Reusable water bottles, in their own right, have become quite the eco-trend. I’d argue they’re one of the few things even non-Greenophiles have latched on to, saving them time, money, and a trip to the trash can each day. And their popularity has undoubtedly skyrocketed, with stores from Old Navy to Pottery Barn, and everywhere in between, selling their own take on the product.

 

With this rise in popularity also came the rise in awareness concerning the bottles’ ingredients. And, as certain plastics and harmful metals were pushed into the gutters as harmful, unhealthy and un-friendly prospects, with chemicals leeching out of their pores and into the water inside, one company has always stood tall above the rest: Sigg.

 

Sigg bottles, now widely sold all across America, are known for their laser-cut, leak-proof threading, unbreakable body and seemingly harmless contents. And, as the brand grew, the aesthetic exterior options became increasingly trendy and appealing to a limitless variety of tastes.

 

But it was recently revealed, as they debuted their new EcoCare lining, that past versions of the bottle were not purely Green! Could it be, the Angel-child of Green water drinkers had been pulling the cruelty-free wool over our eyes this whole time?

 

It seems that one year ago, as competitors’ bottles were being tested for levels of BPA (Bisphenol-A, a harmful substance found in many plastics that can cause cancer, among other health issues), the Sigg bottles passed the examinations with ease, showing 0 parts per billion of BPA in the water that had been stored inside of them.

 

However, with the new lining boasting that it contains absolutely no BPA, consumers began to wonder if the previous version had had them duped! And, as it turns out, Sigg CEO Steve Wasik ‘fessed up to trace amounts of BPA being used in the production of the previous lining.

 

As he pointed out during an interview with Treehugger.com , the world of BPA safety has changed. When the bottles were being tested, scientists and consumers were only concerned with the amount of BPA they could be consuming in the water that had been sitting inside the Sigg bottle. Now, with heightened alarm about the multifold dangers of BPA, people dont want anything to do with it at all.

 

Perhaps because they are a decent company after all, Sigg has started a voluntary exchange program, for those of us who would like our water bottles to be sans-BPA. If your Sigg was manufactured before August 2008, it will most likely contain trace amounts of the substance, which they will be glad to exchange for a new version of the same bottle. It has also been rumored that Sigg retailers, including Whole Foods, will be exchanging the bottles in-store for free (as opposed to the consumer having to suck up the cost of inbound shipping, as one does when they use Sigg’s direct exchange program ).

 

With BPA still being removed from the actual liquid you’re keeping inside your Sigg, it all comes down to a matter of preference. Science’s vote is still out regarding the actual danger of such trace amounts of BPA, so the former liner may not be harmful at all.  Plus, the company still ranks at the top of the charts when it comes to safe, durable and portable Green drinkware, and is dedicated to continued transparency regarding the contents of their products. So if the thought of BPA reaching your lips gives you the heebie-jeebies, trade that old model in for the new and improved Sigg. But if you’re just fine assuming it wont be making its way into your body, then bottoms up, my friend!

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 6th, 2009 at 5:38 pm and is filed under Healthy Living, The Big Green Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.