If you’re like most people, when you hear that something is “BPA free”, you let out a sigh of relief. After all, it’s nice to know that some chemical isn’t slowly making its way into your body.
But what about Tervis products? Are they BPA free or not? It’s a question that has plagued mankind since the beginning of time (or at least since the invention of Tervis products).
Well my friend, sit back and relax because I’m here to give you all the details on whether your Tervis cups are safe or if they’re going to slowly turn us all into zombies.
So What Exactly is BPA?
Before we dive in too deep, let’s just cover our bases and make sure everyone knows what exactly we’re talking about. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used primarily in plastics manufacturing.
It’s been around since the 1960s but really started getting attention in recent years due to concerns over its potential health effects.
Essentially, there's evidence suggesting that exposure to BPA could increase one's risk for certain types of cancer and cause other health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. So yeah...not good stuff.
The Great Debate
There have been rumors floating around for years now about whether or not Tervis products contain this evil substance known as BPA. Some say they do, while others say they don't.
So what's the truth? As with most things in life (cue dramatic music), it's complicated...
Pre-2010 Products
According to Tervis' website, any pre-2010 product may contain trace amounts of BPA due to previous manufacturing processes:
"ARE TERVIS PRODUCTS MADE WITH BPA?
Any Tervis tumbler or water bottle manufactured before January 1, 2010 may contain trace amounts of Bisphenol A (BPA) due to previous manufacturing processes."
Post-2010 Products
However, any product made after January 1st, 2010 is advertised as being completely BPA free.
In fact, Tervis even won an award from the Plastics Industry Association for their commitment to producing safe and sustainable products.
So it seems like we can all breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy our luscious beverages without fear of slowly poisoning ourselves with chemical toxins.
Wait...There’s Still More?
Not so fast my friend! While it's true that Tervis products are advertised as being completely free from BPA after 2010, there are still concerns about other chemicals leaching into beverages from plastic containers (cue ominous music).
Specifically, some studies have suggested that certain types of plastics – even those labeled "BPA-free"– may in fact contain similar estrogen-mimicking compounds which could cause health issues over time.
This is because many plastics use alternative chemicals such as bisphenol S (BPS) or bisphenol F (BPF), which are not technically classified as ‘’bisphenols’’, but they share many similarities in structure and behavior in laboratory tests with BPA.
What Alternatives Do We Have Then?
Ideally more consumers would turn towards glass reusable cups that combat these concerns about plastic altogether. But what if you're just not feeling it? You might be left wondering: “what options do I have besides using environmentally unfriendly disposable cups?”
Luckily for us eco-warrior wannabes out there (yes all six of us), there ARE alternatives:
- Stainless Steel tumblers - this option has become increasingly popular amongst coffee enthusiasts.
- Ceramic cups - a bit more fragile but are still very reusable and microwavable.
- Glass insulated tumblers or mugs like KeepCup or JOCO cup. This not only means you will be cutting down on plastic, you'll also look infinitely cooler than anyone in your office who isn't using one.
In Conclusion...
So there you have it! While Tervis products made after January 1st, 2010 don't contain BPA, some may still contain other worrisome chemicals.
But fear not my friends! With the countless options available to us today including ceramic cups and stainless steel tumblers among others (#savetheearth), we can all enjoy our beverages free from any harm while looking cool doing so(mic drop).