Which is the better: a stainless steel bottle that is made 'responsibly' in China or a Nalgene (USA made)?

Question

I'm having a debate with myself. I try to do my best to heal the planet on which I am so fortunate to live and I also try to make as many healthy choices for myself and my family. I would like to recycle my Nalgene bottles that leach nasty bisphenol-a into my drinks just because they were washed in the dishwasher (with hot water!). But my conflict is that of the viable alternatives made of stainless steel all are made outside the US and most are manufactured in China. Though the companies claim that they are manufactured 'responsibly' in China I find the human rights practices of the Chinese government or lack thereof deplorable and do my best to not purchase products made in countries with poor human rights and environmental practices. So should I get a couple of these 'responsibly' manufactured stainless steel bottles or just use a glass or stainless steel cup, though it would be nice to have something that seals for travel?

Answer 1

nalgene is the best way to go. stainless steel would be a hassel. nalgenes are great and very durrable. also buying things that are made in china is bad. it is best to buy things that are made in the usa. i feel very bad for the children being forced to work in china. please buy the nalgene.

hope i helped :)

Answer 2

I don't know what Nalgene is, but if it is some kind of plastic I think you are not justified to worry about leaching bisphenol-a (whatever that is) into anything. People are just too worried about teeny tiny little things these days. Yes, teeny tiny. Come ON, haven't you got better things to worry about?

And yes, glass is always an alternative.

Answer 3

As Jiminy Cricket put it in Pinocchio, "Always let your conscience be your guide".

It sounds like you really don't want to buy the Chinese product.  But other choices are less convenient.  How about this?  Use the glass or cup and take the opportunity to remember that you are doing the right thing on a daily basis.

If you do buy the manufactured bottle don't beat yourself up too much.  Find another way to make a difference or maybe make an extra donation to a cause you care about.

Answer 4

"China is bad" is not really a complete reason not to buy the stainless steel option.  What is bad that we, as american consumers have proven to big business that we prioritize price above all else.  So when we look to china as being "bad" we have no one to blame but ourselves and the officials we elect who sell out consumer interests in favor of increasing the profits of multinational corporations.  

For your own health and conscience--Nalgene, for the reasons listed above--not really the way to go (imho).  I'm with whoever said glass is always the alternative.  How about a glass jam jar or something like that with a sealable lid-or get one of the pom tea containers and re-use it.  it's sealable, glass-not the coolest thing in the world, and a bit heavier...but avoids both the china issue and ingesting more chemicals issue.

And China, no matter what they claim with the olympics coming up--is a laughable sham on all fronts from environmentalism, to human rights.  But we, as one of their largest export destinations, are complicit and enable them to continue in this fashion.

Answer 5

I've had this same dilemma and went the route of stainless steel. Here are the reasons why I made that decision:

1. Nalgene bottles are plastic and therefore petroleum (oil) based.

2. Plastic bottles are known to leach.  Bad for your health.

3. Nalgene also manufactures devices used for animal testing. Specifically, they developed restraints for lab animals.  Not high on my list of ethical products.

Having made that choice, I was torn about which stainless steel bottle to get.  I've tried both Kleen Kanteen and Sigg.  While I'd love to support Kleen Kanteen, I found Sigg bottles to work better, taste better and clean better.

My two cents.

Answer 6

I use the Kleen Kanteen and I love it! You can get different lids and accessories to fit your needs. They even have a sippy cup for kids. I have the flat lid that seals tight and I fill it up at home from my sink mounted water filter and carry it inside my bag all day!

Kleen Kanteen is made from stainless steel and I have been using mine for almost a year.  Think of all the water bottles you can save in a year! I put my name and phone # on the bottom in case I lose it. It is easy to clean too.

I never really liked Nalgene bottles. I really tried but I heard about 7 years ago that they leached plastic residue into the water and I could never really get into them.  Here in Western Massachusetts, they are not truly recyclable either. Check with your local recycling authority.

This is from the Kleen Kanteen website:

Why is the Kanteen made in China?

The Klean Kanteen is made “responsibly” in China because one of our founding principles was to produce an economically priced high quality stainless steel bottle as an alternative to plastic and lined metal containers therefore promoting healthy living with respect for the environment.

Our preference from the outset has been to produce our bottles closer to home but extensive research in the manufacturing sector left us resolute that our bottles can not be made closer to home at a reasonable price without sacrificing quality and safety, something we are steadfast against.

Is the Klean Kanteen factory safe?

Yes. We visit our manufacturing facilities 4-5 times per year and perform audits every six months to ensure all of our

products are produced with respect for the environment and fair labor standards, including: the ethical treatment of factory workers, child labor, wages/benefits, health and safety, etc. Additionally, we do regular lab testing on random shipments through a local lab in the U.S. to ensure our products are made per our specifications and free of hazardous substances (lead, chromium, manganese, etc.).

We believe that the Klean Kanteen is and will continue to be one of the safest and environmentally conscious beverage containers on the market today while upholding stringent design and manufacturing standards. ###

I vote for Kleen Kanteen!