As consumers, we're bombarded with messages telling us to
buy this, not that; to be active; and to do the right thing. Lately, many of
the calls to do the right thing refer
to environmental initiatives, such as the conversation of fossil fuels. One way
consumers are prompted to use less fuel is to opt for a reusable drinking
bottle.
Back
in 2007, I wrote about my love/hate relationship with my Nalgene bottle. I
(still) love it because it's easy, convenient, and doesn't cost anything to
fill it up. The problem was (and remains) that these bottles can leech
chemicals, like Bisophenol A (BPA), as they age.
Not long ago, a new alternative to plastic bottles began to
appear – the SIGG bottle. These sleek, metal bottles are attributed with having
ecological benefits, high standards of quality, and the SIGG lifestyle.
The SIGG demographic is largely focused on consumers who are
environmentally-conscious, as 1% of their profits are donated to the non-profit
organization 1% For the
Planet. Fashionistas and the style-conscious are also part of the SIGG scope.
In 2008, the company recruited world-renowned fashion designers to create
custom bottles, which were then auctioned off as part of an environmental
fundraiser.
Looks Good and Serves
a Purpose. What's the Problem?
Considering all the positives attributed with SIGGs,
consumers felt good about their choice of water bottle. However, early this
September, Steve Wasik, CEO of SIGG Switzerland, released a statement warning
users that bottles produced before August 2008 contained liners that may be
linked to Bisophenol A.
In the release, Wasik claims that the liners in question
were produced before BPA was under scrutiny. Until this time, the United States
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced, "The science we have reviewed
does not justify recommending that anyone discontinue using products containing
BPA."
When the risks of BPA leeching began to come to light in
early 2008, however, an increasing amount of consumers began switching from
plastic bottles like Nalgene to metal or aluminum bottles, like SIGGs. Up until
this point of transition, SIGG bottles contained a liner containing trace
amounts of BPA.
New Liners, No
Worries (For Now?) 
Since then, SIGG began using a new "EcoCare" liner in August
2008. According to Wasik, SIGG began developing the new liners in June 2006, in
light of the controversy surrounding BPA. After two years of testing, the new
liners became commonplace in all SIGG bottles. Testing for the EcoCare lining
can be found on their
website.
The new liners boast a "powder-based co-polyester liner", as
opposed to the "proprietary water-based epoxy liner used in earlier bottles.
People who purchased SIGG bottles before August 2008 can
exchange their bottles for a newer one via the instructions on this
page.
Thoughts
Sometimes it seems that consumers will never catch a break.
We try to stay healthy by drinking bottled water, but we're told that the
plastic bottle is killing the environment. We switch to reusable bottles like
SIGG or Nalgene, only to learn they contain potentially harmful chemicals that
may leech into our bodies. Consumers who ask for glass as an alternative are told
that glass is too expensive.
Then there's the fear-mongering that's so prevalent and
aiming to keep consumers worried and on their toes – or hopefully, even buying more stuff. I want to know, where does
it end?
Resources:
http://www.sigg.com/news-media/news/news-detail/ceo-letters-about-our-liners
http://justbento.com/sigg-water-bottle-controversy-and-water-bottle-conundrum
Related articles:
Poisonous
Plastics
Poisonous
Plastics – Part Two: Human Effects
Poisonous
Plastics – Part Three: What to Do?
Bottled H2
Oh-No!
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