Non-toxic Glassware Made in the USA proves to be safe for enjoying your favorite beverages while also being a great addition to your table. Shop all price points from notable brands.
American Made Non Toxic Drinking Glasses
I’ve always admired people who can set an attractive table, whether for guests or for everyday family enjoyment. They know which side of the plate the utensils go on, where the napkin should go, and they have matching drinking glasses.
Wait. Matching drinking glasses? Not a recycled jar left over from pickles or those tiny jars of cheese I buy during the holidays?
While I’m not recommending you run out and buy the most expensive glassware you can find, it might be nice to get rid of your pickle and cheese jars to buy a set of pretty glassware. Consider drinking glasses made with bright colors, or they have pretty, long stems. That “shot glass” doubles for a great orange juice container. For some brands, each glass is a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
Whatever you choose, make sure you’re choosing the safest drinking glasses for the people you love.
You want what you’re drinking your favorite beverage in to be safe from harmful components. Refer to our list below and rest in the knowledge you’re buying non-toxic glassware made in the USA.
Shopping for dinner plates? Check out the safest dishes you can buy: Best Dinnerware Sets Made in the USA
What Makes Glassware Non Toxic?
Low-quality glassware might contain higher levels of lead and cadmium. While these two materials help in the melting process of making glass, they also are unsafe for your personal health.
You might have heard about lead being found in drinking water in some American cities or in old paint inside a home, but lead can also exist in a number of household products. These products include inexpensive, imported glassware or antique glasses. USA agencies, on the other hand, work hard to ensure we’re not ingesting lead. Doing so eventually can lead to some pretty serious health issues, including memory loss, nerve damage, constant headaches, and even more serious problems.
A second material to be aware of is cadmium. Cadmium is another heavy metal typically found in electronic devices or even cookware or utensils. Like its cousin lead, if significant amounts of cadmium build up in the body, people can experience kidney problems and other health issues. Some cancers might even be attributed to this toxic metal.
Non-toxic glassware does not contain these two leads or any other harmful components. As a matter of fact, most, if not all, of the American glassware producers eliminate these harmful leads.
The USA Love List of non-toxic glassware is safe glassware.
Interested in shopping for non-toxic glass food storage? Check out this article: Best Non Toxic Food Storage Containers Made in the USA
Materials To Look For in Safe Glassware
The safest drinking glasses combine the use of several non-toxic raw materials. The most common material is silica or silicon dioxide. Soda ash, or sodium carbonate, is another safe ingredient. Glassware and some glass bakeware contain soda-lime glass.
A final type of glass that’s safe and eco-friendly is borosilicate glass, made from boron trioxide combined with several of the ingredients mentioned above. This type of glass has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, which is a fancy way of saying it won’t crack with liquids of higher temperatures. The best thing to know is this kind of glass is thermal-shock resistant.
Now that you’ve had a brief chemistry lesson, let’s move on to how safe glassware is made.
A Note About Heirloom Glassware
While you might want to hang onto glassware handed down throughout several generations, beware those antique glass products just might contain harmful levels of lead or small amounts of other compounds no longer deemed safe. Lead crystal is one of the culprits. Avoid lead poisoning by keeping these glass dishes on the shelf. You'll find several long-stemmed options in our list of glassware. These selections are free from toxic chemicals.
How is Non Toxic Glassware Made?
It takes a long time to make quality glassware.
The best options for safe glassware undergo a similar manufacturing process, at least initially. The ingredients come together under extremely high heat to create a liquid. Then the liquid is shaped by using either a mold or glass blowing techniques, a painstaking artistic method. After cooling and undergoing several other processes that make a nonporous, solid material, your glassware becomes that perfect piece to accentuate your place setting.
Why Buy Made in the USA Glassware?
The US glass industry is scrutinized, not only in the materials being used but also in the production process. Whereas other countries can use inferior materials and cut corners in production, the USA has OSHA, the EDA, and the US office of environmental health watching how your glassware is made. You’re pretty much guaranteed your glassware is safe.
While human health is the biggest reason for buying safe drinking glasses made in the USA, there are other reasons for buying USA products. In a nutshell, you’re supporting the economy, American manufacturing, and American workers. Some of the companies we list have been around for over a century.
Now that we've shared the importance of buying American-made, safe drinking glasses, let's get to the list!
Non Toxic Glassware Made in USA
If you know of non-toxic glassware made in the USA not included on our list, please leave a comment below and we'll be sure to check it out!
Anchor Hocking
Anchor Hocking Glass has been making glassware and bakeware in Lancaster, Ohio since 1905 and has an additional production facility in Pennsylvania. One of the largest glass manufacturers in the world, the company offers a wide variety of glassware for everyday use. This glassware is made from heat-strengthened soda lime glass that's lead-free.
Ball Jars
Consider Ball Jars for informal glassware! Ball canning jars have been made in the USA since 1884. While many consider these jars the best for food preservation or food storage containers, they’re also some of the safest options to use as everyday drinking glasses. Where else can you get a dozen “glasses” for under $15?
Note: Not everything with the Ball label is made in the USA. I recommend sticking with the canning jars and lids, both made in the USA. Check out the Ball website for product descriptions and origins of the product, then shop an authorized retailer in-store or online.
Retailers include Lehman’s, Ace Hardware, Walmart, and Amazon.
BenShot
BenShot, made by a father-son duo, makes some of the coolest, most unique-looking glassware on our list! Although these glasses are labeled by their traditional names (“rocks,” “shot,” “wine,” and “pint”), you can also re-frame their uses as “juice,” “lemonade,” “iced tea,” and so on. The most unique thing about these glasses is each one has some sort of item embedded into the side of it. Think fishing lure, guitar pick, golf ball, or faux bullet. You can also buy these glasses in sets or have them personalized. BenShot also packages these beauties with packaging made in the USA, making the company 100% American-made. They carry a lifetime guarantee, and they're made in Wisconsin.
Related: 10 Things We Love, Made in Wisconsin
Blenko Glass Company
Blenko Glass Company has been a family-owned glass company since 1893. It is located in my hometown of Milton, West Virginia. This heirloom-quality, everyday glassware is handblown by skilled craftsmen who incorporate incredible designs and color. The glassware is silica based and also has soda ash from recycled glass. You’ll be in good company if you choose Blenko glassware, as its glass is featured in museums throughout the country. Because I collect dishes, I am in the process of collecting one of every color in the Large Dimple Glass. I highly recommend these or any other selection!
Find a few Blenko Glass products on Amazon.
Related: Things We Love Made in West Virginia
Drinique
It feels a little wrong to include plastic glassware (is that an oxymoron?) in our list, but I just can’t help myself. Sometimes life calls for pretty drinkware that won’t break. Drinique pioneered the use of BPA-free, “Tritan CoPolyester” in drinkware, making it durable but also elegant with a truly glass-like look and feel. The company also offers a lifetime guarantee against cracking and breaking. It’s also dishwasher-safe. You can also have some pieces engraved. Drinique is non-toxic.
Libbey
Libbey has great customer service, not to mention a great selection of made-in-the-USA drinkware. I received an email response confirming that SOME of the Libbey drinkware is American-made. According to a Libbey associate, here’s how to search: “We have a filter that allows you to search for ‘Made in USA’ products, and we list the country of origin in the description for all of our products. If you have any specific questions about products, don't hesitate to reach out and we can look up the origin.” Great customer service is a strong reason for buying made in the USA. Libbey has been around for over 200 years and is located in Ohio.
Note: Not every Libbey selection is made in the USA. The link we provide goes directly to made-in-the-USA glassware.
You can also shop for select items on Amazon, but look for “made in the USA” in the description.
Mosser Glass
If you like antique glassware, avoid older versions that might be made with lead or cadmium. Instead, choose Mosser Glass. Mosser Glass has been manufacturing quality hand-pressed glass for over 30 years. Located in Cambridge, Ohio, the company offers both classic and contemporary designs in several styles and colors. Mosser pulls from its extensive collection of cast iron molds to make each glass from soda ash, silica sand, and extremely high heat. You can also shop for matching pitchers, cake stands, and more. If you’re an Ohio State fan, Mosser offers some pretty cool OSU selections, too.
Shop tumblers, mugs, stemware, and other styles. Shop on the Mosser website or find selections online at Amazon, Walmart, Vermont Country Store, and Food52.
Related: 10 Products We Love: Made in Ohio
North Drinkware
North Drinkware brings hand-blown drinking glasses to your table that are crafted with care in Portland, Oregon. Because these makers celebrate the mountainous regions in the US, you’ll see some design elements reflecting their love for these iconic places. North Drinkware also aligns its company with nonprofits for every region it creates a glass for.
Related: Things We Love, Made in Oregon
Simon Pearce
Simon Pearce makes its glassware using centuries-old techniques: glassblowing. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind beauty that’s meant to be used every day. The company also has an online gift registry for weddings. Simon Pearce is a wonderful representation of Vermont’s high-quality artistry. The company also makes pottery, dishware, and home décor.
Related: 10 Things We Love, Made in Vermont
Related: 10 Products We Love: Made in Georgia
Terrane Glass Co.
Distinguished glassblower Colin O’Reilly crafts some of the clearest, strongest, and most beautiful barware and glassware you’ll find on the market. His shop, Terrane Glass Company, is located in North Carolina’s Spruce Pine area, home to mineral and gem deposits, including silica. You’ll be tempted to store these, but they’re worthy to be used every day.
Tervis
Like the Drinique and Smile Drinkware USA brands listed above, I can’t write a post about drinkware made in the USA without mentioning Tervis. Tervis, located in Florida, makes double-insulated plastic drinkware that’s sweatproof and top-rack dishwasher safe. They also carry a lifetime guarantee. I actually own over a dozen of these shatterproof, BPA-free cups. I have also given several as gifts. I would describe these as informal but interesting, as Tervis carries a TON of designs, including those you can customize.
NOTE: Only Tervis Tumblers (made of plastic) are made in the USA. The stainless steel drinkware is imported.
Check out these other articles related to safe cooking and serving!
- Six American Made Eco Friendly Home Products
- Made in USA Cookware: Source List for Pots & Pans
- American Made Household Goods We Love
- Kitchen Knives Made in USA
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What a terrible article. You should have submitted this to Forbes. It’s disgusting you promote companies that play off of the health and wellbeing of Americans! Posting junk companies that charge 40-60 dollars for an eight ounce glass is pure and simple greed. You and them are terrible people.