My world is made of plastic. Yours is, too. From the resins that bind the particleboard of our IKEA bookshelves to the synthetic insulation of our Honest Ed’s quilts, plastic particles are everywhere. We also happen to like buying things. We like buying things so much that whenever anything frightens us we rely on our wallets to direct us to the nearest and quickest solution. These days, water bottles are the hot new item to fear and replace. The solution: buy stainless steel.
The formerly noble creation known as the Nalgene bottle is being branded as a potential danger to your health because of a chemical known as Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a key monomer in the plastics used for the bottles, as well as all sorts of receptacles: the linings of food cans, sippy cups, and baby bottles, to name a few.
Scientists are currently debating the safety of the chemical: animal lab tests have shown BPA to activate estrogen receptors in the body, which may lead to cancers, infertility, and, apparently, general doom down the road. Scientists have known about the hormone-disrupting properties of BPA for years, though its trace impact on human physiology is still a matter of debate. The makers of Nalgene have long insisted that the quantity of the chemical in their polycarbonate plastic is insufficient to cause harm.
The signature hard plastic bottles have not officially been recalled by the Rochester-based company, but many major Canadian distributors have opted to pull the popular con tainers from their shelves. Mountain Equipment Co-op was among the fi rst to stop selling the bottles in November, and Lululemon quickly followed suit.
A former emblem of eco-cool, the plastic Nalgene has been a staple of backpack holsters on university campuses across North America for over a decade. Until recently, drinking from your Nalgene bottle projected an image of environmental awareness, social consciousness, and overall pragmatism. Nowadays, those who are “in the know” are swapping their old Nalgenes for a variety of sleeker, pricier, metal-based alternatives that are being marketed as “safe” and “healthy” substitutes for the old plastic standard.
It’s more than a little ironic to see the once-wholesome Nalgene bottle become the latest addition to an ongoing consumer witch-hunt that includes such no-no’s as gluten, candy bars without cacao-content brag tallies, non-organic produce, and anything that doesn’t call itself “green.” Then again, if whole wheat (gluten!) can make its way onto “bad choice” lists, why shouldn’t everyone’s favourite earth-friendly water bottle qualify?
It may be difficult to cast aspersions on products that aim to provide discerning shoppers with environmentally ethical options, and it is probably unfair to criticize the individuals who choose to purchase responsibly. But, how long can we count on our latest “smart” buy to be smart enough?
When the virtually indestructible polycarbonate Nalgene bottle was initially released in the mid-’90s, it was hailed as the top choice for proponents of an active, healthy lifestyle. In spite of Nalgene’s fall from grace, it’s unlikely that we’ll learn our lesson. Consumers will continue to buy more things, convinced that we are buying the pinnacle of utility and safety each time. Our plastic world may expand to include stainless steel for now, but only until someone comes up with the next best thing to replace it.
