SIGG water bottles contain BPA

Remember the giant BPA scare in 2007 and 2008? Everyone ditched the iconic Nalgene for metal water bottles from the likes of SIGG and Kleen Kanteen believing metal bottles to be safer. Well as it turns out, that might not have been 100% true. According to a recent article in SNEWS, many aluminum bottles actually contain BPA, including those by SIGG. This is due to the fact that aluminum bottles must be coated on the inside to protect from reactions with the metal.

When treehugger asked SIGG a year and a half ago if their bottles contained BPA, they responded with:

“As there are many copy-cat manufacturers in the market (most based in China) that would like to get their hands on this formula, our supplier has an agreement with SIGG to keep his formula confidential.”

While this answer is strictly true, it is misleading in that it doesn’t actually answer the question that was asked. The fact that the bottle liner contains BPA isn’t a trade secret and should have been disclosed to the public. What makes this even more incredulous is that according to Gear Junkie, the SIGG PR team was one of the people behind the BPA scare using Nalgene as a scapegoat.

SIGG CEO Steve Wasik now admits that prior to August 2008, the company’s bottles contained amounts of BPA in the lining. After August 2008, the company switched linings to a BPA free version. The press release of the announcement is available here.

SIGG have fallen back on the defense that their bottles test at ‘no detectable levels of BPA’. As treehugger points out, the science on the subject suggests that BPA can have an effect on people when in concentrations as low as a few parts per trillion. All of the BPA tests are run at parts per billion.

The company does point out (rightfully so), that other aluminum bottles have significantly higher levels of BPA here. So, where does this leave us? If you have an aluminum water bottle that doesn’t mention it is BPA-free, it just might have BPA in it. Personally, I’m sticking with the BPA-free bottles from the likes of CamelBak, Nalgene, or GSI. If you want a metal bottle, you might want to check out Kleen Kanteen. Their bottles are made out of stainless steel, which requires no liner. Thus, there is no chance of BPA in their bottles.

I’d like to give a big thanks to treehugger and Gear Junkie for the heads up. Considering the amount of press BPA has had in the last couple years, it’s a bit disappointing that we haven’t completely eliminated BPA from the market yet.

9/4/09 Update: As of 9/1/2009, SIGG has introduced an exchange program for their bottles. You have until 10/31/2009 to contact the company to exchange any old bottles. Keep in mind, SIGG is making you pay your own shipping to get a replacement bottle. Classy.

Steve Wasik, CEO of SIGG has an announcement of the program here.

Over all this seems to have been pretty poorly handled by SIGG. Hopefully they can redeem themselves.