diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index f25fd9008b4..7dead7084d3 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -228,11 +228,11 @@ all options to create a configured `config`.
 
 ```go
 // newConfig returns an appropriately configured config.
-func newConfig([]Option) config {
+func newConfig(options ...Option) config {
 	// Set default values for config.
 	config := config{/* […] */}
 	for _, option := range options {
-		option.apply(&config)
+		config = option.apply(config)
 	}
 	// Preform any validation here.
 	return config
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ To set the value of the options a `config` contains, a corresponding
 
 ```go
 type Option interface {
-	apply(*config)
+	apply(config) config
 }
 ```
 
@@ -261,6 +261,9 @@ Having `apply` unexported makes sure that it will not be used externally.
 Moreover, the interface becomes sealed so the user cannot easily implement
 the interface on its own.
 
+The `apply` method should return a modified version of the passed config.
+This approach, instead of passing a pointer, is used to prevent the config from being allocated to the heap.
+
 The name of the interface should be prefixed in the same way the
 corresponding `config` is (if at all).
 
@@ -283,8 +286,9 @@ func With*(…) Option { … }
 ```go
 type defaultFalseOption bool
 
-func (o defaultFalseOption) apply(c *config) {
+func (o defaultFalseOption) apply(c config) config {
 	c.Bool = bool(o)
+    return c
 }
 
 // WithOption sets a T to have an option included.
@@ -296,8 +300,9 @@ func WithOption() Option {
 ```go
 type defaultTrueOption bool
 
-func (o defaultTrueOption) apply(c *config) {
+func (o defaultTrueOption) apply(c config) config {
 	c.Bool = bool(o)
+    return c
 }
 
 // WithoutOption sets a T to have Bool option excluded.
@@ -313,8 +318,9 @@ type myTypeOption struct {
 	MyType MyType
 }
 
-func (o myTypeOption) apply(c *config) {
+func (o myTypeOption) apply(c config) config {
 	c.MyType = o.MyType
+    return c
 }
 
 // WithMyType sets T to have include MyType.
@@ -326,16 +332,17 @@ func WithMyType(t MyType) Option {
 ##### Functional Options
 
 ```go
-type optionFunc func(*config)
+type optionFunc func(config) config
 
-func (fn optionFunc) apply(c *config) {
-	fn(c)
+func (fn optionFunc) apply(c config) config {
+	return fn(c)
 }
 
 // WithMyType sets t as MyType.
 func WithMyType(t MyType) Option {
-	return optionFunc(func(c *config) {
+	return optionFunc(func(c config) config {
 		c.MyType = t
+        return c
 	})
 }
 ```
@@ -370,12 +377,12 @@ type config struct {
 
 // DogOption apply Dog specific options.
 type DogOption interface {
-	applyDog(*config)
+	applyDog(config) config
 }
 
 // BirdOption apply Bird specific options.
 type BirdOption interface {
-	applyBird(*config)
+	applyBird(config) config
 }
 
 // Option apply options for all animals.
@@ -385,17 +392,36 @@ type Option interface {
 }
 
 type weightOption float64
-func (o weightOption) applyDog(c *config)  { c.Weight = float64(o) }
-func (o weightOption) applyBird(c *config) { c.Weight = float64(o) }
-func WithWeight(w float64) Option          { return weightOption(w) }
+
+func (o weightOption) applyDog(c config) config {
+	c.Weight = float64(o)
+	return c
+}
+
+func (o weightOption) applyBird(c config) config {
+	c.Weight = float64(o)
+	return c
+}
+
+func WithWeight(w float64) Option { return weightOption(w) }
 
 type furColorOption string
-func (o furColorOption) applyDog(c *config) { c.Color = string(o) }
-func WithFurColor(c string) DogOption       { return furColorOption(c) }
+
+func (o furColorOption) applyDog(c config) config {
+	c.Color = string(o)
+	return c
+}
+
+func WithFurColor(c string) DogOption { return furColorOption(c) }
 
 type maxAltitudeOption float64
-func (o maxAltitudeOption) applyBird(c *config) { c.MaxAltitude = float64(o) }
-func WithMaxAltitude(a float64) BirdOption      { return maxAltitudeOption(a) }
+
+func (o maxAltitudeOption) applyBird(c config) config {
+	c.MaxAltitude = float64(o)
+	return c
+}
+
+func WithMaxAltitude(a float64) BirdOption { return maxAltitudeOption(a) }
 
 func NewDog(name string, o ...DogOption) Dog    {…}
 func NewBird(name string, o ...BirdOption) Bird {…}
diff --git a/exporters/jaeger/uploader.go b/exporters/jaeger/uploader.go
index 84a517985a7..d907f74b9f3 100644
--- a/exporters/jaeger/uploader.go
+++ b/exporters/jaeger/uploader.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (fn endpointOptionFunc) newBatchUploader() (batchUploader, error) {
 // will be used if neither are provided.
 func WithAgentEndpoint(options ...AgentEndpointOption) EndpointOption {
 	return endpointOptionFunc(func() (batchUploader, error) {
-		cfg := &agentEndpointConfig{
+		cfg := agentEndpointConfig{
 			agentClientUDPParams{
 				AttemptReconnecting: true,
 				Host:                envOr(envAgentHost, "localhost"),
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func WithAgentEndpoint(options ...AgentEndpointOption) EndpointOption {
 			},
 		}
 		for _, opt := range options {
-			opt.apply(cfg)
+			cfg = opt.apply(cfg)
 		}
 
 		client, err := newAgentClientUDP(cfg.agentClientUDPParams)
@@ -76,17 +76,17 @@ func WithAgentEndpoint(options ...AgentEndpointOption) EndpointOption {
 }
 
 type AgentEndpointOption interface {
-	apply(*agentEndpointConfig)
+	apply(agentEndpointConfig) agentEndpointConfig
 }
 
 type agentEndpointConfig struct {
 	agentClientUDPParams
 }
 
-type agentEndpointOptionFunc func(*agentEndpointConfig)
+type agentEndpointOptionFunc func(agentEndpointConfig) agentEndpointConfig
 
-func (fn agentEndpointOptionFunc) apply(cfg *agentEndpointConfig) {
-	fn(cfg)
+func (fn agentEndpointOptionFunc) apply(cfg agentEndpointConfig) agentEndpointConfig {
+	return fn(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithAgentHost sets a host to be used in the agent client endpoint.
@@ -94,8 +94,9 @@ func (fn agentEndpointOptionFunc) apply(cfg *agentEndpointConfig) {
 // OTEL_EXPORTER_JAEGER_AGENT_HOST environment variable.
 // If this option is not passed and the env var is not set, "localhost" will be used by default.
 func WithAgentHost(host string) AgentEndpointOption {
-	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *agentEndpointConfig) {
+	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o agentEndpointConfig) agentEndpointConfig {
 		o.Host = host
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
@@ -104,36 +105,41 @@ func WithAgentHost(host string) AgentEndpointOption {
 // OTEL_EXPORTER_JAEGER_AGENT_PORT environment variable.
 // If this option is not passed and the env var is not set, "6831" will be used by default.
 func WithAgentPort(port string) AgentEndpointOption {
-	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *agentEndpointConfig) {
+	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o agentEndpointConfig) agentEndpointConfig {
 		o.Port = port
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
 // WithLogger sets a logger to be used by agent client.
 func WithLogger(logger *log.Logger) AgentEndpointOption {
-	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *agentEndpointConfig) {
+	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o agentEndpointConfig) agentEndpointConfig {
 		o.Logger = logger
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
 // WithDisableAttemptReconnecting sets option to disable reconnecting udp client.
 func WithDisableAttemptReconnecting() AgentEndpointOption {
-	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *agentEndpointConfig) {
+	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o agentEndpointConfig) agentEndpointConfig {
 		o.AttemptReconnecting = false
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
 // WithAttemptReconnectingInterval sets the interval between attempts to re resolve agent endpoint.
 func WithAttemptReconnectingInterval(interval time.Duration) AgentEndpointOption {
-	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *agentEndpointConfig) {
+	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o agentEndpointConfig) agentEndpointConfig {
 		o.AttemptReconnectInterval = interval
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
 // WithMaxPacketSize sets the maximum UDP packet size for transport to the Jaeger agent.
 func WithMaxPacketSize(size int) AgentEndpointOption {
-	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *agentEndpointConfig) {
+	return agentEndpointOptionFunc(func(o agentEndpointConfig) agentEndpointConfig {
 		o.MaxPacketSize = size
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
@@ -149,7 +155,7 @@ func WithMaxPacketSize(size int) AgentEndpointOption {
 // If neither values are provided for the username or the password, they will not be set since there is no default.
 func WithCollectorEndpoint(options ...CollectorEndpointOption) EndpointOption {
 	return endpointOptionFunc(func() (batchUploader, error) {
-		cfg := &collectorEndpointConfig{
+		cfg := collectorEndpointConfig{
 			endpoint:   envOr(envEndpoint, "http://localhost:14268/api/traces"),
 			username:   envOr(envUser, ""),
 			password:   envOr(envPassword, ""),
@@ -157,7 +163,7 @@ func WithCollectorEndpoint(options ...CollectorEndpointOption) EndpointOption {
 		}
 
 		for _, opt := range options {
-			opt.apply(cfg)
+			cfg = opt.apply(cfg)
 		}
 
 		return &collectorUploader{
@@ -170,7 +176,7 @@ func WithCollectorEndpoint(options ...CollectorEndpointOption) EndpointOption {
 }
 
 type CollectorEndpointOption interface {
-	apply(*collectorEndpointConfig)
+	apply(collectorEndpointConfig) collectorEndpointConfig
 }
 
 type collectorEndpointConfig struct {
@@ -187,10 +193,10 @@ type collectorEndpointConfig struct {
 	httpClient *http.Client
 }
 
-type collectorEndpointOptionFunc func(*collectorEndpointConfig)
+type collectorEndpointOptionFunc func(collectorEndpointConfig) collectorEndpointConfig
 
-func (fn collectorEndpointOptionFunc) apply(cfg *collectorEndpointConfig) {
-	fn(cfg)
+func (fn collectorEndpointOptionFunc) apply(cfg collectorEndpointConfig) collectorEndpointConfig {
+	return fn(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithEndpoint is the URL for the Jaeger collector that spans are sent to.
@@ -199,8 +205,9 @@ func (fn collectorEndpointOptionFunc) apply(cfg *collectorEndpointConfig) {
 // If this option is not passed and the environment variable is not set,
 // "http://localhost:14268/api/traces" will be used by default.
 func WithEndpoint(endpoint string) CollectorEndpointOption {
-	return collectorEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *collectorEndpointConfig) {
+	return collectorEndpointOptionFunc(func(o collectorEndpointConfig) collectorEndpointConfig {
 		o.endpoint = endpoint
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
@@ -209,8 +216,9 @@ func WithEndpoint(endpoint string) CollectorEndpointOption {
 // OTEL_EXPORTER_JAEGER_USER environment variable.
 // If this option is not passed and the environment variable is not set, no username will be set.
 func WithUsername(username string) CollectorEndpointOption {
-	return collectorEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *collectorEndpointConfig) {
+	return collectorEndpointOptionFunc(func(o collectorEndpointConfig) collectorEndpointConfig {
 		o.username = username
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
@@ -219,15 +227,17 @@ func WithUsername(username string) CollectorEndpointOption {
 // OTEL_EXPORTER_JAEGER_PASSWORD environment variable.
 // If this option is not passed and the environment variable is not set, no password will be set.
 func WithPassword(password string) CollectorEndpointOption {
-	return collectorEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *collectorEndpointConfig) {
+	return collectorEndpointOptionFunc(func(o collectorEndpointConfig) collectorEndpointConfig {
 		o.password = password
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
 // WithHTTPClient sets the http client to be used to make request to the collector endpoint.
 func WithHTTPClient(client *http.Client) CollectorEndpointOption {
-	return collectorEndpointOptionFunc(func(o *collectorEndpointConfig) {
+	return collectorEndpointOptionFunc(func(o collectorEndpointConfig) collectorEndpointConfig {
 		o.httpClient = client
+		return o
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/exporter.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/exporter.go
index 2cd90ac435a..36c41cce762 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/exporter.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/exporter.go
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func NewUnstarted(client Client, opts ...Option) *Exporter {
 	}
 
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.apply(&cfg)
+		cfg = opt.apply(cfg)
 	}
 
 	e := &Exporter{
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/envconfig.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/envconfig.go
index a62b548496f..ecf2ecaf9c2 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/envconfig.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/envconfig.go
@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ var DefaultEnvOptionsReader = EnvOptionsReader{
 	ReadFile: ioutil.ReadFile,
 }
 
-func ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg *Config) {
-	DefaultEnvOptionsReader.ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg)
+func ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg Config) Config {
+	return DefaultEnvOptionsReader.ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg)
 }
 
-func ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg *Config) {
-	DefaultEnvOptionsReader.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg)
+func ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg Config) Config {
+	return DefaultEnvOptionsReader.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg)
 }
 
 type EnvOptionsReader struct {
@@ -46,18 +46,20 @@ type EnvOptionsReader struct {
 	ReadFile func(filename string) ([]byte, error)
 }
 
-func (e *EnvOptionsReader) ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg *Config) {
+func (e *EnvOptionsReader) ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg Config) Config {
 	opts := e.GetOptionsFromEnv()
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
+		cfg = opt.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
 	}
+	return cfg
 }
 
-func (e *EnvOptionsReader) ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg *Config) {
+func (e *EnvOptionsReader) ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg Config) Config {
 	opts := e.GetOptionsFromEnv()
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
+		cfg = opt.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
 	}
+	return cfg
 }
 
 func (e *EnvOptionsReader) GetOptionsFromEnv() []GenericOption {
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ func (e *EnvOptionsReader) GetOptionsFromEnv() []GenericOption {
 			} else {
 				opts = append(opts, WithSecure())
 			}
-			opts = append(opts, newSplitOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+			opts = append(opts, newSplitOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 				cfg.Metrics.Endpoint = u.Host
 				// For endpoint URLs for OTLP/HTTP per-signal variables, the
 				// URL MUST be used as-is without any modification. The only
@@ -85,10 +87,12 @@ func (e *EnvOptionsReader) GetOptionsFromEnv() []GenericOption {
 					path = "/"
 				}
 				cfg.Metrics.URLPath = path
-			}, func(cfg *Config) {
+				return cfg
+			}, func(cfg Config) Config {
 				// For OTLP/gRPC endpoints, this is the target to which the
 				// exporter is going to send telemetry.
 				cfg.Metrics.Endpoint = path.Join(u.Host, u.Path)
+				return cfg
 			}))
 		}
 	} else if v, ok = e.getEnvValue("ENDPOINT"); ok {
@@ -101,16 +105,18 @@ func (e *EnvOptionsReader) GetOptionsFromEnv() []GenericOption {
 			} else {
 				opts = append(opts, WithSecure())
 			}
-			opts = append(opts, newSplitOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+			opts = append(opts, newSplitOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 				cfg.Metrics.Endpoint = u.Host
 				// For OTLP/HTTP endpoint URLs without a per-signal
 				// configuration, the passed endpoint is used as a base URL
 				// and the signals are sent to these paths relative to that.
 				cfg.Metrics.URLPath = path.Join(u.Path, DefaultMetricsPath)
-			}, func(cfg *Config) {
+				return cfg
+			}, func(cfg Config) Config {
 				// For OTLP/gRPC endpoints, this is the target to which the
 				// exporter is going to send telemetry.
 				cfg.Metrics.Endpoint = path.Join(u.Host, u.Path)
+				return cfg
 			}))
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/options.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/options.go
index 8cfbc7dfcf8..fed8a82f1c7 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/options.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/options.go
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ func NewDefaultConfig() Config {
 // any unset setting using the default gRPC config values.
 func NewGRPCConfig(opts ...GRPCOption) Config {
 	cfg := NewDefaultConfig()
-	ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(&cfg)
+	cfg = ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg)
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.ApplyGRPCOption(&cfg)
+		cfg = opt.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
 	}
 
 	if cfg.ServiceConfig != "" {
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ func NewGRPCConfig(opts ...GRPCOption) Config {
 type (
 	// GenericOption applies an option to the HTTP or gRPC driver.
 	GenericOption interface {
-		ApplyHTTPOption(*Config)
-		ApplyGRPCOption(*Config)
+		ApplyHTTPOption(Config) Config
+		ApplyGRPCOption(Config) Config
 
 		// A private method to prevent users implementing the
 		// interface and so future additions to it will not
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ type (
 
 	// HTTPOption applies an option to the HTTP driver.
 	HTTPOption interface {
-		ApplyHTTPOption(*Config)
+		ApplyHTTPOption(Config) Config
 
 		// A private method to prevent users implementing the
 		// interface and so future additions to it will not
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ type (
 
 	// GRPCOption applies an option to the gRPC driver.
 	GRPCOption interface {
-		ApplyGRPCOption(*Config)
+		ApplyGRPCOption(Config) Config
 
 		// A private method to prevent users implementing the
 		// interface and so future additions to it will not
@@ -162,128 +162,138 @@ type (
 // genericOption is an option that applies the same logic
 // for both gRPC and HTTP.
 type genericOption struct {
-	fn func(*Config)
+	fn func(Config) Config
 }
 
-func (g *genericOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg *Config) {
-	g.fn(cfg)
+func (g *genericOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return g.fn(cfg)
 }
 
-func (g *genericOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg *Config) {
-	g.fn(cfg)
+func (g *genericOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return g.fn(cfg)
 }
 
 func (genericOption) private() {}
 
-func newGenericOption(fn func(cfg *Config)) GenericOption {
+func newGenericOption(fn func(cfg Config) Config) GenericOption {
 	return &genericOption{fn: fn}
 }
 
 // splitOption is an option that applies different logics
 // for gRPC and HTTP.
 type splitOption struct {
-	httpFn func(*Config)
-	grpcFn func(*Config)
+	httpFn func(Config) Config
+	grpcFn func(Config) Config
 }
 
-func (g *splitOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg *Config) {
-	g.grpcFn(cfg)
+func (g *splitOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return g.grpcFn(cfg)
 }
 
-func (g *splitOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg *Config) {
-	g.httpFn(cfg)
+func (g *splitOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return g.httpFn(cfg)
 }
 
 func (splitOption) private() {}
 
-func newSplitOption(httpFn func(cfg *Config), grpcFn func(cfg *Config)) GenericOption {
+func newSplitOption(httpFn func(cfg Config) Config, grpcFn func(cfg Config) Config) GenericOption {
 	return &splitOption{httpFn: httpFn, grpcFn: grpcFn}
 }
 
 // httpOption is an option that is only applied to the HTTP driver.
 type httpOption struct {
-	fn func(*Config)
+	fn func(Config) Config
 }
 
-func (h *httpOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg *Config) {
-	h.fn(cfg)
+func (h *httpOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return h.fn(cfg)
 }
 
 func (httpOption) private() {}
 
-func NewHTTPOption(fn func(cfg *Config)) HTTPOption {
+func NewHTTPOption(fn func(cfg Config) Config) HTTPOption {
 	return &httpOption{fn: fn}
 }
 
 // grpcOption is an option that is only applied to the gRPC driver.
 type grpcOption struct {
-	fn func(*Config)
+	fn func(Config) Config
 }
 
-func (h *grpcOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg *Config) {
-	h.fn(cfg)
+func (h *grpcOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return h.fn(cfg)
 }
 
 func (grpcOption) private() {}
 
-func NewGRPCOption(fn func(cfg *Config)) GRPCOption {
+func NewGRPCOption(fn func(cfg Config) Config) GRPCOption {
 	return &grpcOption{fn: fn}
 }
 
 // Generic Options
 
 func WithEndpoint(endpoint string) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.Endpoint = endpoint
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithCompression(compression Compression) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.Compression = compression
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithURLPath(urlPath string) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.URLPath = urlPath
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithRetry(rc retry.Config) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.RetryConfig = rc
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithTLSClientConfig(tlsCfg *tls.Config) GenericOption {
-	return newSplitOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newSplitOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.TLSCfg = tlsCfg.Clone()
-	}, func(cfg *Config) {
+		return cfg
+	}, func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.GRPCCredentials = credentials.NewTLS(tlsCfg)
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithInsecure() GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.Insecure = true
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithSecure() GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.Insecure = false
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithHeaders(headers map[string]string) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.Headers = headers
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithTimeout(duration time.Duration) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.Timeout = duration
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/options_test.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/options_test.go
index ee267e4fd00..d82802603e3 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/options_test.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/internal/otlpconfig/options_test.go
@@ -387,9 +387,9 @@ func TestConfigs(t *testing.T) {
 
 			// Tests Generic options as HTTP Options
 			cfg := otlpconfig.NewDefaultConfig()
-			otlpconfig.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(&cfg)
+			cfg = otlpconfig.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg)
 			for _, opt := range tt.opts {
-				opt.ApplyHTTPOption(&cfg)
+				cfg = opt.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
 			}
 			tt.asserts(t, &cfg, false)
 
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/options.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/options.go
index ce8a5f58c5a..bd8706a74d3 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/options.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/options.go
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ import "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric/export/aggregation"
 
 // Option are setting options passed to an Exporter on creation.
 type Option interface {
-	apply(*config)
+	apply(config) config
 }
 
-type exporterOptionFunc func(*config)
+type exporterOptionFunc func(config) config
 
-func (fn exporterOptionFunc) apply(cfg *config) {
-	fn(cfg)
+func (fn exporterOptionFunc) apply(cfg config) config {
+	return fn(cfg)
 }
 
 type config struct {
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ type config struct {
 // aggregation). If not specified otherwise, exporter will use a
 // cumulative temporality selector.
 func WithMetricAggregationTemporalitySelector(selector aggregation.TemporalitySelector) Option {
-	return exporterOptionFunc(func(cfg *config) {
+	return exporterOptionFunc(func(cfg config) config {
 		cfg.temporalitySelector = selector
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetricgrpc/options.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetricgrpc/options.go
index e6d3919eab1..27769ff6b7c 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetricgrpc/options.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetricgrpc/options.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 // Option applies an option to the gRPC driver.
 type Option interface {
-	applyGRPCOption(*otlpconfig.Config)
+	applyGRPCOption(otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config
 }
 
 func asGRPCOptions(opts []Option) []otlpconfig.GRPCOption {
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ type wrappedOption struct {
 	otlpconfig.GRPCOption
 }
 
-func (w wrappedOption) applyGRPCOption(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
-	w.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
+func (w wrappedOption) applyGRPCOption(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
+	return w.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithInsecure disables client transport security for the exporter's gRPC
@@ -77,8 +77,9 @@ func WithEndpoint(endpoint string) Option {
 //
 // This option has no effect if WithGRPCConn is used.
 func WithReconnectionPeriod(rp time.Duration) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.ReconnectionPeriod = rp
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
@@ -117,8 +118,9 @@ func WithHeaders(headers map[string]string) Option {
 //
 // This option has no effect if WithGRPCConn is used.
 func WithTLSCredentials(creds credentials.TransportCredentials) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.Metrics.GRPCCredentials = creds
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
@@ -126,8 +128,9 @@ func WithTLSCredentials(creds credentials.TransportCredentials) Option {
 //
 // This option has no effect if WithGRPCConn is used.
 func WithServiceConfig(serviceConfig string) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.ServiceConfig = serviceConfig
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
@@ -138,8 +141,9 @@ func WithServiceConfig(serviceConfig string) Option {
 //
 // This option has no effect if WithGRPCConn is used.
 func WithDialOption(opts ...grpc.DialOption) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.DialOptions = opts
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
@@ -152,8 +156,9 @@ func WithDialOption(opts ...grpc.DialOption) Option {
 // It is the callers responsibility to close the passed conn. The client
 // Shutdown method will not close this connection.
 func WithGRPCConn(conn *grpc.ClientConn) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.GRPCConn = conn
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetrichttp/client.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetrichttp/client.go
index b472611fb40..aa381f8e038 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetrichttp/client.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetrichttp/client.go
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@ type client struct {
 // NewClient creates a new HTTP metric client.
 func NewClient(opts ...Option) otlpmetric.Client {
 	cfg := otlpconfig.NewDefaultConfig()
-	otlpconfig.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(&cfg)
+	cfg = otlpconfig.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg)
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.applyHTTPOption(&cfg)
+		cfg = opt.applyHTTPOption(cfg)
 	}
 
 	for pathPtr, defaultPath := range map[*string]string{
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetrichttp/options.go b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetrichttp/options.go
index 61dbccc3078..bec26204c74 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetrichttp/options.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetrichttp/options.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ const (
 
 // Option applies an option to the HTTP client.
 type Option interface {
-	applyHTTPOption(*otlpconfig.Config)
+	applyHTTPOption(otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config
 }
 
 // RetryConfig defines configuration for retrying batches in case of export
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ type wrappedOption struct {
 	otlpconfig.HTTPOption
 }
 
-func (w wrappedOption) applyHTTPOption(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
-	w.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
+func (w wrappedOption) applyHTTPOption(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
+	return w.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithEndpoint allows one to set the address of the collector
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func WithMaxAttempts(maxAttempts int) Option {
 		maxAttempts = 5
 	}
 	return wrappedOption{
-		otlpconfig.NewHTTPOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+		otlpconfig.NewHTTPOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 			cfg.RetryConfig.Enabled = true
 
 			var (
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func WithMaxAttempts(maxAttempts int) Option {
 			attempts := int64(maxE+init) / int64(maxI)
 
 			if int64(maxAttempts) == attempts {
-				return
+				return cfg
 			}
 
 			maxE = time.Duration(int64(maxAttempts)*int64(maxI)) - init
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ func WithMaxAttempts(maxAttempts int) Option {
 			cfg.RetryConfig.InitialInterval = init
 			cfg.RetryConfig.MaxInterval = maxI
 			cfg.RetryConfig.MaxElapsedTime = maxE
+
+			return cfg
 		}),
 	}
 }
@@ -126,7 +128,7 @@ func WithBackoff(duration time.Duration) Option {
 		duration = 300 * time.Millisecond
 	}
 	return wrappedOption{
-		otlpconfig.NewHTTPOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+		otlpconfig.NewHTTPOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 			cfg.RetryConfig.Enabled = true
 			cfg.RetryConfig.MaxInterval = duration
 			if cfg.RetryConfig.InitialInterval == 0 {
@@ -135,6 +137,7 @@ func WithBackoff(duration time.Duration) Option {
 			if cfg.RetryConfig.MaxElapsedTime == 0 {
 				cfg.RetryConfig.MaxElapsedTime = retry.DefaultConfig.MaxElapsedTime
 			}
+			return cfg
 		}),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/envconfig.go b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/envconfig.go
index 2d1937beda2..77f13a1937b 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/envconfig.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/envconfig.go
@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ var DefaultEnvOptionsReader = EnvOptionsReader{
 	ReadFile: ioutil.ReadFile,
 }
 
-func ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg *Config) {
-	DefaultEnvOptionsReader.ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg)
+func ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg Config) Config {
+	return DefaultEnvOptionsReader.ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg)
 }
 
-func ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg *Config) {
-	DefaultEnvOptionsReader.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg)
+func ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg Config) Config {
+	return DefaultEnvOptionsReader.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg)
 }
 
 type EnvOptionsReader struct {
@@ -46,18 +46,20 @@ type EnvOptionsReader struct {
 	ReadFile func(filename string) ([]byte, error)
 }
 
-func (e *EnvOptionsReader) ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg *Config) {
+func (e *EnvOptionsReader) ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg Config) Config {
 	opts := e.GetOptionsFromEnv()
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
+		cfg = opt.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
 	}
+	return cfg
 }
 
-func (e *EnvOptionsReader) ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg *Config) {
+func (e *EnvOptionsReader) ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg Config) Config {
 	opts := e.GetOptionsFromEnv()
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
+		cfg = opt.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
 	}
+	return cfg
 }
 
 func (e *EnvOptionsReader) GetOptionsFromEnv() []GenericOption {
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ func (e *EnvOptionsReader) GetOptionsFromEnv() []GenericOption {
 			} else {
 				opts = append(opts, WithSecure())
 			}
-			opts = append(opts, newSplitOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+			opts = append(opts, newSplitOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 				cfg.Traces.Endpoint = u.Host
 				// For endpoint URLs for OTLP/HTTP per-signal variables, the
 				// URL MUST be used as-is without any modification. The only
@@ -85,10 +87,12 @@ func (e *EnvOptionsReader) GetOptionsFromEnv() []GenericOption {
 					path = "/"
 				}
 				cfg.Traces.URLPath = path
-			}, func(cfg *Config) {
+				return cfg
+			}, func(cfg Config) Config {
 				// For OTLP/gRPC endpoints, this is the target to which the
 				// exporter is going to send telemetry.
 				cfg.Traces.Endpoint = path.Join(u.Host, u.Path)
+				return cfg
 			}))
 		}
 	} else if v, ok = e.getEnvValue("ENDPOINT"); ok {
@@ -101,16 +105,18 @@ func (e *EnvOptionsReader) GetOptionsFromEnv() []GenericOption {
 			} else {
 				opts = append(opts, WithSecure())
 			}
-			opts = append(opts, newSplitOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+			opts = append(opts, newSplitOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 				cfg.Traces.Endpoint = u.Host
 				// For OTLP/HTTP endpoint URLs without a per-signal
 				// configuration, the passed endpoint is used as a base URL
 				// and the signals are sent to these paths relative to that.
 				cfg.Traces.URLPath = path.Join(u.Path, DefaultTracesPath)
-			}, func(cfg *Config) {
+				return cfg
+			}, func(cfg Config) Config {
 				// For OTLP/gRPC endpoints, this is the target to which the
 				// exporter is going to send telemetry.
 				cfg.Traces.Endpoint = path.Join(u.Host, u.Path)
+				return cfg
 			}))
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/options.go b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/options.go
index 2af734a9de8..e6fb14e00e8 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/options.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/options.go
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@ func NewDefaultConfig() Config {
 // any unset setting using the default gRPC config values.
 func NewGRPCConfig(opts ...GRPCOption) Config {
 	cfg := NewDefaultConfig()
-	ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(&cfg)
+	cfg = ApplyGRPCEnvConfigs(cfg)
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.ApplyGRPCOption(&cfg)
+		cfg = opt.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
 	}
 
 	if cfg.ServiceConfig != "" {
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ func NewGRPCConfig(opts ...GRPCOption) Config {
 type (
 	// GenericOption applies an option to the HTTP or gRPC driver.
 	GenericOption interface {
-		ApplyHTTPOption(*Config)
-		ApplyGRPCOption(*Config)
+		ApplyHTTPOption(Config) Config
+		ApplyGRPCOption(Config) Config
 
 		// A private method to prevent users implementing the
 		// interface and so future additions to it will not
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ type (
 
 	// HTTPOption applies an option to the HTTP driver.
 	HTTPOption interface {
-		ApplyHTTPOption(*Config)
+		ApplyHTTPOption(Config) Config
 
 		// A private method to prevent users implementing the
 		// interface and so future additions to it will not
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ type (
 
 	// GRPCOption applies an option to the gRPC driver.
 	GRPCOption interface {
-		ApplyGRPCOption(*Config)
+		ApplyGRPCOption(Config) Config
 
 		// A private method to prevent users implementing the
 		// interface and so future additions to it will not
@@ -155,128 +155,138 @@ type (
 // genericOption is an option that applies the same logic
 // for both gRPC and HTTP.
 type genericOption struct {
-	fn func(*Config)
+	fn func(Config) Config
 }
 
-func (g *genericOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg *Config) {
-	g.fn(cfg)
+func (g *genericOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return g.fn(cfg)
 }
 
-func (g *genericOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg *Config) {
-	g.fn(cfg)
+func (g *genericOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return g.fn(cfg)
 }
 
 func (genericOption) private() {}
 
-func newGenericOption(fn func(cfg *Config)) GenericOption {
+func newGenericOption(fn func(cfg Config) Config) GenericOption {
 	return &genericOption{fn: fn}
 }
 
 // splitOption is an option that applies different logics
 // for gRPC and HTTP.
 type splitOption struct {
-	httpFn func(*Config)
-	grpcFn func(*Config)
+	httpFn func(Config) Config
+	grpcFn func(Config) Config
 }
 
-func (g *splitOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg *Config) {
-	g.grpcFn(cfg)
+func (g *splitOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return g.grpcFn(cfg)
 }
 
-func (g *splitOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg *Config) {
-	g.httpFn(cfg)
+func (g *splitOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return g.httpFn(cfg)
 }
 
 func (splitOption) private() {}
 
-func newSplitOption(httpFn func(cfg *Config), grpcFn func(cfg *Config)) GenericOption {
+func newSplitOption(httpFn func(cfg Config) Config, grpcFn func(cfg Config) Config) GenericOption {
 	return &splitOption{httpFn: httpFn, grpcFn: grpcFn}
 }
 
 // httpOption is an option that is only applied to the HTTP driver.
 type httpOption struct {
-	fn func(*Config)
+	fn func(Config) Config
 }
 
-func (h *httpOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg *Config) {
-	h.fn(cfg)
+func (h *httpOption) ApplyHTTPOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return h.fn(cfg)
 }
 
 func (httpOption) private() {}
 
-func NewHTTPOption(fn func(cfg *Config)) HTTPOption {
+func NewHTTPOption(fn func(cfg Config) Config) HTTPOption {
 	return &httpOption{fn: fn}
 }
 
 // grpcOption is an option that is only applied to the gRPC driver.
 type grpcOption struct {
-	fn func(*Config)
+	fn func(Config) Config
 }
 
-func (h *grpcOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg *Config) {
-	h.fn(cfg)
+func (h *grpcOption) ApplyGRPCOption(cfg Config) Config {
+	return h.fn(cfg)
 }
 
 func (grpcOption) private() {}
 
-func NewGRPCOption(fn func(cfg *Config)) GRPCOption {
+func NewGRPCOption(fn func(cfg Config) Config) GRPCOption {
 	return &grpcOption{fn: fn}
 }
 
 // Generic Options
 
 func WithEndpoint(endpoint string) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Traces.Endpoint = endpoint
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithCompression(compression Compression) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Traces.Compression = compression
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithURLPath(urlPath string) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Traces.URLPath = urlPath
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithRetry(rc retry.Config) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.RetryConfig = rc
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithTLSClientConfig(tlsCfg *tls.Config) GenericOption {
-	return newSplitOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newSplitOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Traces.TLSCfg = tlsCfg.Clone()
-	}, func(cfg *Config) {
+		return cfg
+	}, func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Traces.GRPCCredentials = credentials.NewTLS(tlsCfg)
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithInsecure() GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Traces.Insecure = true
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithSecure() GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Traces.Insecure = false
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithHeaders(headers map[string]string) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Traces.Headers = headers
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 func WithTimeout(duration time.Duration) GenericOption {
-	return newGenericOption(func(cfg *Config) {
+	return newGenericOption(func(cfg Config) Config {
 		cfg.Traces.Timeout = duration
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/options_test.go b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/options_test.go
index 20decbc37bc..b12e0bd9a5c 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/options_test.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/internal/otlpconfig/options_test.go
@@ -385,9 +385,9 @@ func TestConfigs(t *testing.T) {
 
 			// Tests Generic options as HTTP Options
 			cfg := otlpconfig.NewDefaultConfig()
-			otlpconfig.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(&cfg)
+			cfg = otlpconfig.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg)
 			for _, opt := range tt.opts {
-				opt.ApplyHTTPOption(&cfg)
+				cfg = opt.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
 			}
 			tt.asserts(t, &cfg, false)
 
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracegrpc/options.go b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracegrpc/options.go
index 0b27a35a8e1..e2e5bd696f6 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracegrpc/options.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracegrpc/options.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 // Option applies an option to the gRPC driver.
 type Option interface {
-	applyGRPCOption(*otlpconfig.Config)
+	applyGRPCOption(otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config
 }
 
 func asGRPCOptions(opts []Option) []otlpconfig.GRPCOption {
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ type wrappedOption struct {
 	otlpconfig.GRPCOption
 }
 
-func (w wrappedOption) applyGRPCOption(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
-	w.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
+func (w wrappedOption) applyGRPCOption(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
+	return w.ApplyGRPCOption(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithInsecure disables client transport security for the exporter's gRPC
@@ -77,8 +77,9 @@ func WithEndpoint(endpoint string) Option {
 //
 // This option has no effect if WithGRPCConn is used.
 func WithReconnectionPeriod(rp time.Duration) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.ReconnectionPeriod = rp
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
@@ -117,8 +118,9 @@ func WithHeaders(headers map[string]string) Option {
 //
 // This option has no effect if WithGRPCConn is used.
 func WithTLSCredentials(creds credentials.TransportCredentials) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.Traces.GRPCCredentials = creds
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
@@ -126,8 +128,9 @@ func WithTLSCredentials(creds credentials.TransportCredentials) Option {
 //
 // This option has no effect if WithGRPCConn is used.
 func WithServiceConfig(serviceConfig string) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.ServiceConfig = serviceConfig
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
@@ -138,8 +141,9 @@ func WithServiceConfig(serviceConfig string) Option {
 //
 // This option has no effect if WithGRPCConn is used.
 func WithDialOption(opts ...grpc.DialOption) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.DialOptions = opts
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
@@ -152,8 +156,9 @@ func WithDialOption(opts ...grpc.DialOption) Option {
 // It is the callers responsibility to close the passed conn. The client
 // Shutdown method will not close this connection.
 func WithGRPCConn(conn *grpc.ClientConn) Option {
-	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
+	return wrappedOption{otlpconfig.NewGRPCOption(func(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
 		cfg.GRPCConn = conn
+		return cfg
 	})}
 }
 
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp/client.go b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp/client.go
index dbc6c5ba785..81487f9b6f9 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp/client.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp/client.go
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ var _ otlptrace.Client = (*client)(nil)
 // NewClient creates a new HTTP trace client.
 func NewClient(opts ...Option) otlptrace.Client {
 	cfg := otlpconfig.NewDefaultConfig()
-	otlpconfig.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(&cfg)
+	cfg = otlpconfig.ApplyHTTPEnvConfigs(cfg)
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.applyHTTPOption(&cfg)
+		cfg = opt.applyHTTPOption(cfg)
 	}
 
 	for pathPtr, defaultPath := range map[*string]string{
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp/options.go b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp/options.go
index 5b52f8fc65c..e550cfb5d51 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp/options.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp/options.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ const (
 
 // Option applies an option to the HTTP client.
 type Option interface {
-	applyHTTPOption(*otlpconfig.Config)
+	applyHTTPOption(otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config
 }
 
 // RetryConfig defines configuration for retrying batches in case of export
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ type wrappedOption struct {
 	otlpconfig.HTTPOption
 }
 
-func (w wrappedOption) applyHTTPOption(cfg *otlpconfig.Config) {
-	w.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
+func (w wrappedOption) applyHTTPOption(cfg otlpconfig.Config) otlpconfig.Config {
+	return w.ApplyHTTPOption(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithEndpoint allows one to set the address of the collector
diff --git a/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/config.go b/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/config.go
index 097afda83ce..305800ddbde 100644
--- a/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/config.go
+++ b/exporters/stdout/stdoutmetric/config.go
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func newConfig(options ...Option) (config, error) {
 		LabelEncoder: defaultLabelEncoder,
 	}
 	for _, opt := range options {
-		opt.apply(&cfg)
+		cfg = opt.apply(cfg)
 
 	}
 	return cfg, nil
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func newConfig(options ...Option) (config, error) {
 
 // Option sets the value of an option for a Config.
 type Option interface {
-	apply(*config)
+	apply(config) config
 }
 
 // WithWriter sets the export stream destination.
@@ -74,8 +74,9 @@ type writerOption struct {
 	W io.Writer
 }
 
-func (o writerOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o writerOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.Writer = o.W
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithPrettyPrint sets the export stream format to use JSON.
@@ -85,8 +86,9 @@ func WithPrettyPrint() Option {
 
 type prettyPrintOption bool
 
-func (o prettyPrintOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o prettyPrintOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.PrettyPrint = bool(o)
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithoutTimestamps sets the export stream to not include timestamps.
@@ -96,8 +98,9 @@ func WithoutTimestamps() Option {
 
 type timestampsOption bool
 
-func (o timestampsOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o timestampsOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.Timestamps = bool(o)
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithLabelEncoder sets the label encoder used in export.
@@ -109,6 +112,7 @@ type labelEncoderOption struct {
 	LabelEncoder attribute.Encoder
 }
 
-func (o labelEncoderOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o labelEncoderOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.LabelEncoder = o.LabelEncoder
+	return cfg
 }
diff --git a/exporters/stdout/stdouttrace/config.go b/exporters/stdout/stdouttrace/config.go
index c645ec86455..6b5a97b04cf 100644
--- a/exporters/stdout/stdouttrace/config.go
+++ b/exporters/stdout/stdouttrace/config.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func newConfig(options ...Option) (config, error) {
 		Timestamps:  defaultTimestamps,
 	}
 	for _, opt := range options {
-		opt.apply(&cfg)
+		cfg = opt.apply(cfg)
 
 	}
 	return cfg, nil
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func newConfig(options ...Option) (config, error) {
 
 // Option sets the value of an option for a Config.
 type Option interface {
-	apply(*config)
+	apply(config) config
 }
 
 // WithWriter sets the export stream destination.
@@ -67,8 +67,9 @@ type writerOption struct {
 	W io.Writer
 }
 
-func (o writerOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o writerOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.Writer = o.W
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithPrettyPrint sets the export stream format to use JSON.
@@ -78,8 +79,9 @@ func WithPrettyPrint() Option {
 
 type prettyPrintOption bool
 
-func (o prettyPrintOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o prettyPrintOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.PrettyPrint = bool(o)
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithoutTimestamps sets the export stream to not include timestamps.
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@ func WithoutTimestamps() Option {
 
 type timestampsOption bool
 
-func (o timestampsOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o timestampsOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.Timestamps = bool(o)
+	return cfg
 }
diff --git a/exporters/zipkin/zipkin.go b/exporters/zipkin/zipkin.go
index 23a44a1ba97..5c7c20049d9 100644
--- a/exporters/zipkin/zipkin.go
+++ b/exporters/zipkin/zipkin.go
@@ -55,26 +55,28 @@ type config struct {
 
 // Option defines a function that configures the exporter.
 type Option interface {
-	apply(*config)
+	apply(config) config
 }
 
-type optionFunc func(*config)
+type optionFunc func(config) config
 
-func (fn optionFunc) apply(cfg *config) {
-	fn(cfg)
+func (fn optionFunc) apply(cfg config) config {
+	return fn(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithLogger configures the exporter to use the passed logger.
 func WithLogger(logger *log.Logger) Option {
-	return optionFunc(func(cfg *config) {
+	return optionFunc(func(cfg config) config {
 		cfg.logger = logger
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 // WithClient configures the exporter to use the passed HTTP client.
 func WithClient(client *http.Client) Option {
-	return optionFunc(func(cfg *config) {
+	return optionFunc(func(cfg config) config {
 		cfg.client = client
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@ func New(collectorURL string, opts ...Option) (*Exporter, error) {
 
 	cfg := config{}
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.apply(&cfg)
+		cfg = opt.apply(cfg)
 	}
 
 	if cfg.client == nil {
diff --git a/metric/config.go b/metric/config.go
index 686ca7c1acb..3f722344fa7 100644
--- a/metric/config.go
+++ b/metric/config.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func (cfg *InstrumentConfig) Unit() unit.Unit {
 type InstrumentOption interface {
 	// ApplyMeter is used to set a InstrumentOption value of a
 	// InstrumentConfig.
-	applyInstrument(*InstrumentConfig)
+	applyInstrument(InstrumentConfig) InstrumentConfig
 }
 
 // NewInstrumentConfig creates a new InstrumentConfig
@@ -46,28 +46,30 @@ type InstrumentOption interface {
 func NewInstrumentConfig(opts ...InstrumentOption) InstrumentConfig {
 	var config InstrumentConfig
 	for _, o := range opts {
-		o.applyInstrument(&config)
+		config = o.applyInstrument(config)
 	}
 	return config
 }
 
-type instrumentOptionFunc func(*InstrumentConfig)
+type instrumentOptionFunc func(InstrumentConfig) InstrumentConfig
 
-func (fn instrumentOptionFunc) applyInstrument(cfg *InstrumentConfig) {
-	fn(cfg)
+func (fn instrumentOptionFunc) applyInstrument(cfg InstrumentConfig) InstrumentConfig {
+	return fn(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithDescription applies provided description.
 func WithDescription(desc string) InstrumentOption {
-	return instrumentOptionFunc(func(cfg *InstrumentConfig) {
+	return instrumentOptionFunc(func(cfg InstrumentConfig) InstrumentConfig {
 		cfg.description = desc
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 // WithUnit applies provided unit.
 func WithUnit(unit unit.Unit) InstrumentOption {
-	return instrumentOptionFunc(func(cfg *InstrumentConfig) {
+	return instrumentOptionFunc(func(cfg InstrumentConfig) InstrumentConfig {
 		cfg.unit = unit
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
@@ -90,7 +92,7 @@ func (cfg *MeterConfig) SchemaURL() string {
 // MeterOption is an interface for applying Meter options.
 type MeterOption interface {
 	// ApplyMeter is used to set a MeterOption value of a MeterConfig.
-	applyMeter(*MeterConfig)
+	applyMeter(MeterConfig) MeterConfig
 }
 
 // NewMeterConfig creates a new MeterConfig and applies
@@ -98,27 +100,29 @@ type MeterOption interface {
 func NewMeterConfig(opts ...MeterOption) MeterConfig {
 	var config MeterConfig
 	for _, o := range opts {
-		o.applyMeter(&config)
+		config = o.applyMeter(config)
 	}
 	return config
 }
 
-type meterOptionFunc func(*MeterConfig)
+type meterOptionFunc func(MeterConfig) MeterConfig
 
-func (fn meterOptionFunc) applyMeter(cfg *MeterConfig) {
-	fn(cfg)
+func (fn meterOptionFunc) applyMeter(cfg MeterConfig) MeterConfig {
+	return fn(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithInstrumentationVersion sets the instrumentation version.
 func WithInstrumentationVersion(version string) MeterOption {
-	return meterOptionFunc(func(config *MeterConfig) {
+	return meterOptionFunc(func(config MeterConfig) MeterConfig {
 		config.instrumentationVersion = version
+		return config
 	})
 }
 
 // WithSchemaURL sets the schema URL.
 func WithSchemaURL(schemaURL string) MeterOption {
-	return meterOptionFunc(func(config *MeterConfig) {
+	return meterOptionFunc(func(config MeterConfig) MeterConfig {
 		config.schemaURL = schemaURL
+		return config
 	})
 }
diff --git a/sdk/metric/controller/basic/config.go b/sdk/metric/controller/basic/config.go
index 01691ecadd1..f3a9830c6af 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/controller/basic/config.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/controller/basic/config.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ type config struct {
 // Option is the interface that applies the value to a configuration option.
 type Option interface {
 	// apply sets the Option value of a Config.
-	apply(*config)
+	apply(config) config
 }
 
 // WithResource sets the Resource configuration option of a Config by merging it
@@ -73,12 +73,13 @@ func WithResource(r *resource.Resource) Option {
 
 type resourceOption struct{ *resource.Resource }
 
-func (o resourceOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o resourceOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	res, err := resource.Merge(cfg.Resource, o.Resource)
 	if err != nil {
 		otel.Handle(err)
 	}
 	cfg.Resource = res
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithCollectPeriod sets the CollectPeriod configuration option of a Config.
@@ -88,8 +89,9 @@ func WithCollectPeriod(period time.Duration) Option {
 
 type collectPeriodOption time.Duration
 
-func (o collectPeriodOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o collectPeriodOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.CollectPeriod = time.Duration(o)
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithCollectTimeout sets the CollectTimeout configuration option of a Config.
@@ -99,8 +101,9 @@ func WithCollectTimeout(timeout time.Duration) Option {
 
 type collectTimeoutOption time.Duration
 
-func (o collectTimeoutOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o collectTimeoutOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.CollectTimeout = time.Duration(o)
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithExporter sets the exporter configuration option of a Config.
@@ -110,8 +113,9 @@ func WithExporter(exporter export.Exporter) Option {
 
 type exporterOption struct{ exporter export.Exporter }
 
-func (o exporterOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o exporterOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.Exporter = o.exporter
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithPushTimeout sets the PushTimeout configuration option of a Config.
@@ -121,6 +125,7 @@ func WithPushTimeout(timeout time.Duration) Option {
 
 type pushTimeoutOption time.Duration
 
-func (o pushTimeoutOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o pushTimeoutOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.PushTimeout = time.Duration(o)
+	return cfg
 }
diff --git a/sdk/metric/controller/basic/config_test.go b/sdk/metric/controller/basic/config_test.go
index d93cc53a677..32757b8a966 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/controller/basic/config_test.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/controller/basic/config_test.go
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ import (
 func TestWithResource(t *testing.T) {
 	r := resource.NewSchemaless(attribute.String("A", "a"))
 
-	c := &config{}
-	WithResource(r).apply(c)
+	c := config{}
+	c = WithResource(r).apply(c)
 	assert.Equal(t, r.Equivalent(), c.Resource.Equivalent())
 
 	// Ensure overwriting works.
-	c = &config{Resource: &resource.Resource{}}
-	WithResource(r).apply(c)
+	c = config{Resource: &resource.Resource{}}
+	c = WithResource(r).apply(c)
 	assert.Equal(t, r.Equivalent(), c.Resource.Equivalent())
 }
diff --git a/sdk/metric/controller/basic/controller.go b/sdk/metric/controller/basic/controller.go
index a684f65678e..ee694056228 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/controller/basic/controller.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/controller/basic/controller.go
@@ -112,13 +112,13 @@ type accumulatorCheckpointer struct {
 // and options (including optional exporter) to configure a metric
 // export pipeline.
 func New(checkpointerFactory export.CheckpointerFactory, opts ...Option) *Controller {
-	c := &config{
+	c := config{
 		CollectPeriod:  DefaultPeriod,
 		CollectTimeout: DefaultPeriod,
 		PushTimeout:    DefaultPeriod,
 	}
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.apply(c)
+		c = opt.apply(c)
 	}
 	if c.Resource == nil {
 		c.Resource = resource.Default()
diff --git a/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic.go b/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic.go
index 08912da0308..71101bc4bce 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/processor/basic/basic.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ type factory struct {
 func NewFactory(aselector export.AggregatorSelector, tselector aggregation.TemporalitySelector, opts ...Option) export.CheckpointerFactory {
 	var config config
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.applyProcessor(&config)
+		config = opt.applyProcessor(config)
 	}
 	return factory{
 		aselector: aselector,
diff --git a/sdk/metric/processor/basic/config.go b/sdk/metric/processor/basic/config.go
index f4cf440cf4c..5170864d7e9 100644
--- a/sdk/metric/processor/basic/config.go
+++ b/sdk/metric/processor/basic/config.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ type config struct {
 }
 
 type Option interface {
-	applyProcessor(*config)
+	applyProcessor(config) config
 }
 
 // WithMemory sets the memory behavior of a Processor.  If this is
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ func WithMemory(memory bool) Option {
 
 type memoryOption bool
 
-func (m memoryOption) applyProcessor(cfg *config) {
+func (m memoryOption) applyProcessor(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.Memory = bool(m)
+	return cfg
 }
diff --git a/sdk/resource/config.go b/sdk/resource/config.go
index 5fa45859b53..d80b5ae6214 100644
--- a/sdk/resource/config.go
+++ b/sdk/resource/config.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ type config struct {
 // Option is the interface that applies a configuration option.
 type Option interface {
 	// apply sets the Option value of a config.
-	apply(*config)
+	apply(config) config
 }
 
 // WithAttributes adds attributes to the configured Resource.
@@ -56,8 +56,9 @@ type detectorsOption struct {
 	detectors []Detector
 }
 
-func (o detectorsOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o detectorsOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.detectors = append(cfg.detectors, o.detectors...)
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithFromEnv adds attributes from environment variables to the configured resource.
@@ -82,8 +83,9 @@ func WithSchemaURL(schemaURL string) Option {
 
 type schemaURLOption string
 
-func (o schemaURLOption) apply(cfg *config) {
+func (o schemaURLOption) apply(cfg config) config {
 	cfg.schemaURL = string(o)
+	return cfg
 }
 
 // WithOS adds all the OS attributes to the configured Resource.
diff --git a/sdk/resource/resource.go b/sdk/resource/resource.go
index 4ef49b314fc..e842744ae91 100644
--- a/sdk/resource/resource.go
+++ b/sdk/resource/resource.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ var errMergeConflictSchemaURL = errors.New("cannot merge resource due to conflic
 func New(ctx context.Context, opts ...Option) (*Resource, error) {
 	cfg := config{}
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.apply(&cfg)
+		cfg = opt.apply(cfg)
 	}
 
 	resource, err := Detect(ctx, cfg.detectors...)
diff --git a/sdk/trace/provider.go b/sdk/trace/provider.go
index 68bdefe0c94..b4fdcd317a4 100644
--- a/sdk/trace/provider.go
+++ b/sdk/trace/provider.go
@@ -93,13 +93,13 @@ var _ trace.TracerProvider = &TracerProvider{}
 // The passed opts are used to override these default values and configure the
 // returned TracerProvider appropriately.
 func NewTracerProvider(opts ...TracerProviderOption) *TracerProvider {
-	o := &tracerProviderConfig{}
+	o := tracerProviderConfig{}
 
 	for _, opt := range opts {
-		opt.apply(o)
+		o = opt.apply(o)
 	}
 
-	ensureValidTracerProviderConfig(o)
+	o = ensureValidTracerProviderConfig(o)
 
 	tp := &TracerProvider{
 		namedTracer: make(map[instrumentation.Library]*tracer),
@@ -256,13 +256,13 @@ func (p *TracerProvider) Shutdown(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 type TracerProviderOption interface {
-	apply(*tracerProviderConfig)
+	apply(tracerProviderConfig) tracerProviderConfig
 }
 
-type traceProviderOptionFunc func(*tracerProviderConfig)
+type traceProviderOptionFunc func(tracerProviderConfig) tracerProviderConfig
 
-func (fn traceProviderOptionFunc) apply(cfg *tracerProviderConfig) {
-	fn(cfg)
+func (fn traceProviderOptionFunc) apply(cfg tracerProviderConfig) tracerProviderConfig {
+	return fn(cfg)
 }
 
 // WithSyncer registers the exporter with the TracerProvider using a
@@ -285,8 +285,9 @@ func WithBatcher(e SpanExporter, opts ...BatchSpanProcessorOption) TracerProvide
 
 // WithSpanProcessor registers the SpanProcessor with a TracerProvider.
 func WithSpanProcessor(sp SpanProcessor) TracerProviderOption {
-	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg *tracerProviderConfig) {
+	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg tracerProviderConfig) tracerProviderConfig {
 		cfg.processors = append(cfg.processors, sp)
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
@@ -298,12 +299,13 @@ func WithSpanProcessor(sp SpanProcessor) TracerProviderOption {
 // If this option is not used, the TracerProvider will use the
 // resource.Default() Resource by default.
 func WithResource(r *resource.Resource) TracerProviderOption {
-	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg *tracerProviderConfig) {
+	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg tracerProviderConfig) tracerProviderConfig {
 		var err error
 		cfg.resource, err = resource.Merge(resource.Environment(), r)
 		if err != nil {
 			otel.Handle(err)
 		}
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
@@ -315,10 +317,11 @@ func WithResource(r *resource.Resource) TracerProviderOption {
 // If this option is not used, the TracerProvider will use a random number
 // IDGenerator by default.
 func WithIDGenerator(g IDGenerator) TracerProviderOption {
-	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg *tracerProviderConfig) {
+	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg tracerProviderConfig) tracerProviderConfig {
 		if g != nil {
 			cfg.idGenerator = g
 		}
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
@@ -330,10 +333,11 @@ func WithIDGenerator(g IDGenerator) TracerProviderOption {
 // If this option is not used, the TracerProvider will use a
 // ParentBased(AlwaysSample) Sampler by default.
 func WithSampler(s Sampler) TracerProviderOption {
-	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg *tracerProviderConfig) {
+	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg tracerProviderConfig) tracerProviderConfig {
 		if s != nil {
 			cfg.sampler = s
 		}
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
@@ -345,13 +349,14 @@ func WithSampler(s Sampler) TracerProviderOption {
 // If this option is not used, the TracerProvider will use the default
 // SpanLimits.
 func WithSpanLimits(sl SpanLimits) TracerProviderOption {
-	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg *tracerProviderConfig) {
+	return traceProviderOptionFunc(func(cfg tracerProviderConfig) tracerProviderConfig {
 		cfg.spanLimits = sl
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 // ensureValidTracerProviderConfig ensures that given TracerProviderConfig is valid.
-func ensureValidTracerProviderConfig(cfg *tracerProviderConfig) {
+func ensureValidTracerProviderConfig(cfg tracerProviderConfig) tracerProviderConfig {
 	if cfg.sampler == nil {
 		cfg.sampler = ParentBased(AlwaysSample())
 	}
@@ -362,4 +367,5 @@ func ensureValidTracerProviderConfig(cfg *tracerProviderConfig) {
 	if cfg.resource == nil {
 		cfg.resource = resource.Default()
 	}
+	return cfg
 }
diff --git a/sdk/trace/sampling.go b/sdk/trace/sampling.go
index 849248638c4..a4ac588f666 100644
--- a/sdk/trace/sampling.go
+++ b/sdk/trace/sampling.go
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ func configureSamplersForParentBased(samplers []ParentBasedSamplerOption) sample
 	}
 
 	for _, so := range samplers {
-		so.apply(&c)
+		c = so.apply(c)
 	}
 
 	return c
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ type samplerConfig struct {
 
 // ParentBasedSamplerOption configures the sampler for a particular sampling case.
 type ParentBasedSamplerOption interface {
-	apply(*samplerConfig)
+	apply(samplerConfig) samplerConfig
 }
 
 // WithRemoteParentSampled sets the sampler for the case of sampled remote parent.
@@ -213,8 +213,9 @@ type remoteParentSampledOption struct {
 	s Sampler
 }
 
-func (o remoteParentSampledOption) apply(config *samplerConfig) {
+func (o remoteParentSampledOption) apply(config samplerConfig) samplerConfig {
 	config.remoteParentSampled = o.s
+	return config
 }
 
 // WithRemoteParentNotSampled sets the sampler for the case of remote parent
@@ -227,8 +228,9 @@ type remoteParentNotSampledOption struct {
 	s Sampler
 }
 
-func (o remoteParentNotSampledOption) apply(config *samplerConfig) {
+func (o remoteParentNotSampledOption) apply(config samplerConfig) samplerConfig {
 	config.remoteParentNotSampled = o.s
+	return config
 }
 
 // WithLocalParentSampled sets the sampler for the case of sampled local parent.
@@ -240,8 +242,9 @@ type localParentSampledOption struct {
 	s Sampler
 }
 
-func (o localParentSampledOption) apply(config *samplerConfig) {
+func (o localParentSampledOption) apply(config samplerConfig) samplerConfig {
 	config.localParentSampled = o.s
+	return config
 }
 
 // WithLocalParentNotSampled sets the sampler for the case of local parent
@@ -254,8 +257,9 @@ type localParentNotSampledOption struct {
 	s Sampler
 }
 
-func (o localParentNotSampledOption) apply(config *samplerConfig) {
+func (o localParentNotSampledOption) apply(config samplerConfig) samplerConfig {
 	config.localParentNotSampled = o.s
+	return config
 }
 
 func (pb parentBased) ShouldSample(p SamplingParameters) SamplingResult {
diff --git a/trace/config.go b/trace/config.go
index 8461a15ccd4..bcc333e04e2 100644
--- a/trace/config.go
+++ b/trace/config.go
@@ -41,20 +41,20 @@ func (t *TracerConfig) SchemaURL() string {
 func NewTracerConfig(options ...TracerOption) TracerConfig {
 	var config TracerConfig
 	for _, option := range options {
-		option.apply(&config)
+		config = option.apply(config)
 	}
 	return config
 }
 
 // TracerOption applies an option to a TracerConfig.
 type TracerOption interface {
-	apply(*TracerConfig)
+	apply(TracerConfig) TracerConfig
 }
 
-type tracerOptionFunc func(*TracerConfig)
+type tracerOptionFunc func(TracerConfig) TracerConfig
 
-func (fn tracerOptionFunc) apply(cfg *TracerConfig) {
-	fn(cfg)
+func (fn tracerOptionFunc) apply(cfg TracerConfig) TracerConfig {
+	return fn(cfg)
 }
 
 // SpanConfig is a group of options for a Span.
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func (cfg *SpanConfig) SpanKind() SpanKind {
 func NewSpanStartConfig(options ...SpanStartOption) SpanConfig {
 	var c SpanConfig
 	for _, option := range options {
-		option.applySpanStart(&c)
+		c = option.applySpanStart(c)
 	}
 	return c
 }
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func NewSpanStartConfig(options ...SpanStartOption) SpanConfig {
 func NewSpanEndConfig(options ...SpanEndOption) SpanConfig {
 	var c SpanConfig
 	for _, option := range options {
-		option.applySpanEnd(&c)
+		c = option.applySpanEnd(c)
 	}
 	return c
 }
@@ -126,19 +126,19 @@ func NewSpanEndConfig(options ...SpanEndOption) SpanConfig {
 // SpanStartOption applies an option to a SpanConfig. These options are applicable
 // only when the span is created
 type SpanStartOption interface {
-	applySpanStart(*SpanConfig)
+	applySpanStart(SpanConfig) SpanConfig
 }
 
-type spanOptionFunc func(*SpanConfig)
+type spanOptionFunc func(SpanConfig) SpanConfig
 
-func (fn spanOptionFunc) applySpanStart(cfg *SpanConfig) {
-	fn(cfg)
+func (fn spanOptionFunc) applySpanStart(cfg SpanConfig) SpanConfig {
+	return fn(cfg)
 }
 
 // SpanEndOption applies an option to a SpanConfig. These options are
 // applicable only when the span is ended.
 type SpanEndOption interface {
-	applySpanEnd(*SpanConfig)
+	applySpanEnd(SpanConfig) SpanConfig
 }
 
 // EventConfig is a group of options for an Event.
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ func (cfg *EventConfig) StackTrace() bool {
 func NewEventConfig(options ...EventOption) EventConfig {
 	var c EventConfig
 	for _, option := range options {
-		option.applyEvent(&c)
+		c = option.applyEvent(c)
 	}
 	if c.timestamp.IsZero() {
 		c.timestamp = time.Now()
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func NewEventConfig(options ...EventOption) EventConfig {
 
 // EventOption applies span event options to an EventConfig.
 type EventOption interface {
-	applyEvent(*EventConfig)
+	applyEvent(EventConfig) EventConfig
 }
 
 // SpanOption are options that can be used at both the beginning and end of a span.
@@ -203,12 +203,14 @@ type SpanEndEventOption interface {
 
 type attributeOption []attribute.KeyValue
 
-func (o attributeOption) applySpan(c *SpanConfig) {
+func (o attributeOption) applySpan(c SpanConfig) SpanConfig {
 	c.attributes = append(c.attributes, []attribute.KeyValue(o)...)
+	return c
 }
-func (o attributeOption) applySpanStart(c *SpanConfig) { o.applySpan(c) }
-func (o attributeOption) applyEvent(c *EventConfig) {
+func (o attributeOption) applySpanStart(c SpanConfig) SpanConfig { return o.applySpan(c) }
+func (o attributeOption) applyEvent(c EventConfig) EventConfig {
 	c.attributes = append(c.attributes, []attribute.KeyValue(o)...)
+	return c
 }
 
 var _ SpanStartEventOption = attributeOption{}
@@ -234,10 +236,16 @@ type SpanEventOption interface {
 
 type timestampOption time.Time
 
-func (o timestampOption) applySpan(c *SpanConfig)      { c.timestamp = time.Time(o) }
-func (o timestampOption) applySpanStart(c *SpanConfig) { o.applySpan(c) }
-func (o timestampOption) applySpanEnd(c *SpanConfig)   { o.applySpan(c) }
-func (o timestampOption) applyEvent(c *EventConfig)    { c.timestamp = time.Time(o) }
+func (o timestampOption) applySpan(c SpanConfig) SpanConfig {
+	c.timestamp = time.Time(o)
+	return c
+}
+func (o timestampOption) applySpanStart(c SpanConfig) SpanConfig { return o.applySpan(c) }
+func (o timestampOption) applySpanEnd(c SpanConfig) SpanConfig   { return o.applySpan(c) }
+func (o timestampOption) applyEvent(c EventConfig) EventConfig {
+	c.timestamp = time.Time(o)
+	return c
+}
 
 var _ SpanEventOption = timestampOption{}
 
@@ -249,9 +257,15 @@ func WithTimestamp(t time.Time) SpanEventOption {
 
 type stackTraceOption bool
 
-func (o stackTraceOption) applyEvent(c *EventConfig)  { c.stackTrace = bool(o) }
-func (o stackTraceOption) applySpan(c *SpanConfig)    { c.stackTrace = bool(o) }
-func (o stackTraceOption) applySpanEnd(c *SpanConfig) { o.applySpan(c) }
+func (o stackTraceOption) applyEvent(c EventConfig) EventConfig {
+	c.stackTrace = bool(o)
+	return c
+}
+func (o stackTraceOption) applySpan(c SpanConfig) SpanConfig {
+	c.stackTrace = bool(o)
+	return c
+}
+func (o stackTraceOption) applySpanEnd(c SpanConfig) SpanConfig { return o.applySpan(c) }
 
 // WithStackTrace sets the flag to capture the error with stack trace (e.g. true, false).
 func WithStackTrace(b bool) SpanEndEventOption {
@@ -261,8 +275,9 @@ func WithStackTrace(b bool) SpanEndEventOption {
 // WithLinks adds links to a Span. The links are added to the existing Span
 // links, i.e. this does not overwrite. Links with invalid span context are ignored.
 func WithLinks(links ...Link) SpanStartOption {
-	return spanOptionFunc(func(cfg *SpanConfig) {
+	return spanOptionFunc(func(cfg SpanConfig) SpanConfig {
 		cfg.links = append(cfg.links, links...)
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
@@ -270,28 +285,32 @@ func WithLinks(links ...Link) SpanStartOption {
 // existing parent span context will be ignored when defining the Span's trace
 // identifiers.
 func WithNewRoot() SpanStartOption {
-	return spanOptionFunc(func(cfg *SpanConfig) {
+	return spanOptionFunc(func(cfg SpanConfig) SpanConfig {
 		cfg.newRoot = true
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 // WithSpanKind sets the SpanKind of a Span.
 func WithSpanKind(kind SpanKind) SpanStartOption {
-	return spanOptionFunc(func(cfg *SpanConfig) {
+	return spanOptionFunc(func(cfg SpanConfig) SpanConfig {
 		cfg.spanKind = kind
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 // WithInstrumentationVersion sets the instrumentation version.
 func WithInstrumentationVersion(version string) TracerOption {
-	return tracerOptionFunc(func(cfg *TracerConfig) {
+	return tracerOptionFunc(func(cfg TracerConfig) TracerConfig {
 		cfg.instrumentationVersion = version
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
 
 // WithSchemaURL sets the schema URL for the Tracer.
 func WithSchemaURL(schemaURL string) TracerOption {
-	return tracerOptionFunc(func(cfg *TracerConfig) {
+	return tracerOptionFunc(func(cfg TracerConfig) TracerConfig {
 		cfg.schemaURL = schemaURL
+		return cfg
 	})
 }
diff --git a/trace/config_test.go b/trace/config_test.go
index 877bd024eeb..a4cafcbcd09 100644
--- a/trace/config_test.go
+++ b/trace/config_test.go
@@ -252,3 +252,71 @@ func TestTracerConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, test.expected, config)
 	}
 }
+
+// Save benchmark results to a file level var to avoid the compiler optimizing
+// away the actual work.
+var (
+	tracerConfig TracerConfig
+	spanConfig   SpanConfig
+	eventConfig  EventConfig
+)
+
+func BenchmarkNewTracerConfig(b *testing.B) {
+	opts := []TracerOption{
+		WithInstrumentationVersion("testing verion"),
+		WithSchemaURL("testing URL"),
+	}
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		tracerConfig = NewTracerConfig(opts...)
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkNewSpanStartConfig(b *testing.B) {
+	opts := []SpanStartOption{
+		WithAttributes(attribute.Bool("key", true)),
+		WithTimestamp(time.Now()),
+		WithLinks(Link{}),
+		WithNewRoot(),
+		WithSpanKind(SpanKindClient),
+	}
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		spanConfig = NewSpanStartConfig(opts...)
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkNewSpanEndConfig(b *testing.B) {
+	opts := []SpanEndOption{
+		WithTimestamp(time.Now()),
+		WithStackTrace(true),
+	}
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		spanConfig = NewSpanEndConfig(opts...)
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkNewEventConfig(b *testing.B) {
+	opts := []EventOption{
+		WithAttributes(attribute.Bool("key", true)),
+		WithTimestamp(time.Now()),
+		WithStackTrace(true),
+	}
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.ResetTimer()
+
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		eventConfig = NewEventConfig(opts...)
+	}
+}