How Sustainable is Klean Kanteen?

Around 85% of plastic water bottles end up as waste. They can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. These plastic bottles break down into miniscule particles, called microplastics, which make their way into our food and water, posing a potential risk to human health.

‍

Plastic can also release toxic chemicals, affecting animals that ingest it, and contaminate the animal and human food chains.

‍

Klean Kanteen is reducing the plastic waste on the planet through its reusable stainless steel drinkware and food containers.

‍

About Kleen Kanteen

‍

In 2002, inventor Robert Seals founded Klean Kanteen when plastic water bottles dominated the U.S. market and environmental concerns were growing. At that time, the effects of plastic water bottles on human health were largely unknown.

‍

Robert assembled his inaugural stainless steel water bottle prototype using materials purchased at a local California hardware store. After two years of dedicated effort and extensive research, Klean Kanteen unveiled its inaugural stainless steel water bottle to the public. The Cresswell family took over the Klean Kanteen brand in 2005.

‍

Klean Kanteen now offers a range of high-quality reusable bottles, cups, mugs, tumblers, and canisters.

‍

What makes Klean Kanteen sustainable?

‍

Environmental responsibility is at the core of everything that Klean Kanteen does.

‍

• 95% of Klean Kanteen’s products are made from certified 90% post-consumer recycled 18/8 stainless steel. This reduces its greenhouse gas emissions from steel by about 50%.
• Klean Kanteen products are made using 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, a material that is highly resistant to corrosion and breakage.
• The exterior finish of the products comes from Klean Coat®, an industry-leading sustainable powder coat instead of paint. As Klean Coat is designed to go the distance, this reduces the number of people replacing their Kanteens because the paint was scratched up.
• Klean Kanteen has designed many caps and lids to be compatible with all bottles and bottle sizes in their product family. It also sells caps and lids as accessories, which increases the life of the products.
• Klean Kanteen has installed high-efficiency solar panels at its corporate office, which now supply 100% of the building's electricity.

‍

As per its 2019 impact report:

• Klean Kanteen uses 35% of recycled material to make its products.
• More than 80% of Klean Kanteen's products have publicly available repair options for components that are expected to wear out before the Kanteen reaches the end of its service.
• Klean Kanteen has reduced its air freight by 62%.

‍

Since 2014, Klean Kanteen has partnered with Leave No Trace to share educational messages with their community and shed light on opportunities to get involved in sustaining a healthy and vibrant future for our shared lands.

‍

What certifications do Klean Kanteen products have?

‍

The brand has the following certifications:

‍

• Climate Neutral Certified: continuously measuring, reducing, and offsetting emissions generated from making and delivering its products and services.
• Certified B Corp: balancing profit and purpose while meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance.
• 1% for the Planet: a global collective of companies and individuals committed to donating 1% of sales to causes that support a healthier planet for all.

‍

This post reflects most of the brand’s sustainability efforts as of December 2023. Brands make more progress over time, so their website may have more recent information.