Glass bottle or jar
NegligibleSoda-lime or borosilicate glass
The short answer
The cleanest widely available format. No polymer touches the contents at all except the cap liner, which is a tiny sealing surface. If a product is sold in both glass and plastic, the glass version is the answer.
What actually drives release
- A small polymer or foil cap liner, the only plastic in the system
When it gets worse
- Effectively nothing at household scale, beyond breakage risk
Better options
- Already the best option — keep and reuse the jar
Where you'll find it
Products scored in this format
Each carries its own exposure score, evidence grade and sources.
Beer
Glass bottle, aluminium can, or plastic-lined keg line
Grade B · 66%
San Pellegrino (glass bottle)
Glass with a metal crown cap or a plastic-lined screw cap
Grade A · 86%
Topo Chico (glass bottle)
Glass with a metal crown cap
Grade B · 68%
Perrier (glass bottle)
Glass with a metal crown cap or a plastic-lined screw cap
Grade B · 68%
Pyrex glass storage container
Glass body with a polypropylene lid
Grade C · 60%
Baby food in a glass jar
Glass jar with a metal lid and a polymer sealing compound
Grade B · 68%
Voss (glass bottle)
Soda-lime glass with a plastic-lined screw cap
Grade B · 70%
Mountain Valley Spring Water (glass)
Glass with a plastic-lined cap
Grade B · 68%
Glass water bottle with a silicone sleeve
Borosilicate or soda-lime glass, silicone sleeve on the outside, steel or bamboo cap
Grade B · 66%
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Scan what you actually buy
Packaging changes the answer more than the brand does. Scan your product with MicroPlastics for a 0–100 exposure score and a lower-plastic version of the same thing.
Scan my productFrequently Asked Questions
Is glass packaging free of microplastics?
What makes glass bottle or jar worse?
What should I use instead of glass bottle or jar?
Sources
- Earth Action with rePurpose Global (2026). Microplastic migration from food and beverage packaging (reported May 2026). Forbes.
- Qian N, Gao X, Lang X, et al. (2024). Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
- Winkler A, Santo N, Ortenzi MA, et al. (2022). Does mechanical stress cause microplastic release from plastic water bottles?. Water Research.
- Hernandez LM, Xu EG, Larsson HCE, et al. (2019). Plastic teabags release billions of microparticles and nanoparticles into tea. Environmental Science & Technology.