You’ve mixed your Lemon & Co. sachet into ice-cold water, watched it dissolve like magic, and now you need a worthy sidekick. Plastic cup? Pass. Glass jar from that artisanal pickle phase? Tempting, but… not ideal for the gym. Enter: stainless steel - sleek, sturdy, and (most importantly) the bottle that plays nice with citrus.
How Acidic Citrus Drinks Interact with Plastic Bottles
Acidic beverages (like lemon water) can accelerate the migration of certain chemicals from plastics into your drink. Studies show:
- Phthalates migrate more into acidic liquids from packaging, with time and temperature making it worse. One experiment specifically tested acidic matrices and found higher phthalate migration from plastic into the drink over storage time and heat [1].
- Highly acidic juices (e.g., lemon) stored in PET showed measurable phthalate ester (PAE) migration from bottle walls [2].
- Antimony, a catalyst used in many PET bottles, can leach into beverages and is influenced by pH, temperature, time, carbonation, and light exposure—factors relevant to citrus drinks. Systematic assessments and kinetic models confirm migration increases with harsher conditions [3].
- Bisphenol A (BPA)—commonly associated with polycarbonate—migrates into beverages, with release rising under heat and with repeated use [4].
What does it all mean: Acidity + time/heat = more stuff from plastic in your drink. Lemon is acidic (that’s why it tastes amazing) and that acidity can nudge migration upward.
Why Stainless-Steel Bottles Are Safer for Collagen Water
Good news: stainless-steel bottles don’t leach BPA (because there’s no BPA in the metal), and testing of reusable drinkware has shown no detectable BPA migration from unlined stainless steel under typical use [5].
Stainless steel also isn’t PET or polycarbonate; there’s no antimony catalyst and no phthalate plasticizers to migrate. (Cue relieved, lemon-sipping face.)
Bonus health & wellness reasons to go stainless
- Cold stays cold - double-wall insulation. Warm lemon-collagen? That’s a “spa tea,” not a post-Pilates vibe.
- Neutral taste - no “mystery smoothie ghost” lingering in your water.
- Durable & reusable - planet points!
- Fewer variables - with stainless, you’re not juggling polymer type, liners, temperature limits, or “Do I microwave this?” (Please don’t.)
Why Stainless-Steel Bottles still win over Glass
Glass is chemically inert, which is great—but it’s not always practical for the gym or travel. Also, some studies point out microplastic contributions from painted metal caps on glass bottles, which is… not the plot twist we wanted. Stainless keeps things simple (and less shatter-y).
Tips for lemon collagen and bottle safety
- Choose unlined stainless steel - no epoxy/BPA-type liners.
- If you chose plastic, avoid leaving citrus drinks in them in heat or direct sun (car, beach bag, window). Those conditions are shown to increase migration.
- Don’t heat plastics with your drink. BPA/phthalate migration often spikes with temperature [6].
- For hot collagen tea, stainless again: insulated bottles handle temperature changes without the chemical drama. (Lemon & Co. dissolves instantly hot or cold.)
Why Lemon & Co. Stainless-Steel Bottle Is the Best Choice
If you want the form to match the function, Lemon & Co.’s stainless-steel bottle (16 oz, double-wall, BPA-free) was literally designed to be your collagen sidekick - one packet for light & bright, two packets for “CEO of Hydration” energy.
Key Takeaways: Keep Collagen Cold, Clean, and Chemical-Free
- Citrus + plastics can increase chemical migration (phthalates, antimony; BPA from certain plastics), especially with time, heat, and light.
- Unlined stainless steel avoids those plastic-related chemicals and showed no detectable BPA migration in testing.
- Stainless is durable, temperature-stable, taste-neutral, and travel-friendly. Perfect for lemon collagen water and hot collagen tea.
References
1. Rastkari, N., Zare Jeddi, M., Yunesian, M., & Ahmadkhaniha, R. (2017). The effect of storage time, temperature and type of packaging on the release of phthalate esters into packed acidic liquids. Food Technology and Biotechnology, 55(4), 562–569. https://doi.org/10.17113/ftb.55.04.17.5128 PubMed
2. Filella, M. (2020). Antimony and PET bottles: Checking facts. Chemosphere, 261, 127732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127732 ScienceDirect+1
3. Westerhoff, P., Prapaipong, P., Shock, E., & Hillaireau, A. (2008). Antimony leaching from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic used for bottled drinking water. Water Research, 42(3), 551–556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2007.07.048 ScienceDirect+1
4. Le, H. H., Carlson, E. M., Chua, J. P., & Belcher, S. M. (2008). Bisphenol A is released from polycarbonate drinking bottles and mimics the neurotoxic actions of estrogen in developing cerebellar neurons. Toxicology Letters, 176(2), 149–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2007.11.001 PubMed Central+1
5. Cooper, J. E., Kendig, E. L., & Belcher, S. M. (2011). Assessment of bisphenol A released from reusable plastic, aluminium and stainless steel water bottles. Chemosphere, 85(6), 943–947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.06.060 PubMed Central+1
6. Nam, S.-H., Seo, Y.-M., & Kim, M.-G. (2010). Bisphenol A migration from polycarbonate baby bottle with repeated use. Chemosphere, 79(9), 949–952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.02.049 PubMed
