The Stanley Quencher has saturated the market lately, but new concerns over lead contamination may be dampening its popularity. Just as social media fueled its rise, recent posts questioning the safety of the tumblers are voicing their concerns.

Stanley quickly weighed in, saying in a statement that an “industry standard pellet” of lead is used during the manufacturing process to seal the vacuum insulation, but the area is then covered with a durable stainless steel layer. However, if that barrier is compromised, which a Stanley spokesperson says is possible but rare, then consumers could come into contact with the lead.

“Rest assured that no lead is present on the surface of any Stanley product that comes into contact with the consumer nor the contents of the product,” the Stanley spokesperson told TODAY.com.

Of course, like any viral controversy, there’s more to the story. Fact checking site Snopes.com rates the claim that Stanley tumblers contain an unsafe amount of lead as a mixture of true and false:

“The construction of a Stanley tumbler involves lead-based solder, but this material does not come into contact with the beverage and is hidden under a disc on the bottom of the tumbler,” writes Jack Izzo. “The cup is safe to drink from; but if the disc falls off and exposes the solder, you should get a replacement.”

Drinkware is a perennial top seller in promo, and there are plenty of other options, whether brand names or promo-only products. Promo suppliers are well aware of the new Stanley controversy, and many offer their own take on the 40-oz. tumbler, plus a variety of other trusted retail brands.

For example, Pennsylvania-based PCNA, which carries several Stanley products, also carries Hydro Flask, which has been lead-free for more than a decade.


gray 40-oz. travel tumbler with handle, lid, straw and custom logo

The 40-oz. Hydro Flask All Around Travel Tumbler comes in gray or black and features a handle and flexible straw with a snug-fitting, splash-resistant press-in lid. The double-wall vacuum insulation keeps drinks cold or hot for hours, and the powder coasted exterior is sweat-free. BPA free and lead free.

PCNA / PPAI 113079, S15 / pcna.com

Liz Haesler, global chief merchandising officer at PCNA, the No. 7 supplier in the inaugural PPAI 100, says Stanley products have passed safety and compliance tests as well, and that documentation can be found on PCNA’s asset portal and product pages. “Transparency is key to trust, and we ensure that our customers have unimpeded access to all relevant product safety information,” she told PPAI Media earlier this week.

While it’s true that the traditional method of sealing vacuum drinkware uses a drop of glass-encased lead at the base of each piece, newer technologies allow the same results without using any lead. New York-based Starline, the PPAI 100 No. 13 supplier, says it began manufacturing vacuum-sealed drinkware with a lead-free sealing process in 2017, the first promo supplier to do so. The Starline website highlights products that are lead-free or “lead-free in all accessible components” with easy-to-read icons.

Starline drinkware product listings showing "lead-free" items

In 2020, Brian Porter, now Starline’s chief revenue officer, told PPAI Media that the company wanted to produce a product that would be kept for years and leave an environmentally friendly footprint. “Our drinkware is safe and lead-free from its inception,” he added, “all the way through to the hands of the user, and even after the lifespan of the product is finally over.”

multicolored travel mugs with handle, lid and logo decoration

The new 40-oz. Urban Peak Apex Ridge Vacuum Travel Mug features a lead-free vacuum-insulated copper liner and sweat-free powder-coated finish. Includes clear Tritan straw and flip top with Tritan snap-locking closure lid and straw hole. Comes in four colors with a one-year limited warranty.

Starline / PPAI 112719, S10 / starline.com

In addition to its own brands, California-based ETS Express carries Owala, a brand that says its products have always been lead free.

candy-colored owala 40-oz. tumbler with handle, straw and custom logo

This limited-release 40-oz. Owala Tumbler comes in three trendy color combinations (candy store shown). Its double-wall vacuum insulation is lead-free, and the threaded lid includes sip and straw openings.

ETS Express / PPAI 135148, S11 / etsexpress.com

Other brands took to social media to tout their lead-free-ness, like Klean Kanteen, also available from promo suppliers.

In a separate post, Klean Kanteen says that sealing insulated bottles with lead-free plugs costs up to seven times more. When Starline introduced the technology to its facilities, the company also had to quarantine the lead-free products to prevent cross-contamination.

To learn more about these kinds of issues, and to stay up-to-date on product safety topics and regulations, mark your calendar for PPAI’s Product Responsibility Summit this September. PPAI members can access previous Summit sessions in the Product Safety Awareness module or by searching for the event on the PPAI Education page.