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 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 CEO Steve, can you fix my water bottle?  Fire me an email… crappysigg [at] gmail.com

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.

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…

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?

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…

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.