Camelbak Introduces Genderbender Free Bottles
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 11.12.07
We are big on carrying your own instead of buying bottled water, but what kind of bottle? We have suggested earlier that it was time to ditch the Nalgene polycarbonate bottles because of the possible leaching of Bisphenol A. This gender-bender mimics estrogen and could be causing all kinds of problems in men, such as breast enlargement and reduced sperm counts, and that they might make you fat.. (Some have ditched their Nalgenes for other reasons)
We had few alternatives other than Sigg metal bottles; Now, Camelbak is launching a line of bottles made from Eastman Tritan copolyester, a new material that works in molds designed for polycarbonates but that is completely Bisphenol A free.
“Consumers have been asking for a BPA-free alternative with the strength, clarity and vibrant color of polycarbonate bottles,” said Sally McCoy, CamelBak CEO. “We’re very happy to be the first company to give them that choice.”
Too bad they are not available until February. ::Camelbak
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Wow. I just read the linked coverage of Eastman's new Tritan co-polyester and have the sense that it (the new non BPA based plastic) could be transformational technology, with market impacts far beyond water bottles (although that is a great market to debut in given the demographics of those most concerned about BPA).
The Eastman people must be really excited about the prospects, and their competitors in the BPA-based polymer supply chain displeased.
Oh wow another plastic bottle!
No leeching. I love that. Water is the universal solvent. It dissolves pretty much everything with enough time. Including plastic. Sure, fill it up and then test the water. WOW, no leeching. Must be safe.
Sigg: aluminum, bad enough; then coated to block contact with the aluminum - what for if aluminum is safe? The coating too, will eventually dissolve and break down, and you get to drink it! take a look at your non-stick pans. Coatings are temporary. Especially if you plan on washing your bottle. Then when it's thrown away because the caoting is peeling, or recycled, burning off the coating and releasing that into the atmosphere. Great...thanks guys.
Glass - can break and is heavy to transport. Solution - don't ship water and be mindful of your actions. You'll love the taste, it's naturally insulating, you can see if it is dirty, you can boil it, no chemicals, no leechng ever. Someone please explain why you aren't using glass to drink from?
KLEAN KANTEEN. It is stainless steel, no coating like a Sigg and even the cap is stainless steel. I've had mine for 8 months, they're great. I got mine here because it is closest to where I live http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=armynavy&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=297985255&Count2=215125679&Keyword=klean+kanteen&Target=products.asp
Guyot Designs also makes a line of stainless steel bottles if for some reason the style of the Kleen Kanteens doesn't do it for you. They're pretty darn tough, and really stylish, though right now they're a little heavy for back-packing use. For that I'll still use an HDPE (the translucent ones, not the transparent lexan ones) nalgene bottle since that plastic hasn't been shown to leach yet, and who knows what new problems they could discover with this new material.
No more plastic please!
Please make a glass bottle, with a protective outside!
number 7 bottle can leach bpa
check bottom of camelback
according to wiki::::
Polycarbonate may be seen in the form of single use and refillable plastic water bottles.(found in camelbak bottles)
More than 100 studies have explored the bioactivity of bisphenol A leachates from polycarbonates. Bisphenol A appeared to be released from polycarbonate animal cages into water at room temperature and that it may have been responsible for enlargement of the reproductive organs of female mice.
Camelbak is releasing these early. Is there a chance this is a response to their bottle being pulled from shelves. Miami University (Ohio) announce on 1/18 that it is pulling Camelbak bottles.
http://media.www.miamistudent.net/media/storage/paper776/news/2008/01/18/Campus/Miami.Removes.Camelbak.Bottles.From.Shelves-3157584-page2.shtml
Recycle #7 DOES NOT mean that the item is polycarbonate nor that it contains BPA, it only is a classification that means it doesn't fit into #1-6.
Both Camelbak and Nalgene's bottles currently are made from polycarbonate, but Camelbak is releasing their BPA-free version this year.
MOre importantly I dont see any info on camelpaks bladders.. i have been concerned for some time. Does anyone know if they leech or is this a silly question..b/c they are made of plastic
Wow, I really like the new camelbak genderbender free bottles. Thanks for the info.
GreenPlanetz
I love the idea of the straw... but how do you clean it? I've looked for skinny bottle cleaners and fat pipe cleaners, but to no avail. Speaking of BPA (et al.), is the straw also "free"? Our straws tend to get a lot of backwash (we have a 6 year old!), so cleaning is a top concern to keep from tasting his latest findings.
Thanks,
Just to clear things up a little...
The term "universal solvent" is way too often misused. All that will leach significantly from a plastic bottle is UNREACTED chemicals, i.e. the old bottles reacted BPA with another chemical to make the polycarbonate, and it was the amount left over in the plastic (unreacted BPA) that would leach out. The new polyester bottles do not use BPA as a starting material, and there is no evidence that any chemical residues/unreacted starting materials of these bottles have negative effects on humans or animals (at least in the concentrations present). Water can't dissolve polycarbonate, nor can it dissolve the new polyester, at least not in your lifetime or mine (if it could, plastic waste would't be such a problem... See: plastic garbage dump twice the size of Texas in the pacific ocean)