ZRecommends may be you should think twice about SIGG

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

SIGG says the BPA that’s in their bottles is “Dangerous”

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.”

New SIGG CEO to the rescue

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

SIGG Customer Support

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.

SIGG CEO is sorry

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…