There seems to be a new trend among sports retailers. Many large chains are discontinuing the sale of polycarbonate bottles. These popular drink bottles contain bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor. Nalgene bottles, made by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., are ubiquitous among athletes, and the company has successfully cultivated a new market for its colored plastic bottles to augment its labware market. However as awareness about the health risks of bisphenol A containing polycarbonate spreads, it makes sense that the bottles would lose favor among sports enthusiasts who comprise some of the most health conscious and environmentally aware consumers.
Last week, Canada's Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC), announced that it would discontinue the sale of polycarbonate bottles including Nalgene bottles. MEC is sports co-op started in Vancouver, similar in theory to Seatle's REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.). The company has followed the bisphenol A research for three years, a MEC spokesperson said, and will continue to follow the research. For now, however, they won't be selling the bottles.
Today, Lululemon, another Canadian retailer specializing in workout gear, announced that it plans to stop selling the polycarbonate bottles in January. Lululemon is an international retail chain with stores in the US, Australia, and Japan. The company last gained attention when it denied a New York Times investigation which found that the company's seaweed fiber yoga clothes didn't have seaweed in them.
Patagonia, the North American sports retailer, also does not sell polycarbonate bottles, but instead sells metal drink containers.
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Acronym Required has been following various aspects of the bisphenol A story for a few years.
