OK, this is a hot topic...BPA (Bisphenol A) leaching into our water from the polycarbonate plastic in our beloved "Nalgene" bottles.
We were just getting used to the fact that you could kick the crap out of polycarbonate and it wouldn't break, plus it doesn't retain odors or tastes. So is BPA a real health risk? The jury is still out, but IMHO it doesn't really matter, because the market is demanding alternatives to polycarbonate, so we need to be ready. Luckily, the promotional products industry is already responding with several BPA-free water bottle materials. These are very popular items for summer promotions, gyms, walk-a-thons and all sports events, so as long as you know about the alternatives out there, you'll be fine. You also need to get a primer on PLASTICS:
All plastics that can be recycled have that little triangle on the bottom, and there is a number inside that designates the type of plastic. Here are the ones you should be looking for in your new sport bottle:
1: PET (Polyethylene Teraphthalate), the plastic that retail water bottles (Poland Spring) are made of. Although originally designed for single use, there are some great rigid sport bottle designs coming out that use PET.
2: HDPE (high density polyethylene), think "milk jugs" and detergent bottles, you'll be seeing this plastic in some of the new rigid water bottles.
4. LDPE (low density polyethylene), very popular as a squeezable material, think "bike bottle".
5. PP (polypropylene), used in medicine bottles and drinking straws, will be more prevalent.
AVOID:
(3) PVC, Polyvinyl chloride (although some 2008 styles are FDA approved)
(6) PS, Polystyrene
(7) PC, Polycarbonate
In addition to the new plastics, we're seeing more sport bottles in aluminum and stainless steel, which were pretty much limited to the hiking and mountain climbing arena until the BPA issue came up. These are great alternatives...very durable and high perceived value, plus stainless does not retain odors.
I hope this helps, please contact me if you have any other questions or need some specific styles to evaluate.
Jim
We were just getting used to the fact that you could kick the crap out of polycarbonate and it wouldn't break, plus it doesn't retain odors or tastes. So is BPA a real health risk? The jury is still out, but IMHO it doesn't really matter, because the market is demanding alternatives to polycarbonate, so we need to be ready. Luckily, the promotional products industry is already responding with several BPA-free water bottle materials. These are very popular items for summer promotions, gyms, walk-a-thons and all sports events, so as long as you know about the alternatives out there, you'll be fine. You also need to get a primer on PLASTICS:
All plastics that can be recycled have that little triangle on the bottom, and there is a number inside that designates the type of plastic. Here are the ones you should be looking for in your new sport bottle:
1: PET (Polyethylene Teraphthalate), the plastic that retail water bottles (Poland Spring) are made of. Although originally designed for single use, there are some great rigid sport bottle designs coming out that use PET.
2: HDPE (high density polyethylene), think "milk jugs" and detergent bottles, you'll be seeing this plastic in some of the new rigid water bottles.
4. LDPE (low density polyethylene), very popular as a squeezable material, think "bike bottle".
5. PP (polypropylene), used in medicine bottles and drinking straws, will be more prevalent.
AVOID:
(3) PVC, Polyvinyl chloride (although some 2008 styles are FDA approved)
(6) PS, Polystyrene
(7) PC, Polycarbonate
In addition to the new plastics, we're seeing more sport bottles in aluminum and stainless steel, which were pretty much limited to the hiking and mountain climbing arena until the BPA issue came up. These are great alternatives...very durable and high perceived value, plus stainless does not retain odors.
I hope this helps, please contact me if you have any other questions or need some specific styles to evaluate.
Jim
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