Monday, August 31, 2009
Klean Kanteen vs. the Other Brands
Back in 2007, before the BPA issue, we started stocking Klean Kanteen water bottles and accessories as a viable alternative to plastic. We had a lot of requests for other brands - made from aluminum. Sure, these bottles were cute and came in adorable prints and patterns, but I resisted based on my knowledge from my former career as a water treatment (civil) engineer, about safe aluminum rates in water. When I then found out that the aluminum bottles are generally lined with a polymer to keep the aluminum from leaching into your water, often a proprietary blend of chemicals (proprietary meaning you aren't allowed to know what's in it), that just didn't sit well. Epoxies are chemical cocktails (also learned in my engineering days) and it just felt wrong. Turns out, my gut was right! The following is from Klean Kanteen:
"Dear Friends and Colleagues of Klean Kanteen,
Recent news in the outdoor industry has once again brought much attention and questioning about the presence of the chemical, bisphenol-a (BPA), in reusable bottles. In an August 19, 2009, article by SNEWS, popular bottle makers, Sigg and Laken, publicly acknowledged for the first time that every aluminum bottle made and sold by their companies prior to August 2008 was knowingly lined with an epoxy resin containing BPA. Many scientific studies indicate BPA has the potential to act as an endocrine-disrupter when ingested, and fetuses, infants, and children are most susceptible to develop negative human health effects associated with BPA such as diabetes, heart disease, cancers, infertility, obesity, and neurological disorders.
We empathize with consumers who are now discovering the presence of BPA in their aluminum bottle liners, particularly when they believed they had specifically chosen a BPA-free option. Many years ago, our company recognized the growing scientific concern regarding human exposure to BPA; we introduced stainless steel bottles in 2004 specifically as an alternative to polycarbonate plastic and epoxy-lined aluminum that were the dominant materials for reusable bottles at the time. Since the news regarding Sigg and Laken has also raised questions about stainless steel bottles, we offer some clear answers to alleviate confusion.
Not all metal bottles are created equal when it comes to health and human safety. Ever since the very first Klean Kanteen was released in 2004, we have chosen to make our bottles from high quality, 18/8, food-grade stainless steel – a metal superior in both strength and safety that contains no harmful chemicals or toxins, including BPA. In fact, the National Toxicology Program recommends choosing glass, porcelain, or stainless steel containers to prevent exposure to BPA. And unlike aluminum bottles, there's no requirement for a liner in Klean Kanteens, since stainless steel is recognized around the globe as a safe, food-contact material. Sure it costs more to produce a stainless steel bottle compared to aluminum or plastic, but we've always thought you were worth it.
At Klean Kanteen, our goals are simple: to provide affordable, high quality beverage containers and accessories that are good for people, and good for the planet. We treat our customers like good neighbors, and our partners like dear friends. If you have any further questions about our products or our company, don't hesitate to contact us by phone (530-345-3275) or email."
|
Archives
Brand Labels
Category Labels
Friends of Nurtured
|
Account
Subscribe to Posts [