Nov 19, 2025

Stainless Steel vs Plastic: Why Supplement Brands Need Both in 2026 (And How Each Drives a Different Growth Lever)

The supplement industry in the United States is evolving fast. More consumers are adopting daily protein routines, greens, hydration, and wellness supplements—and competition has never been higher. Brands are spending more on creative, manufacturing, influencers, and customer acquisition than ever before.

But one thing remains the same: your growth depends on your customers using your supplements consistently.

And the tool that influences customer consistency more than almost anything else?

The shaker bottle.

After producing millions of custom shaker bottles for supplement brands across the US, we’ve learned one truth that most brands miss:

Custom stainless steel shaker bottles and custom plastic shaker bottles drive completely different growth levers.

They’re not competitors. They’re not interchangeable. And choosing between them is the wrong question.

You need both—because each one supports a different stage of the customer journey.

How Custom Stainless Steel Shaker Bottles Build Loyalty and Daily Habits

Custom stainless steel shaker bottles do something incredibly valuable—something that plastic bottles, giveaways, and freebie merch rarely accomplish:

They become the customer’s “favorite bottle.”

This is where the behavioural magic begins.

We’ve seen it across millions of customers. When someone loves their bottle, they:

leave it on the counter where they see it daily
bring it to the gym because it looks and feels premium
use it in their morning routine
take it with them in the car or work bag
use it simply because they enjoy using it

And when they use their shaker bottle more, they use your supplements more.

This is the psychology behind The Daily Use Effect™—the behavioural loop where daily shaker use leads to daily supplement consumption.

Custom stainless steel shaker bottles amplify this loop because they:

look and feel premium—customers enjoy them
last longer—no cracking, fading, or odor absorption
elevate your brand—premium items create premium brand perception
reinforce habits—they fit into customers’ actual lifestyles
increase daily visibility—they’re left out, not hidden away

In 2026, custom stainless steel shaker bottles are becoming a core retention asset for supplement brands that understand behavioural psychology—and want tools that help customers build consistent daily habits.

Why Custom Plastic Shaker Bottles Still Matter for Supplement Brands

Now here’s where many brands make a mistake.

They hear “stainless steel is the future” and assume plastic is dead.

Plastic isn’t dead. Plastic is essential.

Custom plastic shaker bottles are still the best tool for:

large-scale brand reach
customer acquisition
giveaways and promotions
gym partnerships
event activations
subscription onboarding
wholesale and distributor programs

Plastic scales. It spreads your brand further and faster than anything else in the shaker category.

Custom plastic shaker bottles are perfect for new customers because they:

lower friction to start using your supplements
help customers mix their first shake
work as a “welcome gift” that delights new subscribers
are affordable enough to distribute widely

Plastic fuels the top of the funnel.

It gets your brand into more hands—fast.

The Perfect Combination: Custom Stainless Steel and Custom Plastic Shaker Bottles Working Together

This is the strategy most supplement brands overlook.

It’s not about choosing stainless or plastic. It’s about using both intentionally to support different parts of the customer journey.

Here’s how supplement brands can use the combination strategically:

1. Plastic introduces your brand

Plastic shakers are ideal for:

first-time customer orders
trial kits
retail bundles
affiliate shipments
gym partnerships
mass events and expos

They’re perfect for volume, reach, and acquisition.

2. Stainless deepens the relationship

Once a customer is already familiar with your brand, stainless becomes the “premium upgrade” that builds loyalty.

Custom stainless steel shaker bottles should be used for:

VIP customers
long-term subscribers
ambassadors and influencers
challenge participants
coaching programmes
high-value purchases

Stainless delivers depth—daily use, habit formation, and higher reorder rates.

3. Plastic keeps your brand everywhere

Even as stainless grows, plastic remains the wide-reaching touchpoint that keeps your brand visible across the market.

4. Stainless stays in the customer’s routine

Stainless is the bottle customers keep forever. It becomes part of their morning routine, gym bag, and daily life—driving more supplement consumption.

The Daily Use Effect™: The Behavioural Reason This Strategy Works

We named The Daily Use Effect™ after observing a pattern across millions of shaker users:

The more someone uses their shaker, the more they use their supplements.

Premium bottles get used more because:

they feel better
look better
last longer
signal quality
are enjoyable to use

This is why custom stainless steel shaker bottles are becoming essential tools for retention-driven supplement brands. They help customers build habits—and habits lead to loyalty and reorders.

Which Should You Choose in 2026?

The answer is simple:

You shouldn’t choose. You should combine.

Because:

Plastic spreads your brand
Stainless builds your brand
Plastic grows your audience
Stainless grows your loyalty
Plastic increases reach
Stainless increases retention

Together, they create a complete growth system.

Get a Free Digital Mockup of Your Custom Shakers

If you want to see what your brand looks like on custom stainless steel shaker bottles or custom plastic shaker bottles, our team can create a free digital mockup for you.

Click here to request your free custom mockup.

Premium tools build premium habits — and premium habits build premium brands.