The TH Interview: Michelle Kalberer of Klean Kanteen
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA 
on 08. 9.06
After hearing Julia Butterfly Hill speak about the impact of plastics to our planet and to our health, Robert Seals decided he was going to do something about the ever-growing problem of plastic water bottles. He created a stainless steel water bottle that is inert, toxin-free and non-leaching. Robert needed a distribution company and someone to run the business. Enter Michelle Kalberer and Jeff Cresswell, siblings who joined the family distribution business after graduating from college, and Klean Kanteen was born. When Robert moved on, Michelle and Jeff became the caretakers. Treehugger chatted with Michelle about the ups and downs of running an eco-friendly business and how they got from sitting atop an ancient Redwood tree named Luna to a stainless steel water bottle.
TreeHugger: In general, how skeptical are people when you inform them of the use of plastics and is awareness growing?
Michelle Kalberer: Most people are somewhat already aware of the issue. We try not to push this as we feel they should investigate it on their own and make their own decision. We refer them to several places to read about plastics. The awareness is growing indeed as we get many phone calls a day with people talking about these issues and who are very glad to have an alternative.
TH: Being a business that sells a "green" product, do you find that you are held to a higher standard, whether it be your environmental impact or social impacts, than other businesses?
MK: Yes. We feel we have to be environmentally and socially friendly as our customers rely on that. Sometimes that is hard to do, but we are trying our best to be that type of business.
TH: If there was one aspect of your business model you could change, what would that be?
MK: Have a product development and marketing team so that we could bring similar products to our customers and the public. But this takes money and as a small company we are working to get there. There is a lot more, but this is good for now.
TH: What was the biggest obstacle facing the two of you in starting up this business and what is the single most important piece of advice you would give our readers who want to start their own eco-friendly business?
MK: Initially, cleaning up a disorganized company and moving forward. Secondly, eco-friendly products are often more expensive than their counterparts. Our advice is to have good organization, friendly customer service and marketing to get the buyer to spend the extra dollar for an eco-friendly product. One last and very important aspect, is having a good image -- a memorable logo -- which is what we are working on right now. This is what people will remember you by.
TH: What's it like to run a business with your sibling?
MK: We absolutely love to work together. We each have our own strengths and weaknesses that play off each other well. We are lucky that we get along so well together and both have good work ethics. The only down side is because we are both so involved that we are constantly talking about work after hours which drives our spouses crazy.
TH: Where did you two inherit your passion for the planet? Has your family always been environmentally conscious?
MK: We live in a community that holds its public park as its crown jewel. Bidwell Park (in Chico, CA) is one of the largest municipal parks in the nation. As children and now adults, we enjoy its rewards daily as it has engrained in us an environmental awareness for open spaces. We grew up always trying to recycle, conserve electricity, and to not waste when possible. Our college years further made us aware of environmental issues and how to make change.
TH: What is the single biggest factor holding us back from being a more environmentally aware and conscious society?
MK: We feel that the media plays a big part in showing us how we are supposed to look, act, and feel. As a materialistic society we are spending our time buying things to meet those stereotypes which are often unnecessary and environmentally degrading.
Michelle Kalberer is half of the brother-sister team that heads up Klean Kanteen. Learn more about them at kleankanteen.com.
[Interview conducted by TreeHugger intern Lien Thoo]
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I don't see how this is a "green" product... if you think about the ENERGY required to produce a stainless steel bottle compared to the energy required to produce a plastic one, I'd say that this is hardly a suitable alternative. But kudos to them for the good gimmick!
Embedded energy isn't the whole story.
Health concerns are also important (anything that poisons people or the environment once it's in landfills or burned, or during production or use isn't very sustainable), but what jumps at me is durability:
These things can last forever, and so if each person has one of those instead of many many (thousands, for some people) plastic bottles over a life time, then that's worth something. Metal can also be truly recycled, and not just downcycled like most plastic bottles.
Heck, the bottles could be made of very thin recycled metal in a factory powered by renewable energy.
I used to use 5-10 paper and plastic drink containers per week. I bought a stainless steel mug, and now I use 1-2 paper/plastic drink containers per week.
so let's see- over ten years which is about how long this mug will last:
the paper/plastic option: (average of 7.5 containers/ week)
Production: must produce about 3,750 containers just for me.
Disposal: Must dispose of or recycle about 3,750 containers just for me.
The stainless steel option: (average of 1.5 containers per week)
Production: must produce about 750 containers just for me.
Disposal: Must dispose of or recycle about 750 containers just for me.
I am going for the stainless steel option and removing 6,000 combined acts of production or disposal from the system.
I know there's the issue of washing the steel cup, and I'm sure that that reduces the green effect of a steel mug, but typically I just pour some hot water in and swish it around (without soap) and it's clean.
cheers-
Armand
They even admit on their website that these bottles are made in China, so I hardly think they're made by well-paid old world craftsmen. But hey, for $17.95 US (!) each, you at least want a heart-warming story to go with it. Otherwise you could just get the same item at Walmart for $3. They do go to elaborate lengths to explain that the various components in stainless steel are "from the Earth", although you could say the same about a plastic bottle, too.
Hey, I've got a "green" business idea -- how about you trade me your family cow for this sack of magic beans?
I'd buy one of these bottles, but I just spent all my money on a Q-Ray Ionized bracelet.
I have had trouble ordering your water bottle online. I am from Canada and the sites I've tried won't except 'international' orders. Is there a site or store where I can purchase your products?
Hi!
You may check out our website: www.lifewithoutplastic.com. We are a Canadian company that carries the Klean Kanteen products, and other non-plastic alternatives.
Chantal
Why do you still make plastic caps? Why don't you make stainless steel caps to go with your stainless steel bottles?
Klean Kanteen makes the plastic caps out of polypropylene #5 which is supposed to be the safest plastic.
If they made the tops out of stainless steel, people would have chipped or broken teeth.
The flat top and the loop tops are stainless steel where they connect with the bottle and touch the inside contents. So those two caps are the ones to buy. The sport cap is all plastic. The sippy tops are plastic rings that go around the bottle threads and then have a silicone mouth piece for baby to suck on.
I've been providing the Klean Kanteens now for 2 years or more - one of the first companies online to sell them.
As an Environmental Medicine specialist, I have seen the bottle's lab report and it passes with flying colors.
Should you desire the Klean Kanteen bottles, please do consider supporting our small family - owned business.
You may find the Klean Kanteens here.
In health,
Dr Ben, ND
owner
www.HealthEGoods.com
They don't sell steel bottles for $3 at Walmart.
Steel bottles cannot be produced that cheaply, even for Sam.
I'll take those magic beans.
I would like to know if metal / aluminum has any long/short term effects from use with hot/cold beverages. Is this material sustainable without leaching or changing the composition of the liquid hot/ or cold. Has much/any research been done regarding this material for housing consumable products.
Chantal, what does, "Closed for small break" mean on the www.lifewithoutplastic.com site?
Why advertise that you sell something only to not sell it when someone goes to the site?
/confused.
My only problem with the bottle is that it is not American made and made in China.
An average stainless steel product is made of 60% recycled material, and stainless steel is 100% recyclable.
Compared to Sigg, I prefer Klean Kanteen's lack of a "mystery material" liner, and the wide mouth on KK easily accepts ice cubes. There is a little odor of metal with the KK, but I don't taste metal when I pour from a new KK into a glass or ceramic cup.
You can get a stainless steel cap for the KK now, but it's an extra accessory. All of the caps seem loose until they're screwed down far enough for the O-ring to connect to the rim. No leaks when the caps are on properly, but I do think they could design a better fitting cap seat.
Overall, this is definitely an improvement over plastic-bottled water, and the Klean Kanteen pays for itself quickly if you filter or distill your own water.
I have called numerous stainless steel manufacturers here in the USA and they all have ignored my desire to build a steel water bottle. They most likely understand that cost is a major factor and no way can compete with Asia.
I am looking into other countries right now and have a lead - but making sure the purity is there.
I have been providing Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water bottles for over 4 yrs now. We still provide them with steel loop or steel flat caps for those who want them standard on the bottle.
I do not know any other companies providing this service. We do it as we knew people were throwing away the plastic caps when they bought the steel caps as an accessory. Less waste this way - and less expensive.
For those saying this is not a green product - I believe it is. Yes it takes energy to make it, ship it here from China - but the bottle lasts a lifetime and can be fully recycled if desired. A environmentally safe and non-toxic product that lasts a lifetime is green to me.
In health,
Dr Ben
Klean Kanteens have been wonderful for us at Green Students Fundraising. The bottles have been well received by our schools who have used them as a fundraiser for their green initiatives. I have two myself and they have made it through my rock climbing adventures in Yosemite and elsewhere.
Corey
Green Students Fundraising
www.greenstudents.ca