What our PF badges mean

Our PF badges tell you how much plastic touches your food or drink in normal use. This is our editorial system, not a formal certification. It helps you skim quickly and choose gear that fits your plastic-reduction goals.

What counts as “contact”? Anything that touches the liquid as you drink or while it’s stored (interior surfaces, spouts, gaskets, straws).

Materials we like: stainless steel, glass, ceramic.

Notes: Some products have exterior plastic (handles, shells) that never touch your drink—that doesn’t affect the rating.

PF-100 (Plastic-Free Contact)

  • Zero plastic or silicone touches your drink in normal use
  • Contact surfaces: stainless, glass, or ceramic only
  • Typical examples: all-steel or ceramic-lined interiors with a non-plastic drink path
  • Best for: people who want 100% plastic-free contact with every sip

PF-Silicone

  • Food-grade silicone touches your drink (e.g., gasket, sipper, straw)
  • Body is usually stainless or ceramic; may include BPA-free plastic parts that don’t touch liquid (outer lid shell, handle)
  • Best for: commuters who want spill/splash resistance without hard plastic in the drink path
  • Example: Fellow Carter Move 16 oz — our BFB #1 pick (PF-Silicone)

Silicone safety — how we use it

TL;DR
We prefer glass/steel when it comes to containers that touch our food. We allow PF-Silicone only as a gasket/seal in lids for leak-proofing. No silicone storage bags. Be cautious with high heat + oily foods, and buy from reputable sellers. Look for cues like platinum/food-grade, temp rating, dishwasher-safe, and ideally FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 or LFGB references.

What is silicone?
A silicon-oxygen-based polymer (not a typical carbon plastic) that behaves “plastic-like.”

Is it safe?
Food-contact silicone is permitted within migration limits (e.g., FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, LFGB). Real-world safety depends on the specific product and how you use it (temperature, time, fat content).

Care & use tips
Wash before first use and air-dry. Avoid sharp tools/abrasives. Obey the maker’s max temperature. Replace if sticky, cracked, or smelly. Keep sous-vide/reheat times reasonable.

PF-Lid-Off

PF-Lid-Off badge (plastic-free at food contact; lid has plastic)
  • Lid contains plastic that would touch your drink, but you drink with the lid removed
  • Carry with the lid on; remove it to sip for plastic-free contact
  • Best for: tasting/office mugs where you don’t need sip-while-walking

Why we use this system

  • Quick, beginner-friendly labels
  • Helps you balance taste, spill-resistance, and plastic contact
  • We buy, research, or conduct hands-on tests on items where possible and update ratings as designs change

Disclosures:

  • We use affiliate links. If you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
  • Ratings are editorial opinions, not manufacturer claims

FAQ

Why not just “BPA-free”? BPA-free can still mean other plastics touch food. Our badges make contact clarity obvious.

Which badge is “best”? PF-100 is the strictest. PF-Lid-Off and PF-Silicone are solid choices when used as directed.

See it in action

Best spill-resistant commuter coffee mug → Fellow Carter Move 16 oz (PF-Silicone)