I appreciated a bit of investigative journalism from ZRecommends about SIGG and their BPA troubles. Here are some articles, a mighty web indeed:
Two new “BPA-free” problems that could drive away the last loyal SIGG users (whoever you are)
Notes from SIGG’s Age of Innuendo
Vom Saal claims BPA leaching in SIGGs, and we can independently confirm it
The irony of it all.
SIGG used to call BPA dangerous, and here they’ve had it in their bottles all this time…
For years SIGG made money by parading itself as the BPA free alternative to Nalgene and other water bottle makers. SIGG even makes a point of it on their website, they boast:
In 2008, many major North American retailers discontinued selling reusable plastic bottles made from polycarbonate #7 (brands such as Nalgene) due to concerns that these bottles were leaching Bisphynol-A. A report by Health Canada called this chemical (BPA) «dangerous».
And not all metal water bottles are alike. Very recently there have been major recalls of Chinese-made aluminium water bottles for lead in the paint. Tests have shown that Chinese-made aluminium water bottles, like many polycarbonate #7 plastic bottles, also leach the chemical BPA.
The cat is out of the bag for SIGG. Seems that their bottles are made in China AND they leach BPA. Ouch. Their former CEO admitted that their bottles have had BPA in it for years and he admitted that their bottles are made in China (but have Swiss managers, whoopie…). Even in spite of all the press, the SIGG website still touts itself as a good All-Swiss BPA free product. Unless they do something drastic, SIGG’s reputation will become increasingly “dangerous.”
The last SIGG CEO, Steve Wasik, had a dirty little secret. He knew that BPA was in the bottles, but didn’t reveal it – not very nice. I used to take cracks at SIGG because my water bottle had peeling paint and was pooly designed. But dangerous secrets can be nasty for public perceptions, including mine. So Steve agreed to make it all better. He promised to replace our bottles, but that offer lasted a few weeks and no one sent me the memo. But Steve is gone now and a new CEO is in town. Steven G.S. Taylor has big plans. According to a press release, the new Steve says, “My immediate priority will be to strengthen our connection to and communications with customers…”
New CEO Steve, can you fix my water bottle? Fire me an email… crappysigg [at] gmail.com
I just learned from the customer support people at SIGG that:
a) the CEO, Steve Wasik, who promised to make things right by allowing me to exchange my SIGG bottle for a non-leaching BPA-free bottle has been conveniently replaced (sorry to see you go, Steve).
b) They aren’t going to get me a new bottle, tough luck.
c) I am still on my quest to find out a way that I can replace my sucky SIGG bottle.
But the lady was nice.
I’ve been saying it for some time. The SIGG CEO has been dishonest about its bottles. Now the CEO Steve Wasik is admitting that he’s been hiding the truth about their bottles. In his article (Read it all here) he says,
People have written to explain why they are concerned about BPA. They have written about their personal stories, their intimate worries and their very honest anger. I have personally responded to hundreds of these notes, apologizing for my mistake, offering new bottles to make amends, realizing that my decision caused people real discomfort.
I’m still waiting to hear from Steve. I first wrote this blog because my SIGG bottle was so poorly made and designed, it had all kinds of defects. But now to find out that we’ve been lied to about a harmful chemical is just plain wrong. But Steve offered his apologies, and I accept. Now, what is he doing about it?
Steve said in his apology that he will,
Make it easy for consumers to exchange their old bottles for new, BPA-free SIGGs. You can still ship your old SIGGs to us via our voluntary exchange program. Or if you prefer to avoid shipping costs and lead time, you can make the exchange at your local SIGG retailer, most of whom are participating in the program. To make it easy, we will post on our website a list of these retailers.
Go ahead, click the link, no voluntary exchange program exists! It’s all a ruse in the wonderful world of SIGG water bottles. My SIGG Sucks…
SIGG can’t make worthy bottles. I’ve documented how the paint peels, and now SIGG has been caught telling fibs about it’s chemical free lining. Now we all know that SIGG does cause babies harm:
Especially damning is evidence that the company knew as far back as 2006 that the bottle liners contained BPA, yet failed to disclose this fact to consumers.
But instead of refunding me for my peeling, toxic bottle, SIGG is pounding me with their propaganda machine. Instead of working on making a better bottle, someone from SIGG has been trying to post this over and over on my site:
Step up in style and quality from the plastic sippy cup. All SIGG bottles are tested 100-percent safe with NO leaching. All SIGG bottles are durable
Not once, not twice, but four times have they spammed me with the same (albeit false) message about their product. No leaching? Yah right. Durable? Ha! SIGG, what’s the story?
Check out this article from the Globe and Mail:
Earlier this year, SIGG Switzerland AG revealed that despite marketing itself as bisphenol-A-free, its aluminum water bottles contained traces of the hormone-disrupting chemical.
I suspected that SIGG had something up its sleeves, now we know…
Little Taylor wrote this wonderful poem about germs.
Germs, germs everywhere.
Even in your hair.
Germs, germs everywhere.
Even on a mare.
Germs, germs everywhere.
Even on a yummy pear.
Germs, germs everywhere.
She is one young student who got it right. But one third grader in California got it wrong. According to this article, students wrote to Sigg asking them for some water bottles. The kids must have been told that these bottles were magic cause one eight year old somehow came to believe that his Sigg bottle was even germ free!
“The plastic water bottles can be recycled, but these metal ones you can keep,” explained 8-year-old Eduardo Martinez.
“The plastic ones hold germs,” added Daniel Meza.
Little Daniel, Germs are everywhere, even in your hair. Little Daniel, Germs are everywhere, even on your Sigg bottle. And since you’re encouraged to use it over and over again, then, Daniel, they’re ESPECIALLY found on your Sigg bottle.
I would like to give a tip of the hat to The Unauthorized, Unofficial SIGG Water Bottle Museum. Perhaps once my SIGG is entirely done flaking I will donate it to the cause.
I was told a tragic story the other day. Apparently a woman was in a grocery story and started to choke. Someone called for water and two people sprung into action. One person ran to fill a cup and another pulled out their SIGG bottle. According to a witness, the person who had the SIGG bottle took too long screwing off the cap of the bottle. By the time they removed the cap, the choking victim was already drinking some water from a paper cup. SIGG has created a lid that takes too long to screw off, that’s another reason why My SIGG Sucks!
Some may wonder if I’m the only one who thinks these bottles are dangerous. Check out these complaints:
“I will not purchase from them ever again not just because of the poor customer service but because their bottles are poor quality.”
“I bought 3 SIGG bottles last week for my one year old son. Two days ago he snapped the cap (he just turned one and is a little guy) and cut his face from the bottom of his nose to his chin. I am outraged that (1) the cap can be broken so easily, creating a very sharp knife-like edge and (2) SIGG has not returned my phone calls. You would think that a major company like SIGG would have the common courtesy to respond to a customer whose baby was INJURED by their product…a product that is specifically designed for children!”
“As a side note, SIGG bottles are apparently not all they are cracked up to be according to my three friends who have them. The tops tend to leak out, meaning the bottles can’t be stuffed in a bag but must be carried upright. They also tend to be dented very easily, and the designs wash off.”
Children are being injured? What? SIGG has caused some pain…
There’s more, check it out: SIGG Water Bottle Complaints
The new American CEO of SIGG takes a moment to share his thoughts about other cultures in a recent interview posted by courant.com.
He paints the French with a broad stroke, saying, “The French are notorious for going to a meeting to decide to have a meeting.”
Of the Swiss he says, “They are very action-oriented.” and the Swiss “…don’t behave like Americans.”
Of the Americans he says, “We tend to think there is one way, and that’s the American way.”
The CEO is no fan of the French; juste une autre raison pour laquelle ma SIGG sucks. (oh, and they don’t care much for the Inuit, either).
I have a feeling SIGG.net is unrelated to the topic at hand… cute, though…
I’ve often thought that my SIGG is missing something, it seems naked. It is a fragile water bottle, after all. Denting, flaking and chipping; clearly it needs some protection. That’s why I give credit to the author of knittingwithoutyarn.com for coming up with this great idea:
It’s such a great idea I wonder why SIGG didn’t come up with it in the first place. Instead, mine is fully naked, bare to the world.
My SIGG didn’t come with a colorful hand knitted cozy, another reason why My SIGG Sucks!
Sending your child to school with a SIGG water bottle could make them a rule-breaking fugitive. This according to hometownannapolis.com. They recommend sending your child to school with a reusable water bottle, but give a caution to parents who send their kids with a SIGG water bottle:
“…check your school’s rules before picking up an aluminum bottle – some teachers don’t like it when they can’t see what their students are drinking.”
One SIGG bottle can move your child from a straight ‘A’ eco-conscious law-abiding student to a detention regular. Who knows, it may be the beginning of a life of crime.
Good kids are headed for San Quentin; another reason why My SIGG Sucks!
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