How we research
How we research plastic-free products and the science behind them.
We’re a small, independent site, and our plastic-free standards seal reflects our rigorous approach to reviewing, recommending and explaining the science behind plastic-free products.
How a guide gets made
Where do your facts come from?
We read the published study and look it up through its DOI or PubMed record. We note how many samples or people it covered and what it didn’t find. If a result comes from a lab or a small group, the guide says so.
How do you pick products?
We start with what touches your food, water or skin, and we check the materials of the whole product. A steel bottle can still have a plastic lid, and an aluminum one usually has an epoxy liner, so lids, liners, coatings and seals count too. Then we compare the options on how much plastic contact is left and how practical they are for everyday use.
What if a claim comes from the brand?
We name the brand, so you know who’s making the claim. In our water bottle guide, for example, the answer on hot drinks credits Klean Kanteen by name.
Do you test products yourselves?
We don’t run lab tests, and we won’t call a product “tested” unless we ran the test. Our picks are based on the research and on what each product is made of. If we use a product at home, we mention it in the guide.
Do you use AI?
Yes. We use AI to help source studies and as a thought partner, but we ensure our opinions, content and recommendations are always from the authors.
How does the site make money?
Mostly through Amazon, where we earn a commission as an Amazon Associate when you buy through our links. Every guide with affiliate links says so at the bottom, and those links are marked as sponsored.
How do you keep guides current?
We only put a year in a guide’s title when we’ve re-checked its picks that year.
What happens when you get something wrong?
Use the contact page to tell us what’s wrong and where you saw it. We fix factual errors once we’ve checked them.
Our limits
Nothing on this site is medical advice. Cam, who runs the site, has a B.S. in Medical Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. He isn’t a working scientist, which is why our newer guides link every study they cite. More about Cam.