Sigg Water Bottle Update
By Wesley Joseph • Jun 7th, 2008 • Category: Chemicals, Resource Waste Reduction
Stumble It :: :: 
Subscribe via Email :: 
Subscribe via RSS
One of EnviroHumanImpact’s most read articles is the product review for Sigg Water Bottles. We stand by the initial review of the Sigg Water Bottle, as fair, but with one caveat: it may be incomplete. We have previously noted that the brass lining also has an epoxy coating inside of it. We are leary of any product that has such a substance, and are curious of the contents of the epoxy. The biggest question on our and others’ minds is, “Is a chemical similar to BPA also leaching from these bottles?”
I switched over to a Sigg water bottle in order to avoid plastics, which leach chemicals into water and other drinks. I now have my reservations about the Sigg Brand. I looked at their frequently asked questions section on their website for some answers.
From there:
SIGG has perfected the formula of its proprietary inner liner over decades of scientific research and Swiss engineering. The ingredients (like the formula for Coca-Cola) remain secret and unavailable to 3rd parties so as to ensure SIGG retains its competitive advantage. The key of course is that the SIGG liner is FDA approved and independently tested to be taste and scent inert – and resistant to any leaching (0.0%) so 100% safe.
Yes, but guarantees mean very little for someone like me, who is extremely skeptical, especially when I had previously thought that I was getting a bottle that is aluminum lined with brass. I didn’t realize the brass was lined with yet another liner. While Sigg says that it is safe, they are not telling us what is in that liner. We have been assured, over the years, of probably thousands of items being regarded as, “safe,” such as the lead additive in gasoline, later to be proved harmful to populations.
I’m planning to find a good stainless steel bottle or perhaps good old-fashioned glass — though breakage is a concern for someone who uses public transportation. I do like the fact that unlike my old Nalgene bottle, which still smells of leaching, I smell and taste nothing coming from my Sigg. While my confidence in the bottle is less than it was, I feel better about it than I do my Nalgene, for sure. Still, some poisonous things are colourless and odourless.
Also, I raised concerns in my initial review about the paint on Sigg bottles. Here’s what was said in their FAQ section (in part):
I am pleased to report that SIGG Switzerland utilizes only foodgrade, 100% safe paint in the manufacturing of our water bottles.
SIGG bottles absolutely do not contain any of the following harmful ingredients: antimony, arsenic, soluble barium, lead, cadmium, mercury and selenium. The paints used to decorate SIGG products are completely safe and in compliance with ASTM F963-2007.
Again, you can read our initial review, here.
Stumble It :: :: Subscribe via Email :: Subscribe via RSS
Wesley Joseph is the primary editor for EHI. He comes from a strong political science background and is interested in the effect humans' actions have on the environment, how in turn the environment affects humans, and how environmental policy at large and personal actions can both change into positive envirohuman impacts.
Email this author | All posts by Wesley Joseph
[...] sure to read our update to this original review, regarding the safety of the epoxy lining of Sigg Water [...]
I’ve been skeptical of the aluminum bottles as well, and I’ve gone to all stainless steel bottles which by nature require no lining. Even more durable than aluminum, and you can’t really tell the difference in weight, either.
Here is a photo of the pretty tree stainless steel water bottle I bought (they also have other nature-inspired designs as well):
http://www.brightandbold.com/stbo33oztr.html
I’ve had no leakage problems and it keeps my water cold for a lot longer than plastic. Like you said with the SIGGs, no aftertaste either… I’d definitely recommend switching to stainless to be safe and healthy.
Jess,
Thank you for your input and for providing a link to a supplier of stainless steel water bottles! I’ll have to check them out!
[...] Solution? Try a Sigg aluminum bottle, lined with brass (and an epoxy inner lining, which is coming under increasing scrutiny), which does not leach chemicals into your water. This Swiss manufacturer makes bottles that are [...]
I have a SIGG water bottle and have just recently noticed a different taste. So far I have used the bottle with filtered water only. The reason I noticed, is that the other day I was using my stainless steel water bottle right after I had finished my SIGG bottle and there was no aftertaste. I have read your review on the “safe” liners, however I am getting worried now. I wrote to SIGG and they told me to use cleaning tablets, but gave no explanation about the lining. Epoxy does contain BPA (Bisphenol A), doesn’t it?
Sonja,
Thank you for your question, and it is an important concern that I have had about Sigg bottles. My first response was to ask the company (Sigg) or check their website. Instead, I asked the question, “do sigg bottles contain BPA?” in a Google search, to see whether or not someone had already found an answer.
The top result I found was from treehugger.com, which I consider to be a reputable source. And, they had gotten their information directly from the CEO of Sigg, Steve Wasik, who, while he has a vested interest in protecting Sigg, seems to be on top of the issue (you’ll have to decide).
His answer, in part, was, “Very thorough migration testing in laboratories around the world is conducted regularly and has consistently shown SIGG aluminum bottles to have no presence of lead, phthalates, Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), Bysphenol A (BPA), Bysphenol B (BPB) or any other chemicals which scientists have deemed as potentially harmful.”
For the complete answer, visit: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/are-sigg-aluminum-bottles-bpa-free.php
So, while Sigg looks for a supplier of a liner who will allow them to release the list of chemicals used, we can rely on these tests or upon other bottles, like stainless steel or glass. Of course, glass breaks if you drop it, but so do a host of other items (like cameras or cell phones) so perhaps that’s the way to go.
Regarding the tablets for your bottle, I do not know for sure, but I have a hunch that it is similar to using washing soda (Arm and Hammer is great) in your bottle, for much cheaper. I have had great results using washing soda periodically in my Sigg.
Does anyone happen to know why Sigg bothers using an epoxy liner? Does brass leach anything or does it make water taste funny? It seems as if the liner may be unnecessary, if brass is safe and doesn’t make a strange taste.
[...] Product Review: Sigg Metal Water Bottle and Sigg Water Bottle Update [...]
[...] bottle, which is a decoratively painted aluminum bottle, lined with brass (and I later found out, lined also with an epoxy). He had lightly promoted the bottle when he visited, but I had not taken too much more interest [...]
Wesley,
Please let us know via the comment section as soon as you check out the BrightandBold stainless steel bottles referred to by Jess. It would be ironic to go from one “iffy” product to another! We await your thorough research, and in advance, I thank you for your diligence. I agree with your assessment and your skepticism 100%.
Kim,
Yes, the irony of it all — that’s kinda how I feel after going from the Nalgene to the Sigg bottle. Thanks for your comments and I need to attain a BrightandBold bottle soon to do a review, as I know how much safe water bottles are on peoples’ minds.
I will let you all know in the comments section once I have done the review.
@ Kim & Wesley
At some point, do you think we are just splitting hairs or over-worrying about the whole thing? I’m interested to see the results on the stainless bottles but what are we going to find out about them months down the road? Also, I wish there were a more scientific way to test whether people’s tasting of “aftertastes” are real or in part because we’re expecting to taste one.
Maybe I’m just too skeptical of the skeptical, worrying too much about the worriers…
Matthew,
There’s merit to both perspectives, and skepticism (even of skeptics) is always good! What is much more common, unfortunately, is blind faith. All too often we accept the word of men/women of science and medicine who short-sightedly bestow enthusiastic endorsements on new products and treatments, only to find out down the road that (oops!) the new product/treatment isn’t quite as swell, or safe, as they thought. Without taking into account the importance of long-term studies, we see fools rush in time and time again. After the debacles of DDT, Thalidomide, asbestos and cigarettes, just to name a few, I’m one physician who needs long term evidence and well-run independent studies before I’m convinced.
Fair enough… I suppose time will tell on many of these things. It’s unfortunate how difficult it is to find good, trust-worthy advice on a given topic, ESPECIALLY related to your health! I think one of the most dangerous things to our health these days is the so called “personal anecdote.” Everybody’s got some personal story as to why some product healed the arm growing out of their foot and some pseudo-science to back it up! Argh…
Very true. We want desperately to believe…..
I just bought a sigg bottle, not sure if this already posted, but the brass liner you saw is not brass at all
that is the color of the aluminum with the epoxy liner on top of it
as for the other stainless steel bottles, I have not tried them yet
there is Klean Kanteen and another brand (with caribinier on lid) that seems to show up with many names
both are made in China, some have posted on Amazon that the lids were not perfect and that they tasted metal and others concerned over China
I spent too much time searching for perhaps a medical bottle of stainless steel to lift from obscurity and crown the new water bottle - hopefully made in USA, so far, nothing