When we started building KALU,

We didn't know this

We knew we wanted a cup that worked. That kept coffee hot. That didn't leak. That tasted like coffee and nothing else. What we didn't know was how much there was to learn about what goes into a cup, and how little of it most brands share.

That's changing. And we think everyone who drinks from a cup every day deserves to know what's in it.

What builds up over time

The issue isn’t one exposure.

But small amounts of certain substances, absorbed repeatedly over months and years, can accumulate. Heavy metals build up in tissue. Endocrine disruptors interfere with hormonal signals, metabolism, sleep, mood, gradually, in ways that are hard to trace back to a source.

It has happened before with everyday products. Not through bad intention. Through the gap between assuming something is safe and actually checking.

When “good enough” isn’t enough

There are two main ways drinkware gets tested.

One, FDA, checks if the total amount of migration stays under a general limit. If it’s below that number, it passes. That’s the minimum New Zealand asks for.

The other, LFGB (German / EU-aligned standard), doesn’t just ask “how much.” It asks what exactly is migrating — from every material, every component — under real-life conditions like heat and acidity.

The difference is in how deep it goes

LFGB tests the finished product, not just the raw material. It looks at specific substances one by one, applies stricter limits in many cases, and even checks whether heat and time change the taste or smell.

Curious to go deeper?

Here's exactly what KALU is tested for ↓

Heavy metals migration

Lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, tested to confirm none migrate into your drink at detectable levels. Most cups pass a basic check. We wanted more.

BPA & harmful plastics

BPA is the one most people know about, but it's not the only one worth checking. We test the whole family of endocrine-disrupting compounds, not just the headline chemical.

PAHs

Compounds that can hide in surface coatings, dyes, and manufacturing residue. Tested to confirm zero detectable levels in every component.

Phthalates

Used to make plastics flexible, which means they can turn up in unexpected places. We check every food-contact component, not just the obvious ones.

Taste & odor

Your coffee should taste like your coffee. The ceramic interior is tested to ensure it adds nothing, no metallic note, no chemical residue, no aftertaste. Just your drink.

Full report available at hello@kalu.co.nz

Order yours →