What did SIGG say about BPA?

I have landed back into Brisbane after a wonderful escape around Darwin and Kakadu to be confronted by the reality of managing an eco and ethical business! A few days ago, the CEO of SIGG announced that SIGG water bottles made prior to August 2008 did contain trace amounts of Bisphenol A (BPA), but that the independent test results still stand that show there is no migration or leaching of BPA, phtlalates and other toxins from the lining. In other words, the bottles are still safe. Here is the link to the SIGG CEO's statement

Bottles manufactured since August 2008 have a new liner that is BPA free. It is a powder-based, co‐polyester coating that is also more eco-friendly as its application generates little waste and uses no organic solvents or VOCs. You can check which lining your bottle has by looking inside - the new liner has a dull, pale yellow appearance while the old liner is a shiny, copper bronze.

Prior to this year, Biome has informed customers that while SIGG would not reveal what the lining is made from, the bottles are safe based on independent tests showing no leaching of BPA. We were concerned they would not give full details, but we (and many reputable sources like treehugger.com "SIGG bottles now BPA free") trusted them and the test results.

With the 2009 range, we started saying that the lining is BPA-free, because for the first time SIGG stated this to be the case.

When asked by many sources last year SIGG did not give a straight answer to the question about whether the lining contains BPA. Our belief is that a "sustainable" company must be 100% transparent and disclose full ingredients so that consumers can make their own informed choice. Even if the bottle is safe, we have the right to make the choice.

What can you do? This is not a product recall, because the bottles are still safe and still do what they claimed to do.  Should you have a SIGG bottle with an old lining and are not comfortable to use it, the Australian distributor and Biome will replace the bottle with a new one. To do so, please contact us by email on info@biome.com.au or visit/telephone our stores to discuss the return - 07 3368 3009 (Paddington) or 07 32219842 (City).  We commend SIGG's Australian distributor for not hesitating to do the right thing to resolve this.  If you have any other concerns or comments, please email Tracey on info@biome.com.au.

Biome will continue to sell only SIGG water bottles with the new BPA free lining and their stainless steel range, plus Laken aluminium bottles with a BPA-free lining. We also offer Klean Kanteen and Nathan stainless steel bottles which have no lining. Should you be choosing stainless steel, you still need to be very careful about the quality of the bottle. Choose bottles from a trusted brand that controls the factory and makes their bottles from high-quality, sanitary grade 18/8 or 304 stainless steel with a low nickel content. There are many cheap choices on the market that are purchased "off the mass production shelf" and branded.  sigg bottles

LATEST NEWS :: please see this subsequent post SIGG CEO says sorry