Since we introduced the first stainless steel, BPA-free reusable bottle in 2004, we’ve been going to great lengths to stay in step with evolving strategies and technologies to continuously improve our own approach for . ensuring human and environmental safety.
One example is Klean Coat™, the new powder coating now available on all our bottles. Klean Coat™ represents the latest and most advanced result of our efforts to implement a clean product strategy that allows us to identify and avoid hazardous substances. We leveraged a cutting-edge chemical assessment tool called GreenScreen For Safer Chemicals®, de-veloped by the nonprofit Clean Production Action, to identify and score all the proposed ingredients by level of hazard in our new powder coat finish.
We also introduced stainless steel straws early last year to help replace plastic straws. With over 500 million plastic straws ending up in the landfill every day, we knew we could offer a better solution. Since we launched the straws last spring, they’ve become one of our most popular accessories. Awareness around plastic straw use has seen more press lately, and we are happy that we can offer a solution that works towards phasing out plastic straws entirely.
How are you trying to change consumer behavior?
Educating consumers on single-use waste is a huge part of our mission. We regularly partner with like-minded companies and organizations to provide river clean-ups across the country and encourage consumers to learn about the importance of clean water. Keeping our waterways clean falls on us as a society. To us, measuring what matters means imparting the importance of being conscious of our own responsibilities when it comes to the earth. Buying a reusable bottle or container is an easy step everyone can take to reduce waste.
Why have you partnered with festivals and events?
Many festivals and events produce large amounts of single-use waste. Partnering with them is a way to reduce this waste and encourage consumers to make changes to their own habits going forward. One of our newest partnerships is the Ragnar Race Series, where we have helped the organizers eliminate single-use cups entirely from the race venues. To us, a good partnership is one where we can make a big difference by offering alternatives to single-use waste and educate consumers on small changes they can implement in their own lives. We are always keeping our eyes open for potential partnerships with events that share our mission for reducing waste but may not have the resources or knowledge to implement changes on their own.
How have you gotten consumers engaged through your Bring Your Own campaign?
We implemented the Bring Your Own campaign to start a conversation around the policies and cultural ideas that encourage a
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Courtesy of Klean Kanteen