Klean Kanteen

Now that Christmas is officially over I can write about a product I'm really excited about. I purchased a few for our parents and didn't want to ruin the Christmas surprise! :)

Klean Kanteen's are 18/8 food-grade stainless steel beverage containers that come in 12 oz., 18 oz., 27 oz., and 40 oz. sizes. I received a stainless steel beverage container awhile back and love it. I can refill it with filtered water and carry it with me everywhere. I feel good about not throwing away plastic bottles and I don't worry about harmful chemicals leeching from my drink container. Did you know that 38 billion plastic water bottles are thrown out every year and only 23% are recycled. It makes so much more sense to me to refill a safe container that I can take with me and not have the waste of throwing out bottles.

For all of you fellow frugal minded folks like myself consider this. A bottle of water can cost anywhere from $.20 a bottle (a flat at Costco) to $1.00 (vending machine or at the health club). These bottles cost from $14 to $18 depending on the size and where you purchase. If you previously drank 2-3 bottles of water a day you will have paid for your purchase of one of these bottles in as little as 6-30 days. After that you are saving money by reusing a Klean Kanteen and you aren't adding more waste in a landfill somewhere. It's also really nice not to lug that big flat of water home anymore!! :)

Because your Klean Kanteen is made of food-grade stainless steel you can fill it with any type of beverage as the metal itself is safe and will not leech any harmful chemicals or toxins. Click here to read more about storage container material concerns. Klean Kanteens are easy to clean. They are dishwasher safe or can be washed with a mild soap and bottle brush.

One disappointment I had upon receiving my Klean Kanteen's was to find that they are manufactured in China. My concerns with this include fair trade, possible contamination with lead or other materials, and I'm very pro-American labor and American products. Unfortunately Ethos and Sigg (two of Klean Kanteen's biggest competitors) also manufacture in China so we don't have alot of other options. Klean Kanteen reassures it's customers that they participate in fair trade and maintain a set of prudent checks and balances to ensure that their products are produced safely and sustainably. Representatives of Klean Kanteen visit China several times a year to meet with management and many of the workers at production sites. They also allow major retailers to inspect their factories themselves. In addition, Klean Kanteens are laboratory tested on a regular basis to monitor product content and quality. This is particularly reassuring if you purchase a painted bottle - no lead!

If you are interested in purchasing, check out their website. You can order directly from their site or you can find a retailer in your area. Also check out the cool accessories that go with these bottles. They have tons of different caps to choose from including a sports cap, stainless steel flat cap, they even have a sippy top cap. They have insulators, nylon slings, and a bike cage that fits the Kanteen. They even have a stainless steel Wine Karafe. Cool stuff! Do something for yourself and for the environment. Check out a Klean Kanteen today.

-Karla