose a health risk?
Yes, BPA is incredibly harmful to the human body. The hormone-like substance can trigger numerous conditions and unfavourable changes. These may include:
- Hormonal disorders in adults
- Reproductive damage
- Developmental disorders, particularly in children
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Increased cancer risk
- Diabetes
- Liver and kidney damage
- Negative effects on the immune system
A lot of drinks bottles and plastic containers for food are labelled “BPA free”. Neither food nor drinking water should be transported in containers with BPA. BPA dangers include the fact that you can neither see nor taste BPA – yet it can still make you sick.
How can BPA enter the human body?
Heat, warmth, acids or alkaline solutions, in particular, cause tiny particles of the chemical BPA to dissolve from plastic drinks bottles or food containers. As a result, BPA enters our bodies when we eat and drink. Unfortunately, you can neither taste nor smell bisphenol A.
Tips for dealing with products that are not BPA free:
- If needed, check whether the container is suitable for microwave use.
- Do not fill plastic containers with contents that are too warm or hot (certainly nothing boiling).
- Do not store plastic water bottles and bowls in high temperatures (e.g. in direct sun light or in a hot car).
- Wash new plastic containers with cold water or rinse and brush by hand before using them for the first time (to wash off any potential residue from the production process).
- Do not wash this type of container in a dishwasher, as this usually attacks the plastic even more.
- Crockery and cutlery made of polycarbonate, for example, should not be washed in the dishwasher. Otherwise, BPA may be rinsed out and the rest of the crockery may be contaminated.
Is bisphenol A harmful to the environment?
Yes, BPA is now also considered harmful to the environment outside the human body. Therefore, the question “Is bisphenol A harmful to the environment?” has now been answered by researchers with a resounding yes. BPA can cause different types of damage to the environment, such as:
- Water contamination, for example through the disposal of plastic products.
- Harm to water organisms, such as fish or amphibians.
- Ground contamination, for example through the disposal of plastic waste. This can also negatively impact the growth of plants.
Should I dispose of old plastic bottles and containers with BPA?
The short answer: yes! You should dispose of children’s drinks bottles, old bicycle bottles and lunch boxes if you’re unsure whether they’re free from bisphenols or at least from BPA. This also applies to products that don’t come from the EU or where the origin is unclear.
How do I recognise BPA-free products?
With a newly bought drinks bottle or food container, it’s quite easy to recognise whether they’re made of BPA-free plastic. Manufacturers are always happy to provide this information by labelling the product as “BPA free” and really advertise it. However, you need to be more cautious with older containers or “no-name” products. Furthermore, all plastic products that come in contact with food should be BPA free as of 2025 according to an EU directive.
Not sure whether a certain product in the Alpinetrek online shop contains BPA? No problem – our Customer Service Team will be happy to help!
Alpinetrek.co.uk – Customer Service UK: 03 33 33 67058 or service@alpinetrek.co.uk/info@bergfreunde.eu
Bergfreunde.de – Kundenservice Deutschland: +49 (0)7121 70 12 0 bzw. info@bergfreunde.de
Berg-freunde.at – Kundenservice Österreich: +43 (0)1 38528 97 bzw. info@berg-freunde.at
Berg-freunde.ch – Kundenservice Schweiz: +41 (0)44 522 02 17 bzw. info@berg-freunde.ch
Is BPA-free plastic harmless?
No, BPA-free plastic is not always 100% harmless and healthy. But one thing is certain: it’s often safer than plastic that contains BPA. The BPA chemical has been categorised as particularly harmful and has therefore been banned in the EU as of 2025. If you want to be absolutely sure, you should consider plastic-free alternative products.
Why should I choose plastic-free products? Plastics generally contain many more components in addition to the particularly harmful bisphenol A. They’re not necessarily free from all types of bisphenols. The different components are useful as softening agents, UV stabilisers or for many other functions during production or for durability.
What alternatives are there to BPA-free plastic drinks bottles or transport containers?
Drinks bottles and containers made of plastic are lightweight, durable and often even transparent. This offers many benefits for sports, camping and outdoor activities. The following materials are available as alternatives:
- Glass: unfortunately, glass is very heavy and can break or shatter more easily. On the plus side, it’s flavour-neutral, easy to clean and dishwasher-safe.
- Stainless steel: stainless stell is very durable, absolutely BPA free and incredibly hygienic. However, containers and drinks bottles made of stainless steel are often supplemented with plastic components (e.g. lid) – of course, these should also be BPA free.
- Bamboo: bamboo is a natural material that is very lightweight, versatile and durable.
Which brands have been producing BPA-free products for years?
Here’s a list of manufacturers that have been offering BPA-free drinks bottles and hydration systems for a long time:
Hydrapak, Nalgene, Source, Stoic, Takeya
In addition, the following brands also offer great BPA-free, plastic-free and low-plastic alternatives:
Dopper, Klean Kanteen, Primus, Sigg, Tatonka, Wyld Gear
