Aluminum Bottles Are Environmentally Friendly
100% Recyclable Stainless Steel And Aluminum Do Not Leach Toxins
Aug 1, 2009
Refilling plastic water bottles to help stop filling landfills with plastic water bottles is a common practice. Unfortunately, these bottles are not safe to refill and reuse multiple times. Nearly every American has been exposed to the widely-used chemicals Bisphenol A (BPA) and Phthalates. These “everywhere chemicals” have been labeled endocrine changers because they trigger hormonal changes, according to Elizabeth Weise and Liz Szabo in the October 31, 2007 USA Today article “’Everywhere Chemicals’ in Plastics Alarm Parents.”
The National Academies of Science is working to provide a current report on these chemicals, according to Weise and Szabo, to help the EPA define a reference dose, meaning the maximum amount that scientists believe a person can be exposed to every day without doing harm. Since these reports take time, some companies are taking preventative measures, such as not selling products containing these chemicals, such as WHOLE Foods and Gerber.
These chemicals are used in everything from food containers, coatings inside cans that contain food, catheters, intravenous bags, baby bottles, and water bottles, to name a few products. Those who want to limit their exposure to these chemicals should stop purchasing products containing the “everywhere chemicals.”
Water bottles, for example, may be a good place to start. There are new BPA-free products available for getting in the needed eight glasses of water a day without ingesting what is leached into the water, without adding another empty plastic water bottle to the landfill, and without increasing demand by repetitively purchasing bottled water.
SIGG
Swiss-made SIGG bottles are made of recyclable, reusable, crack-resistant aluminum with a special leach-proof, chip-resistant, taste and scent neutral lining. The bottles, which last more than 15 years, have a thoroughly tested non-toxic, water-based liner, according to the mySIGG.com FAQ page. The liner ensures 0% leaching, meaning both the liner and the aluminum of the bottle will not seep into the liquid. SIGG Switzerland products were initially saucepans, frying pans, and bottles back in 1908. Today the company offers five types of bottles (including one stainless steel thermo bottle line), four types of lids, and over 100 different designs that can be applied to the bottles.
GAIAM
The GAIAM stainless steel bottle is another container helping to reduce environmental impact while keeping drinking water free of unhealthy plastic residues. The lightweight, reusable bottle is made of food grade stainless steel and is completely recyclable. GAIAM also offers a recyclable, reusable, leak-proof aluminum bottle with a lining, and a bottle cap and gasket that were tested for BPA content. BPA was not detected with “reference to EPA 3550C Method,” according to the product use and care information on Life.Gaiam.com. There are roughly 17 designs available for personalizing the aluminum bottle and four designs for the stainless steel model.
Forward-thinking companies such as SIGG Switzerland and GAIAM provide consumers with water bottles free of "everywhere chemicals" while helping them be environmentally responsible.
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