The company

The Detox Nalgene campaign targets Nalge Nunc, the parent company that manufactures the popular Nalgene water bottles. Nalge Nunc’s water bottles and other retail products are sold by a subsidiary of the company called Nalgene Outdoor. Though the company is expanding its product line, the majority of Nalgene’s retail sales are polycarbonate plastic water bottles. These brightly-colored clear plastic bottles are perhaps the most easily recognizable consumer product made with bisphenol A.

Nalgene bottles started out as labware, and were first used as outdoor gear by enterprising scientists who wanted a durable water bottle for hikes. The popularity of the bottles increased rapidly by word-of-mouth, and they were soon marketed as a consumer product to outdoor enthusiasts, then to college students.

Their marketing strategy

Today Nalgene bottles are marketed to many more constituencies, including gym-goers and the broad youth market, and now Nalgene even targets on-the-go parents with their new line of “sippy cups” for toddlers.

Nalgene specifically targets demographic groups who are concerned about health and the environment. The bright colors and transparency of the polycarbonate bottles, and the fact that they absorb no odor or color from their contents send the misleading message that the bottles are safe and "clean," and that they keep their contents pure. The company also manufactures less popular polyethylene bottles, which are white, more opaque, and more pliable than polycarbonate bottles. Unlike polycarbonate, polyethylene material does not leach bisphenol A.

When consumers purchase Nalgene bottles from an outdoor store, hiking club or a fitness center, the message that these bottles are good for your health is further suggested.

On their Web site Nalgene brags “Designed by enthusiasts just like you, all Nalgene products are packed with a love and respect for the great outdoors.” The Detox Nalgene campaign would like nothing more than to see Nalgene live up to the claim, for the health of Nalgene customers and the environment.

Denying the toxic risks

Because of recent concerns about bisphenol A, Nalgene posts “Info on BPA,” where visitors can access the “most factual information currently available on this subject.” Five of the six links on the page lead to industry-supported sites. As Pete Myers, founder and CEO of Environmental Health Sciences, has noted: “Since 1997, well over 200 articles have been published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature showing that BPA (bisphenol A) has a biological impact on cells and animals beneath the current federal standards, which were based on data gathered in the early 1980s… Significantly, all of the reports of major effects come from government or academic studies, while none of the 12 studies funded by industry has reported harm,” ( Myers, Pete. Good Genes Gone Bad, 04.08.06).

Safer alternatives: Making the switch from bisphenol A

While the polycarbonate water bottles are the most popular retail item Nalgene offers, polyethylene bottles, which are opaque white and more pliable than polycarbonate bottles, do not leach endocrine disrupting chemicals into water. There are other bottle companies using safer alternatives as well, such as BornFree baby bottles, made of plastic that is comparable to polycarbonate, and stainless steel Klean Kanteens. Klean Kanteens are a small, family company that was born out of the demand for a safer alternative to polycarbonate plastic bottles, and they are doing a great business.

Safer alternatives are available and can be brought to market. Detox Nalgene further believes that developing additional alternatives to polycarbonate is possible, and that there is a market for this material.

Once Nalgene switches the majority of its product line to an alternative to avoid exposing its customers and wildlife to bisphenol A, we will likely see other companies step back and examine their use of polycarbonate, and their vulnerable public image. The Detox Nalgene campaign has the potential to break the plastic industry’s united front, which currently supports the use of bisphenol A in food and water applications without reservation.

What you can do with your polycarbonate bottles

Instead of just throwing them away, why not do something creative with your Nalgene bottles? Or, save them for our massive day of action when we will all send a message in our bottles and ship them off to Nalge Nunc! More details coming soon!

Here are some options we came up with… Please send your own inspired ideas to so we can add them to the list!

• Turn your Nalgene into a pen and pencil holder
• Loose change receptacle
• A new home for rubber bands and paper clips and other desk supplies
• Use if for a flower vase
• Turn your old Nalgene into a handy toiletries kit by placing smaller, sealed containers inside
• If you change the oil in your car yourself put the used motor oil in the Nalgene for transporting it to the proper disposal place
• Use it in a sculpture!
• Storage for random things, including: nails, screws, outlet adapters, etc