Thank you for reaching out and sharing your feedback, we truly value your opinion and have passed it along to the Culligan team. I can confirm this was not a cost-savings decision, but a commitment to sustainability.
Culligan made several design updates to the filter to reduce plastic use. Simply switching to the new peel-off lid saves approximately 170,000 pounds of plastic every year — the equivalent of 6.37 million single-use water bottles, or about 12 bottles kept out of landfills every minute, every day, all year long.
I can also say with full confidence that you should have no concerns about the safety of your water in regard to the peel lid. Your filter has 5 layers to remove contaminants in your water.  The filter itself would immediately remove any remaining material from the peel off lid, if some were to remain.
We appreciate your passion for our products and for helping us make smarter choices for the planet.