There has been growing controversy about whether the plastic water bottles that we use so frequently these days are safe. And, most of you, have either placed orders for imprinted water bottles for your organization or have received one when attending another organization's program or event. The benefits to Polycarbonate bottles are their extraordinary durability making them almost unbreakable, glass-like clarity, and resistance to stains and odors. From a promotional products standpoint, Polycarbonate bottles offered a strikingly wide range of beautiful colors.
The controversy began almost a decade ago when it was discovered that boiling Polycarbonate baby bottles for 30 minutes could cause BPA (Bisphenol A) to leach or migrate from the bottle into the baby formula. Bisphenol A, abbreviated as BPA, is a chemical compound prepared by a reaction of acetone and phenol. Safety issues arose because BPA mimics estrogen and thus might induce hormonal responses when ingested especially in children and expectant mothers.
Government health officials and the scientific communities at large from the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan have conducted multiple studies spanning the last 50 years, and have up until now stood very solid on the safety of these Polycarbonate bottles. However, in just the past several months, there appears to a shift. The National Toxicology Program, an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services, has gone on record saying that there is reason for "some concern", and the Canadian government is initiating a 60 day public comment period on whether to ban the importation, advertising and sale of Polycarbonate bottles.
Nalge Nunc, International, a division of Thermo Fisher Scientific, founded in 1949 as a manufacturer of lab equipment, and the name brand, Nalgene, became known for water bottles when scientists began using their products in the 1970s for sporting events. From there, the domestically produced, Nalgene Polycarbonate bottle became the mainstay for outdoor enthusiasts. However, just this spring, Nalge Nunc, International announced that bottles made with BPA will be pulled from stores. Several major retail chains are considering discontinuing bottles made with BPA from their inventory. And, our main suppliers to the promotional products industry have advised us that when their current inventory has been depleted they will no longer offer water bottles containing BPA.
So, you might be asking, what are my alternatives and how can I tell one from the other. Following is a summary of the different types of bottles, the benefits of each, and how to recognize them. The following order was chosen based on the recycle stream identification code that you will find on the bottles from lowest to highest since that is the easiest way to tell one kind of bottle from the other.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) carries the recycle stream identification code "1" and is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family. Its applications include beverage, food and liquid containers, and as a raw material used in man-made synthetic fibers. Almost 60% of the production of PET is used for synthetic fibers, and only about 30% is used for bottle production. PET can be semi-rigid to rigid, and is very lightweight, resistant to alcohol and solvents, strong, impact resistant, and naturally colorless with a high transparency. The standard soda and water bottles that we purchase from the grocery or vending machines are made of PET. Within the promotional products industry PET plastic is used for many shatter resistant sport and bike bottles.
High-density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum that carries the recycle stream identification code of 2. HDPE is resistant to many solvents and has a wide variety of applications, including Tupperware ®, laundry detergent bottles, milk jugs, plastic bags, refillable bottles, folding tables and chairs, storage sheds, and fireworks tubes along with many industrial uses. An interesting point on the development of HDPE is that it enabled the manufacture of the modern hula hoop. The largest use of HDPE is wood plastic composites.
Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) is another thermoplastic made from petroleum, and it carries the recycle stream identification code of 4. The benefits of LDPE are that it can be made translucent or opaque, it is flexible, very tough, and almost unbreakable. It is resistant to many acids, alcohols and vegetable oils, but has limited resistance to mineral oils and oxidizing agents. LDPE is widely used for many types of food storage and laboratory containers, dispensing bottles, wash bottles, tubing, plastic bags, and computer components. Its most dubious application is that of six-pack soda can rings which can be a menace to the natural environment. Within the promotional products industry, LDPE can be found in a variety of soft, easy-to-squeeze sports bottles and bike bottles. These bottles can be manufactured from either virgin or recycled materials.
Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer used in packaging, textiles, ropes, thermal underwear, carpets, reusable containers, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, medical devices and automotive components. PP is rugged, resistant to many chemical solvents, bases and acids, and carries a recycle stream identification code of 5. But, on the downside, PP can degrade with exposure to UV radiation. PP plastic is used for many lines of sports bottles and tumblers available within the promotional products industry.
And, then we get back to the Polycarbonate bottles containing BPA which carry the recycle stream identification code of 7. Polycarbonate is a hard plastic that has been used for years to make baby bottles, refillable bottles, laboratory equipment, toys and hundreds of household goods and consumer products.
So, the next time you need water bottles or sports bottles for an upcoming program or event, give us a call. TheMarketPro will help you navigate through the maze of options available, and we will make sure to keep you well-informed on the changes occurring with these products within the industry.
Sources have included Wikipedia.org; www.nalgene-outdoor/technical, American Chemistry Press Release dated April 18, 2008; MSNBC and the Associate Press article date April 18, 2008, and interviews with Promotional Products suppliers Norwood, Prime Line, Nordic Company, and Bota of Boulder.