ABOUT

Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Written by EWG staff.

Follow ewgtoxics on Twitter

DONATE TO EWG!

Help us protect your health and environment!  Please donate $5 to EWG today.

GET EWG'S TIPS & ACTION ALERTS

Sign Up here to receive email updates and tips from EWG and stay informed on the issues that matter most to you.


Environmental Working Group's Facebook Page
YouTube

ENVIROBLOG VIA EMAIL

Delivered by FeedBurner

 Enviroblog in your Reader

Kid-Safe Chemicals Act

Get EWG widgets & blog badges.

Support the 2010 Safe Cosmetics Act. It's Urgent.

Don't. Frack. New. York.

Being Clean and Pretty Has Toxic Costs

Test your knowledge of cosmetics safety: 8 myths debunked

SEARCH ENVIROBLOG

FIND PAST POSTS

FEATURED

Support the 2010 Safe Cosmetics Act. It's Urgent.

Why, oh why is there plastic in my aluminum water bottle?

Cell phone radiation series - Part 2: 8 Ways to reduce your exposure

So what products CAN we use?

Test Your Knowledge of Cosmetics Safety: 8 Myths Debunked

EWG's Tips for Parents: The Series

EWG's Tips to avoid BPA exposure

EWG on TV

Cutting the Pork from U.S. Farm Bill

Toxic Tub?

Sunscreen safety & DC drinking water

Perchlorate in people, kids' personal care products & plastics, and sunscreen

BPA in baby formula & safe cosmetics

Ask EWG

What can I do about fluoride in my water?

What is new carpet treated with? What can I do?

What is "fragrance"?

Which infant formula is best?

Are stainless steel water bottles safe?

Is mineral-based makeup safer?

Ask EWG Archives

Top Blog Award

Top  blogs award

PEOPLE TALKING TOXICS

Breast Cancer Fund

The Daily Green

Eco Child's Play

Environmental Defense Fund

Green Moms Carnival

Grist

Healthy Child, Healthy World

Huffington Post Green

NRDC's Switchboard

Organic.org

Safer States

TreeHugger

TALK TO US

Did we miss something? Email Enviroblog.

« EWG asks HHS nominee Tom Daschle: what about toxics? | Main | Something fishy about the fish....oh, wait, it's mercury »

Klean Kanteen: Once, twice, still worth it

January 13, 2009

K12SIPPY-OS_ForeverBPA.jpgSince I started working for EWG a mere six months ago, I have been through two serious kid cup searches. Not necessarily the most momentous events during that period, but quite possibly the most time-consuming.

The first was for the perfect low-dollar BPA-free sippy cup - chronicled right here on Enviroblog. A frustrating, but ultimately successful process.

The second cup search was more recent, and a bit different because I was after just two sippy cups with sealing lids. These were to be the ones we'd use for our own kids, not the multiples you need for playdates and parties, when ten kids need something to drink all at once. Because we only needed two, I was willing to spend a little more. But. Deep down, I knew they'd get lost. I mean, what sippy cup that you carry over your threshold doesn't get lost? And spending money on something I know will be lost is slightly defeating - especially these days.

But I bit the bullet, as the saying goes, and went for the kid-size Klean Kanteen with the pop-top lid (my kids are a little old for the sippy attachment). And while the Siggs were brighter and cuter, I wasn't sold, since consumers couldn't find out what the bottle lining contained. And in this day and age, I not only want to know so that I can make an informed decision for our family's health, I believe generally in my right to know. Now if we had a law strong enough to give me some peace of mind about the safety of industrial chemicals (ever heard of the Kid Safe Chemicals Act?), I could relax a little about labeling. A little.

So we enjoyed a fall semester of Klean Kanteens and then, as predicted, poof! Not under the car seats, not in the school lost-n-found, and my husband swears he didn't leave them at swim class. So while we loved them, they're gone. Ugh. And while part of me doesn't want to buy them again, I'm going to.

Why? Because it's my strong sense that Kleen Kanteen makes products the way I think they should be made - with safe materials, fair labor practices, and a business purpose that transcends the profit-only model. Just check out the FAQ on the web site, and I'm sure you'll be impressed by the company's approach, as I am. Wonder why lids are plastic, not steel? What about the paint on the colored ones, is it safe? And why do they make them in China? Of course you do. These we have to.

And for the record, I'm glad these products are available for us to drink safely, I am. But. I'm not glad that I can't trust all the kids' cups on the shelf? I should be able to. And so should you. If you're ready to make that a reality, join our grassroots campaign to pass the Kid Safe Chemicals Act. It's high time for serious reform.

« EWG asks HHS nominee Tom Daschle: what about toxics? |