Tritan

Sep 23, 2026

Tritan is a plastic with a brand name. Eastman introduced it in 2007 as a clear, tough copolyester made without bisphenol A, and it soon took polycarbonate's place in most reusable water bottles.

A Nalgene wide-mouth bottle made of Tritan
The bottle Tritan was made for: clear, unbreakable, and scuffed within the month.Photo: Nalgene Wide Mouth water bottle by Olgierd, CC BY 2.0

It keeps a lot. It is as clear as glass, so you can see how much is left, it does not shatter when it falls, it goes in the dishwasher, and it does not hold on to yesterday's coffee.

It also gives some up. It scratches from keys and from grit in the sink, scuffs where the lid rubs, and softens against a hot pan. It is made from oil, and it is not recycled with ordinary plastic bottles.

The same Nalgene bottle, showing its cap and loop
What it does well: you see the level, and it survives the fall.Photo: Nalgene Wide Mouth water bottle by Olgierd, CC BY 2.0

That makes it a good bottle for a child, a gym bag or a car, where glass is a risk and a metal bottle hides how much is left. HEXMONDE does not sell it.