Taking Care of Bottles

GLASS

Glass represents the highest quality standard in water containers.

Glass is the only material in which you can guarantee the integrity of whatever you place in it. Glass is inert and will not leach toxic chemicals into your water.

There are considerations with all glass that you should be aware of. Please remember that while stronger in many ways, this glass vessel is not designed for the mindless abuse tolerated by the plastic bottles we have become accustomed to, and thus one must be mindful when handling, carrying, storing, and transporting. With the proper care, this bottle will last for generations to come, far outlasting its plastic counterparts, which are prone to oxidation and deterioration by natural elements and repeated use.

And should it ever come to pass that the bottle is broken you can rest easy knowing that it’s basic elements (silica) can be easily recycled and/or returned to the earth without further harm and/or use of additional chemical processes, while a broken plastic bottle is destined to pollute our oceans, air, land, and food supply for thousands of years to come, even after recycling.

Things to know:

Never place glass up against glass or another hard surface.

Keep the outside of the bottle dry when handling to prevent it from slipping out of your hands.

Secure bottle upright in your vehicle where they will not tip over or into another bottle or hard object. The floorboard is the best place or buckled into a seat with the seatbelt wrapped twice around the neck.

If you have multiple glass bottles always separate them. Never place them directly next to each other in your car or anywhere else. It is wise to bring towels, rags or cardboard, etc. to place between them for the ride home.

And lastly, please remember: Although we do our best to tighten your lids down when we fill your bottles, always check that each lid is tightly secured when loading your bottles in your vehicle so as to prevent unwanted spills.

POLY CARBONATE PLASTIC

Poly Carbonate Plastics are light, convenient & durable, allowing the maximum amount of water to be carried with the least amount of additional weight.

This is a #7 Polycarbonate Lexan bottle. It is made with a hardener called BPA (Bisphenol A). BPA is a xenoestrogen, a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it disturbs the hormonal messaging in our bodies. Synthetic xenoestrogens are linked to breast cancer and uterine cancer in women, decreased testosterone levels in men, and are particularly devastating to babies and young children. BPA is also linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes.

BPA is only one in a host of estrogen-mimicking compounds found in plastics. As BPA-free plastics hit the market, so have new studies demonstrating their leaching of other estrogenic and endocrine-disrupting compounds. Dioxins & Pthalates are other chemicals of concern leaching from plastics, which have toxicological effects on the reproductive organs, specifically in utero.

BPA-free plastics, containing BPS (Bisphenol S) are not a proper substitute for BPA plastics.

We always recommend glass.

The folowing links contain helpful information regarding BPA/BPS:

http://www.naturalnews.com/036497_BPA_BPS_chemical.html
http://healthychild.org/chemical-watch-bisphenol-s-doesnt-get-an-a/

Therefore, it is important to take the necessary precautions to MINIMIZE leaching as much as possible. This can be achieved with proper care of your polycarbonate bottle:

Do not expose your plastic bottle to UV radiation (sunlight), direct or indirect.
Do not expose your plastic bottle to extreme temperatures, above 90 degrees F, or below 35 degrees F. (ie: do not freeze).
Do not microwave.Never use soaps or detergents on the interior of the bottle, as this causes microscopic abrasions on the surface which opens the material up to accelerated leaching. Leave the lid off when empty to allow the bottle to fully dry. This will avoid the development of mold and/or mildew smells. If your bottle should ever need freshening, a dilute of hydrogen peroxide and water may be used to ‘swish’ and rinse.
Do not use abrasive brushes, clothes or pads. Use only mild soaps on the exterior sparingly and only when necessary.
Do not drop. Although plastic is somewhat forgiving, polycarbonate is thin and rigid, and WILL crack.

Always secure the bottle in your vehicle where it will not roll, tip over or otherwise get tossed about. In the floorboard wedged between seats, or in a seat secured with the seat belt is best. If your bottle has a built in spout, place the bottle in such a way that nothing is pressing up against the spout. Do not handle by, or hang anything on the spout as this could flex the drilled hole in the bottle causing it to leak and/or crack.