SIGG Announces Its Older Bottles Contain BPA

The controversy over the use of BPA in reusable bottles and containers received another charge when SIGG announced its bottles manufactured before August 2008 contained a liner which utilized trace amounts of bisphenol A (BPA).

Considered by many as a “safer” alternative to traditional polycarbonate plastic bottles (#7), some SIGG consumers now feel they were misled by the Swiss manufacturer when it did not openly disclose its use of BPA.

In a letter from SIGG CEO Steve Wasik, the company did not previously reveal this information because their liner’s formula was “proprietary,” but with the release of its new “EcoCare” liner in August 2008, bottles manufactured after that date contain no BPA at all.

SIGG recently announced that its bottles made prior to August 2008 contain trace amounts of BPA in the liner. Photo: Flickr/KelvinSnaps

“The primary reason that I am writing this letter today is because I believe that the BPA conversation has changed dramatically in the last 12 months,” writes Wasik. “Last year, the primary concern was that of BPA leaching from bottles. Since that time the dialogue has evolved such that now some people are concerned about the mere presence of BPA and some states are considering legislation.”

SIGG maintains that while its older bottles contained BPA, rigorous lab testing showed no leaching of the material.

Additionally, Wasik added that its new “EcoCare” liner is a “powder-based, co-polyester coating has been thoroughly tested and is certified to be 100 percent free of BPA, phthalates, BADGE, BFDGE and NOGE. It is also environmentally friendly as its application generates virtually no waste and utilizes no organic solvents or VOCs.”

Reviews on the safety of BPA remain mixed. An FDA spokesman said commissioner Margaret Hamburg, will make a decision by Nov. 30 on “how to proceed” with the questions surrounding BPA after receiving a draft report and recommendations from the agency’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, according to Plastics News.

Regardless of the discussion centered around BPA’s potential health effects, reusable bottles continue to be an effective way to reduce waste, along with recycling bottles and other containers. Stainless steel bottles, such as those made by Klean Kanteen are alternatives to polycarbonate and aluminum reusable bottles, if you are concerned about BPA.

BPA is typically used as an additive in plastics manufacturing, as it makes the plastic more shatter-proof. In addition to plastic bottles, BPA is used in dental fillings, household electronics and as a lining for many food cans.

If you want to read more about current research being conducted on BPA, the National Institute of Environmental Health Services (NIEHS) provides explanations on studies and results.