The Hidden Plastic Problem in “Clean” Drinks: Why Verse Chose Glass

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Most people know to avoid single-use plastic bottles, but few realize that even “BPA-free” aluminum cans and bottles contain plastic liners that can degrade into microplastics. These invisible fragments can end up in your drink — and, over time, inside your body.

At Verse, we’ve chosen glass not just for its premium feel but for its purity. Glass is chemically inert — it doesn’t leach, react, or break down into micro- or nanoplastics. In a world saturated with plastic, every sip from a Verse bottle is a statement: wellness without compromise.

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What Are Microplastics, and Why Should You Care?

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Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, formed when larger plastics — bottles, bags, coatings, even synthetic fabrics — break apart under heat, sunlight, and friction .

Recent research estimates humans may ingest the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of plastic each week (University of Newcastle study), primarily through food, water, and air. Microplastics have been found in human blood, lungs, placenta, and brain tissue (Ragusa et al., 2021; Jenner et al., 2023), and once inside the body, they accumulate over time.

Early data suggest these plastics can:

• Trigger inflammation and oxidative stress (Li et al., 2023),
• Disrupt hormone balance via BPA/BPS exposure (Rochester & Bolden, 2015), and
• Contribute to metabolic disorders by altering fat metabolism and insulin signaling (Luo et al., 2022).

While the science is evolving, one thing is clear: beverage packaging is a direct route of exposure — and one you can control.

Aluminum Cans and Bottles Aren’t as Innocent as They Seem

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Aluminum drinks are often marketed as sustainable, but every can and bottle is lined with a plastic resin coating (typically epoxy, polyester, or acrylic) to prevent corrosion (Vilarinho et al., 2019).

Even when labeled BPA-free, these liners can still shed microscopic particles, especially under heat or with acidic liquids (Yang et al., 2011). And replacement chemicals like BPS and BPF may be just as hormonally active as BPA itself (Rochester et al., 2015).

So, “BPA-free” doesn’t mean microplastic-free.

And while aluminum is recyclable, its polymer liners are not — they fragment into the environment, perpetuating contamination.

By contrast, glass is chemically inert, 100 % recyclable, and doesn’t require any liner. That’s why Verse packages every formula in glass — to preserve flavor, purity, and peace of mind.

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The Microplastic–Health Connection

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Emerging studies show that microplastics interact with nearly every system in the body:

• Gut: They can damage intestinal tissue and microbiota, raising risk for metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance (Stock et al., 2021).
• Blood & arteries: Researchers detected polyethylene in carotid artery plaque; patients with these plastics were 4.5 × more likely to experience heart attack, stroke, or death within three years (Wang et al., 2025, The Lancet).
• Liver: Plastic exposure is linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) via oxidative stress and disrupted lipid metabolism (Luo et al., 2022). Ironically, chronic alcohol consumption can cause the same inflammation-driven liver injury.

Reducing microplastic exposure supports long-term metabolic and cardiovascular health — two of Verse’s core wellness pillars.

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Why Verse Chose Glass Bottles and Why It Matters

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At Verse, packaging is part of the formula. Our sculptural glass bottles protect both the product and the person enjoying it.

Glass advantages:

• No plastic liners or synthetic coatings
• Zero leaching or off-flavors
• Infinitely recyclable, with no microplastic runoff

Our formulations — combining adaptogens, electrolytes, and nootropics — are meant to fuel clarity and balance. Glass ensures those ingredients reach you uncompromised.

Because clarity shouldn’t just be a feeling — it should be a standard.

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How to Reduce Microplastic Exposure Daily

• Choose glass or stainless steel over plastic or lined aluminum.
• Never heat food in plastic containers — microwaving accelerates leaching (Khan et al., 2022).
• Filter tap water using a ≤1 μm microfilter; bottled water can contain up to 240 000 nanoplastics per liter (Mason et al., 2018; Zhang et al., 2024, PNAS).
• Replace plastic cutting boards and utensils with wood, bamboo, or silicone — knives release microfragments per cut on polypropylene boards (Yang et al., 2021).
• Favor minimally processed foods; plastic contamination rises with processing level (Catarino et al., 2021).

Each swap compounds. Verse simply starts you from a better baseline.

Verse’s Purity Promise

Zero sugar. Zero toxins. Zero microplastics.

Verse exists to prove that health, design, and sustainability can coexist.

Every bottle is proof that luxury can be clean — that what’s better for your body can also be better for the planet.

Sip the future. Sustain your clarity. Choose glass.

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