IN THE NEWS

+ TimeOut New York | April 23, 2008

Shopping Express Lane - Know When To Fold'Em by Callie Jenschke

The Cup: Like sophisticated Transformers, these products fold to save space and to reveal a new function. Flatterware collapsible cup, $5, at flatterware.com.

The Table: This table comes flat-packed as two laser-cut slotted sheets of steel. No tools required - simply bend along the lines and lock each half into place. Origami table, at mioculture.com

The Chair: These lightweight chairs are made from 100 percent recyclable materials, and fold to save space. A set of four comes with a storage bas. Wave folding chairs, $140 each, $560 for a set of four, at Norman Contract Inc., 200 Lexington Ave. Suite 417B (212-686-6450).

The Shelf: These cherrywood bookshelves can be laid flat against the wall to conserve space... and folded down in segments to create customized shelving. Fold down bookshelves, $440, at pickedbyhand.com.

The Rug / Ottoman: It's a brightly colored foam rug... that transforms into a sturdy ottoman. Gregory rug/ottoman, $615, at ligne-roset-usa.com.

+ Under The Bridge | Spring 2008

DUMBO Businesses Dream Green by Dumbo Improvement District

Instead of quenching your thirst with a plastic bottle of water, try carrying Stewart/Stand's latest product, The Flatterwre Cup. The Flatterware cup body is molded out of a single piece of flexible plastic, with a helical structure allowing it to spring open and close with ease.

+ Pretty Bourgeois | April 22, 2008

5 Things To Love Under $20 - Earth Day Edition by C Mouse

Since today is Earth Day, we have a special edition of 5 Things to Love! Some may say that going out and buying 5 new frivolities (or one) is not very earth conscious, but let’s not forget the importance of our emotional well being!

I know there are a lot of “green” fashion lines out there right now, but I find they are usually pretty expensive, and of course no newly manufactured item can compare to a recycled one. There are so many pretty old things knocking around out there, and so many creative people making jewelry from them- this ring is made of a vintage watch movement, with a bird added to lure bird-obsessed people like me. The once upon a time sparrow ring is $19, available at thebirdznbeez’s shop on Etsy.

You can keep this Flatterware collapsible cup in your purse for those times you need a reusable vessel- the advantage of this one (over a Starbucks reusable travel mug for example) being that it is mostly flat when not in use and is made of one piece of plastic rather than several telescoping (read:leaking) ones. Two for 12$ at Uncommongoods.com.

These Pomegranate Face Wipes are from Korres, a super seriously organic skin care and makeup company. They are good for the makeup do-over you sometimes need between office and dinner. Read what Korres has to say about about petroleum products on the packaging and weep.
The day may come when you will heat 30 gallons of water to wash your hair, but it will not be this day! Squeeze another day in to your hair washing schedule with these wide silk headbands, $11 from Talbots. The earth wants you to get another 20 minutes of morning rest.

Instead of driving somewhere and consuming something, why not partake of some old fashioned “at home” activities, such as these adorable cross stitch kits from ReproDepot? They are supposed to be for children but I like the way they appear to be complete-able in one evening, always a plus for me when it comes to crafts. The plastic edging acts as the embroidery hoop and frame. I am actually thinking a row or grid of these in a child’s room would be great low cost decor (they are $7.95 and $8.95 for the turtle). How cute.

I guess it is really six things this time! It doesn’t get more macrobiotic than your own yard (or windowsill). This Jiffy Seed Starting Kit, $4.95 at Park Seed, makes it easy to start plants from seed, may I suggest some tomatoes- you can’t kill them! Did you know that tomato seeds can be eaten by a cow, digested, and still sprout in the manure pile? It’s true. Happy Earth Day Everyone!

+ Weekly Dig | April 17, 2008

greenland - Faltter Yourself by Isabelle Davis

Straight out of the package, this looks like one of those containers my mom put Cheerios in when I was a toddler. But with a simple twist, the bright red plastic disc turns into an eco-friendly mini-tumbler. The bottom of the cup sits in the hard lower part and sort of grows out of the base, creating an easy-to-grip glass with a hard rim (great for spillers). It definitely has a rubber-plastic whiff to it initially, but that should be no problem since this 12-ounce travel companion is dishwasher-safe—you also have to wash it in hot water before use to "activate the cup's spring memory" and help dissipate the smell.

The product's website has a super fun video showing how the magic of the cup works, and it works plenty hard, holding both hot and cold beverages, and withstanding the freezer and microwave. It's also made from easily recyclable plastics ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, the same stuff in LEGOs) and certified food-grade TPE (thermoplastic elastomers), which means it's a hiker's dream: durable, convenient and environmentally sound. Plus, it comes in your choice of red (my favorite) or blue.

This lightweight companion is pretty genius. And even though I don't camp, hike or do anything healthy in the wild, I am contemplating bringing this to parties. I might as well reduce, reuse and recycle while I sip my brew.

[Available for $12/pair at UncommonGoods.com, Flatterware.com]

+ GreenBASE | March 26, 2008

Cheers to Flatterware! by Sarah Krasley

On the first day of 2008, I was waxing poetic about a brilliant new bathtub that conserves water. Now in the first days of spring, it seems another vessel has captured my attention.

This time it's a little smaller and has taken the form of a drinking cup from the brilliant minds behind Flatterware.

As I've mentioned before, sustainability is first and foremost about behavioral changes and this design elegantly addresses just that.

Bottled water blows. It is counterintuitive. Why would you purchase something that flows freely from a tap and through your purchase deepen your environmental footprint to include transportation, plastic, and then probably not be able to recycle the bottle once you're through with it? I'll admit, I've purchased bottled water ((gasp))....for me, it's usually a purchase born out of convenience. "I didn't bring my water bottle with me because my bag was stuffed" or "I brought a small purse with me," etc. Research has shown that convenience is a major motivator behind bottled water sales. It also carries over to people who purchase coffee in the mornings in paper cups because they don't want to lug their travel mugs around all day.

Well, excuses to buy tap water just got smaller. I purchased a flatterware cup last week for a mere five bucks and have brought it along in my tiny purse or in my stuffed school bag--and I haven't bought a single bottle of water since. The cup starts off folded up in a five inch disk that looks kinda like a hockey puck. A twist of the wrist pulls the lid off the top and a cup springs up from the bottom. You can fill the cup with hot or cold liquid (it's made from ABS plastic) and enjoy yourself. The walls of the cup are flexible (but not so much that you have flashbacks to Capri Sun shooting out of the straw and all over the cafeteria table) with the lip made from a harder plastic. Once you're done with your drink in a flatterware, push the cup down with the lid and twist it to lock--totally easy.

The reason I like this design so much is because it addresses a major underlying behavior behind bottled water drinking: carrying space. I hear there are other variations in the works that include baby bottles and other colors.

Get a flatterware cup here so we can raise our cups and toast our good sense.

+ TravelGirl.com | March 21, 2008

Pick of the Week - Travel Saavy Pop-Up Cup by Jan

I've never been a fan of those cheap collapsible cups that leak and break. Enter the Collapsible Cup from Flatterware. This bright red pop-up cup is made of flexible plastic that doesn't leak, but folds up easily into a small container. It's perfect to throw in your suitcase and reuse for every trip. You can even have them personalized for bulk orders.

+ MyHobbyist.com | March 20, 2008

Spring Memory Camping Cup by Jeremy

Flatterware Collapsible Cups are designed by fellow Cooper Alumni Theo Stewart-Strand, and are the coolest collapsible cups I've ever seen. When you pop them open the cup springs into shape - and it isn't like one of the old fashioned telescoping style cups, either… its of solid body construction, which means no leaking! Its very small, and can fit into your pocket or small handbag, holds 12 fl.oz and collapses to only 1 1/4″ thick. It's safe for food, freezer-25, dishwasher safe and microwave +125 Degrees.

+ The Rundown.com| March 10, 2008

Scale Models = 3 handy items for your next day hike by Product Reviews

Jacket: Xip 3 CoreGear Transformable Jacket
There's more to this shell than meets the eye. When the weather warms up, pull a zipper and the Xip3 converts from a jacket to a backpack, or even a pillow. Reflective piping, a stow-away hood, and bottle and MP3 player pockets add even more functionality.
$250 at xip3.com

Shoe: Vibram FiveFingers Sprint
To paraphrase Ned Flanders, the sweetest thing about Vibram’s award-winning individually toed footwear is that “it feels like you’re wearing nothing at all!” Secure hook-and-loop straps, quick-drying microfiber fabric, and a grippy, all-terrain rubber sole are nice too.
$80 at vibramfivefingers.com

Cup: Flatterware Collapsible Cup
Lugging old school tin mugs on a long hike can be cumbersome. Formed from a single piece of light plastic, Flatterware folds in on itself to take up as much space as a packet of trail mix — and gives you something to help wash it down.
$5 at store.wexnercenterstore.com

+ Star-Telegram | February 25, 2008

Shopping Cart, Collapsible Cup by Carolyn Poirot

Hikers, bikers, runners, in-line skaters and other people on the go who are always looking for the most convenient, lightest-weight outdoor gear should check out the new Flatterware collapsible drinking cups. They hold a full 12 ounces and have several features that put them ahead of the old telescoping tin or hard plastic models that required precise opening and collapsed at the least opportune times.

What are they? Bright red or blue rubberlike plastic cups that twist into their own lids to the shape of a hockey puck, only not as heavy.

What's special about them? Their seamless construction from a single piece of flexible plastic makes them leakproof, and they are dishwasher and microwave safe.

Why do we recommend them? They are packable and reusable and encourage people on the go to drink more water. Also, they fit into your pocket.

Where can you get them? Several online sources, including uncommongoods.com -- $9.95 for a set of two.

+ TrailSpace.com | January 26, 2008

Packable Dishes by Dave MacLeay

Fold it. Squish it. Flatten it. Packable backcountry dishes have come a long way from the traditional scout mess kit. Designers continue to experiment with different dish materials and innovate with ways of compactly storing them. The latest entries are the Sea to Summit X-Bowl and X-Plate, and the Flatterware Collapsible Cup.

The Flatterware Collapsible Cup is a 12-ounce capacity cup that collapses to the size of a hockey puck and stores within its own lid and base. The cup expands with a simple twist and collapses with a twist and push. The Collapsible cup weighs 3 ounces and will retail for $5.

+ Campist.com | January 25, 2008

Camping Gadgets - Flatterware Twist-n-Pack by Product Reviews

Drinking from a cup is no longer a luxury that campers must forego in their quest for roughing it, thanks to the Flatterware twist-n-pack camping cup. Putting a new twist on camping cookery, the Flatterware collapsible camping cup snaps down to the size of a hockey puck for easy storage in your pack, making it the ideal addition to your camping gear when every inch counts. When you’d like to wet your whistle, a spring-loaded feature lets you twist it open and voila, the puck is a cup. (via Backcountry.com)

+ Gifts&Accessories.com | January 16, 2008

Drink Vessel to Go by GDA Staff

Here’s a more design-forward, modern take on a scout’s collapsible camping cup. The Flatterware Collapsible Cup is great for travelers, moms-on-the-go, hikers or anyone. Lightweight and compact, it fits easily into handbag, tote, briefcase or backpack. The body of the cup is molded out of a single piece of flexible plastic with a helical structure, allowing it to collapse flat and fold and lock into its own lid. 12-oz. capacity. For hot and cold liquids. Dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

+ The Celebrity Cafe | December 16, 2008

Kids Stuff by Product Reviews

Whether you're preparing for a baby shower or already have your own babies at home, here are some great products that can put the fun and ease back into growing up and parenthood.

Reusing a hard plastic water bottle may seem like a cost-efficient habit, but did you know that the bisphenol A, (BPA), found in many bottles, can be harmful to your health? The collapsible cup from Flatterware is a unique, safe alternative to the water bottle. The ingenious twist design takes Flatterware from a standard 12 ounce plastic cup to a slim, portable device perfect to stuff in a backpack, a pocket, or in mom's purse. And unlike a traditional telescopic cup that has to be opened perfectly to prevent leaks, Flatterware twists open perfectly each and every time. And the firm plastic material means a cup that is lightweight and durable. So ditch the bottle and go for the cup with Flatterware.

+ TinyChoices.com | October 24, 2007

Flatterware Collapsible Cups by Karina

I attended the 7th Annual Cooper Union Art Auction and Casino Night this weekend, and was excited to win the auction for two collapsible cups. I have been thinking about collapsible cups for the Longest Time! so when I say excited, I mean Totally Excited. I’ve been trying to carry around a smaller handbag and while my spork and cloth napkin (or hanky) fit into a small purse, I end up bringing along a second tote bag to carry around my sigg bottle or travel mug. So naturally I’ve been thinking of ways to ditch the second tote bag, yet still be able to get a nice cool drink of water when I need one. Enter collapsible cups.

Flatterware Collapsible Cups are designed by fellow Cooper Alumni Theo Stewart-Strand, and are the coolest collapsible cups I’ve ever seen. When you pop them open the cup springs into shape - and it isn’t like one of the old fashioned telescoping style cups, either… it’s of solid body construction. which means no leaking! It’s very small, and can fit into your pocket or small handbag. And they just plain look NEAT. There is a very cool video accessible from the product webpage. [[Note: look forward to an interview with Theo Stewart-Strand soon!]]

Plus, the cups have the added benefit of reducing the amount of waste you generate through-out the day. Since winning the auction I’ve been brainstorming for occasions when I would need to have a collapsible cup. Like: I should keep one in my car! or maybe in my laptop bag, for when I travel to other offices. They’d be perfect for picnics! even the kind with wine and cheese!

There is only one small shadow on my enthusiasm: These cups are made of ABS Plastic (they have a #7 recycle marker which stands for “other plastic” and which also includes lexan [which we’ve discussed in depth before], but is really a catch-all category). And you all know that I do try very hard to reduce the amount of plastic in my life! luckily, though, I am not on a “no plastic” diet because I LOVE these cups, and I’m AM glad that I own them.

So, being the good (read: overly-researched) engineer that I am, I checked out ABS plastic (or Acrolonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) on the internet. It seems to be a relatively tough plastic that is used for things like car bumpers and legos. It is relatively stable and there haven’t been any studies indicating that there are harmful leachates or otherwise. (A couple of plastic-watchdog-pages are here and here, and both of them don’t say anything bad about ABS plastic.) But these plastics are still made from petroleum, and the additives used to create material strength in the plastic are relatively toxic. However, for the design of the cup I really can’t think of another material that would substitute. The cup itself is structural, and must be flexible enough to fold up.

I guess these cups bring to light another Tiny Choice that we all have to face often - when you see something really freakin’ cool, and/or something that addresses a need you have, do you buy it? Gadgets fall squarely into a category that often can be labeled “stuff you don’t really need, but want badly, but usually are made of toxic substances, but hopefully won’t hurt you personally.” It’s hard to deprive yourself of the many awesome and cool things out there, and if you break it down, most things for sale today in the western world have got some toxic materials somewhere in their construction. So it brings up the question, but from another angle: where do you draw the line?

GEAR RATING

+ MountainZone.com | December 15, 2007

Flatterware Collapsible Cups - Outdoor Gear Review by Rachel Kayne

Rating: A

The Flatterware collapsible cup is aimed towards the light gear carrying hiker/biker looking to have a fully functional cup taking up less space with minimal weight. A single, molded piece of ABS and certified food grade TPE flexible plastic with a lid makes this a versatile, easy to carry item. Being pocket sized, this takes out the trouble of packing cups in your gear.

Compared to its predecessor, the telescopic cup, this single piece design is infallible! The telescopic cup has to be opened perfectly, or you develop leaks. There is no leakage with the Flatterware design. As an Avid hiker/biker I tend to hit the trails on my bike until reaching an impassible point and continue on foot from there. I find the less gear I have to pack in and out the more enjoyable a time I will have. I don’t like to spend too much time putting gear together so while trying out this collapsible cup, I cut a lot of time that I had normally taken making sure the telescopic variety was put together ‘just so’.

Upon first opening, the smell of plastic was overwhelming. As the instructions included stated it is dishwasher safe, unlike other collapsible cups (as well as microwave and freezer safe) I ran it through the dishwasher. This effectively removed the smell so as to not make my water taste like plastic.

The rim of the cup is very rigid, keeping any spills from happening. The helix design gives two benefits, one being it twists back down into the base with a smooth feel and clicks shut easily, the other being it stabilizes the cup so you do not have to grip it gently to avoid spills. I found in the Flatterware design a simple, single, smooth motion to open or close.

The amount it holds is a lot more than any other travel cup I have ever had, 12 oz. This was great as I did not have to keep refilling the cup to get a decent drink while taking a break. It seems to hold almost twice the amount of any collapsible cup I have had yet to date.

The case is smooth, with a nice rounding to the edge. With several hours of hard riding, followed by several more hours of uphill hiking I did not even notice the slightest discomfort having the Flatterware collapsible cup in my pocket. The case seems to be very tough and designed to take abuse as I did take a couple of spills and did land on it and caused no damage. The edge of the case has a nice ridging to it, not to small so it is easy to open/close wearing gloves.

Pros:

* Lightweight, yet tough
* No leakage
* 12 oz. capacity
* Firm design keeps cup from bending while in use

Cons:

* Upon first use, the plastic smell is overwhelming and hand washing does not seem to remove it
* Leaving liquids in it for a long period of time can result in a plastic taste

Bottom-Line:

This took up less space, leaving room for gear that I would have not normally have had as I do not like the telescopic travel cups. Fitting in my pocket as it did, comfortably, I did not even notice I was carrying it. This is an innovative, exciting design for a travel cup and I do intend on getting several more. The one, single con I could find was easily remedied by a run through the dishwasher so any I plan to gift out will be ran through beforehand. This is an easy to use, easy to carry item. This cup will take over the market for the collapsible design.

INTERVIEW

+ TinyChoices.com | October 29, 2007

All Star Interview : Theo Stewart-Stand by Karina

Theo Stewart-Strand is a product designer based in NYC. He designed the Flatterware Collapsible Cups we posted about last week. I asked him a few questions:

Can you tell us a little about your design process?

We’ve been working on these cups for about three years. The idea came from a scale used to weigh flour: a glass with a spring. The spring compresses as the flour is poured in, thus telling you the weight.

I had an idea about how to squash a cup and have it be able to spring back into shape. Prototyping was circuitous; I tried springs, added a skin, removed the skin, and had a company make the structure to be more spring-like. Then we filed a patent.

The idea is that instead of throwing away countless cups you can reuse a single cup that won’t leak when closed. You can use it for water or coffee, and it can be put in the dishwasher, freezer or microwave.

There are future iterations in the design stages, but what we have is marketable and proof of the original concept.

What about the materials choice? A lot of people are concerned about plastics today.

We chose a plastic that can be ground-up and recycled easily. With disposable cups you have to consider the paper, the bleaching process, and the landfilling.

The choice of ABS plastic and TPE - Thermoplastic Elastomer - was deliberate. This is a material combination in a lot of consumer products (i.e. toothbrushes). We avoided food grade PVC which had some properties similar to the TPE because of its potential toxicity.

In the future, I’d like to be able to accept used cups back so I can recycle them into other products.

Plastic isn’t an ideal solution but it’s common. Right now material choices are limited. Eventually as scientists develop better materials, for example corn-based thermoplastic elastomers, we would like to switch to them. But right now as far as materials that spring up well, steel is too expensive, too difficult to work with and not pliable at this point.

A truly green solution would be to carry around metal or ceramic cup every day. Maybe in the future cups will be instantaneously produced when they’re needed, and once they’re used immediately digested by enzymes back to a usable organic substrate.

Who do you think will use this cup?

We hope it is an object for the everyday for both indoor and outdoor use. We use them in our office for both drinking coffee and fetching water from the water cooler. We are also going to market the product heavily to two other specific markets: the outdoor and promotional markets.

Because of the cups lightweight and durable design, we think it is a huge improvement over other camping/outdoor cups on the market.

In addition, our cup can easily can easily be custom printed.

Lastly, and what we have found fascinating, is the fact that children and people in general love the cup for its functionality, but also because it is a fun object to play with.

Where can people buy your cup?

We have quite a few of these cups in stock and more on the way. We’re working on the Flatterware.com webpage where we will sell them, and right now the cups are for sale in Solutions Catalog, and in some museum shops.

We’re hiring a PR firm and gearing up for a real launch in the new year.

Can you tell us about a few of your Tiny Choices?

My personal Tiny Choices? I carry a lot of canvas bags for shopping and turn out the lights when I leave the room. I buy green energy solutions from ConEd and keep the heat turned down in my apartment. I ride my bike a lot and I prefer windsurfing and soccer to motor sports. Also, we clean our apartment with baking soda, vinegar, and washing soda. We don’t purchase commercial cleansers and that helps us avoid more plastic waste in our lives as well as introducing unnecessary toxins into our environment.

SAFETY FIRST!

The Flatterware Design Team believes that ALL products should be manufactured using responsible and safe materials and processes. To ensure a better, healthier tomorrow educate yourself about the products you use on a daily basis & what effects these materials have on us and the earth. Flatterware is BPA Free! Buy a Flatterware Cup today and help us reduce the number of disposable water botlles added to US landfills every day! (Estimated at 6million+)

What is the 'bendy' Flatterware 'vessel' made of?

The INTERIOR of the Flatterware cup is a bendy/flexible material that you fill with drinking fluids. This vessel is constructed of food grade thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). This material has both "thermo" and "elasto" properties, this is why it insulates hot & cold liquids and is able to bend and flex instead of break or crack. TPE is recyclable. Other products produced using TPE are toothbrushes and medical catheters.

What is the 'strong' Flatterware 'exterior' made of?

The EXTERIOR of the Flatterware cup is a strong material that does not house drinking fliuds but clicks shut to protect and conceal the flexible vessel that does. This exterior is constructed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). This material is commonly known for its rigidity and light weight properties. ABS is recyclable. Other products produced using ABS are protective sports helmets, recorders and L.E.G.O.

Call or E-mail us with your questions about our products:
Phone: 718/ 407. 4197 E-mail: info@flatterware.com

Articles and studies sited below have reported concerns with specific product materials. Below are a few that have caught our eye. The materials reported to be harmful in these articles are not used in the production of Flatterware.

+ NY Times.com | April 22, 2008

A Hard Plastic is Raising Hard Questions by Tara Parker-Pope

Are toxic plastics lurking in your kitchen?

It’s a question many families are asking after reports last week that a chemical used to make baby bottles, water bottles and food containers is facing increasing scrutiny by health officials in Canada and the United States.

The substance is bisphenol-a, or BPA, widely used in the making of the hard, clear and nearly unbreakable plastic called polycarbonate. Studies and tests show that trace amounts of BPA are leaching from polycarbonate containers into foods and liquids.

While most of the focus is on products for children, including clear plastic bottles and canned infant formula, the chemical is also used in food-storage containers, some clear plastic pitchers used for filtered water, refillable water bottles and the lining of soft-drink and food cans.

While there is debate about how much of a health worry BPA really is, retailers including Wal-Mart have said they are withdrawing baby products made with it. Nalgene, the maker of a popular sports bottle, and the baby-products maker Playtex have announced they will stop using it.

Here are answers to some common questions about BPA.

What is the evidence that BPA is harmful?

It all comes from animal studies. Rat pups exposed to BPA, through injection or food, showed changes in mammary and prostate tissue, suggesting a potential cancer risk. In some tests of female mice, exposure appeared to accelerate puberty.

A draft report from the National Toxicology Program, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, notes that there is no direct evidence that human exposure to BPA harms reproduction or infant development. “I don’t think there’s anything in this brief that should lead to alarm,” said Dr. Michael D. Shelby, director of the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, who oversaw the report. “It means we’ve got a limited amount of evidence from some studies that were done in laboratory animals.”

The main concern is the possible risk to infants and pregnant women, although Canada has begun a study to monitor BPA exposure among about 5,000 people to assess any danger to adults.

How much BPA are we exposed to?

BPA migrates into food from polycarbonate plastic bottles or the epoxy resin coatings that line canned food. The typical adult ingests an estimated 1 microgram of BPA for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight. Babies who use polycarbonate bottles and formula from cans get more, an estimated 10 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. A microgram represents a trace amount. Consider this: a single M&M is about a gram. If you cut it into 100,000 slices, one slice would equal about 10 micrograms.

The 2003-4 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found detectable levels of BPA in 93 percent of urine samples collected from more than 2,500 adults and children over 6.

How do I know if the plastic containers in my home contain BPA?

Any product made of hard, clear plastic is probably made from polycarbonate unless the manufacturer specifically states that it’s BPA-free. One way to check is to look for the triangle stamp on or near the bottom: polycarbonate plastics should have the numeral 7 in the triangle, sometimes with the letters PC.

Unfortunately, 7 is a catchall “other” category for a variety of plastics. In my own kitchen, I found just one product with a 7 — plastic fruit cups my daughter takes to school. But the plastic is soft and pliable, so it is probably not made with BPA.

I also found refillable water bottles without a stamp. Because they are hard, shatterproof and clear, it’s reasonable to assume they are made from polycarbonate.

What about canned food and drinks?

While much of the focus is on plastic bottles, most human exposure occurs through the lining of canned foods. Canned beverages appear to contain less of the chemical than canned foods like soup, pasta, fruits and vegetables, which are often processed at high temperatures. Virtually every canned product, even those labeled organic, has a liner with BPA. One brand, Eden Organic Baked Beans, says it uses a BPA-free can.

How do I lower my exposure?

Switch to frozen or fresh vegetables. Use glass, porcelain and stainless-steel containers, particularly for hot foods and liquids. If you don’t want to use a glass baby bottle, several companies, including the popular brand Born Free, now sell BPA-free baby bottles and sippy cups. For formula-fed babies, you can switch to powdered formula rather than liquid.

Although many plastic products claim to be microwave safe, some scientists warn against putting any plastic in the microwave. “There is such a wide variety now, from disposable containers to actual Tupperware,” says Dr. Anila Jacob, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based advocacy group. “I don’t know of anyone who has done definitive testing of all these different types of plastic containers to see what is leaching into food.”

+ NY Times.com | April 16, 2008

Canada Likely to Label Plastic Ingredient 'Toxic' by Ian Austen

OTTAWA — The Canadian government is said to be ready to declare a toxic chemical widely used in plastics for baby bottles, beverage and food containers as well as linings in food cans.

A person with knowledge of the government’s chemical review program spoke on the condition he need not be named because of a confidentiality agreement. He said the staff work to list the compound, called bisphenol-a, or B.P.A., as a toxic chemical was complete and was recently endorsed by a panel of outside scientists.

A public announcement by Health Canada may come as early as Wednesday but could be delayed until the end of May. Canada would be the first country to make a health finding against B.P.A., which has been shown to disrupt the hormonal systems of animals. The department’s decision was first reported in The Globe and Mail, a Toronto newspaper, on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, a draft report from the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program endorsed a scientific panel’s finding that there was “some concern” about neural and behavioral changes in humans who consume B.P.A.

B.P.A. is widely used to make polycarbonate plastics, which are rigid and transparent like glass but very unlikely to shatter. Polycarbonates have many uses that pose no risk, like the cases of some iPod models. Because animal tests have shown that even small amounts of the chemical may cause changes in the body, however, researchers have focused on food- and drink-related applications of B.P.A., like the popular Nalgene brand beverage bottles.

“If the government issues a finding of toxic, no parent in their right mind will be using products made with this chemical,” said Rick Smith, the executive director of Environmental Defence, a Canadian group that has been campaigning against B.P.A. “We will be arguing strongly for a ban on the use of this chemical in food and beverage containers.”

The public and industry will have 60 days to comment on the designation once it is released, setting into motion a two-year process that could lead to a partial or complete ban on food-related uses of plastics made using B.P.A.

Alastair Sinclair, a spokesman for Health Canada, said, “When the minister has an announcement to make, he will make it.” Mr. Sinclair declined to answer any questions.

A spokeswoman for the Canadian Plastics Industry Association referred a request for comment to the American Chemistry Council in Arlington, Va. The council did not respond to interview requests.

Some scientists question the significance to humans of studies indicating that even very small amounts of B.P.A. can induce changes in animals. There is also some dispute about how much of the chemical is released by plastics.

Jack Bend, a professor of pathology at the University of Western Ontario in London and one of the Canadian government’s outside scientific advisers, declined to comment on what action Health Canada would take. But he said he was concerned about the widespread use of B.P.A.

“The first thing is that it’s an endocrine disrupter, there’s no question about that,” Professor Bend said, referring to the chemical’s impact on the hormonal system. “Should people that are exposed to these low levels of this chemical be outrageously concerned? I’d err on the side of not creating panic. We simply don’t know. But we should find out.”

Professor Bend added that the impact of B.P.A. on the development of human fetuses was worrisome. It may prove to cause damage in much the same way as early exposure to mercury, he said.

But Warren G. Foster, director of the center for reproductive care and reproductive biology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, is more skeptical.

“In my experience working with bisphenol-a, it’s a relatively benign chemical,” said Professor Foster, who once headed the reproductive toxicology group at Health Canada. “There’s room here for a lot more research.”

He added that substances could be declared toxic under Canada’s chemical management system if they had the potential for adverse effects in animals but not humans.

“If I was a fish and there was bisphenol-a in the water, I’d be concerned,” he said. “If I was a fetus and my mother was using a plastic water bottle, I wouldn’t be bothered.”

While the Canadian plastics association referred a reporter to Professor Foster, he said that he had no ties to it or the chemical industry.

The draft report released in the United States is effectively a call for further research on the chemical.

Michael D. Shelby, the director of the toxicology program’s center for the evaluation of risks to human reproduction, said he wanted to see further confirmation that the test results could be repeated and more data about the long-term consequences of exposure to the chemical.

But he said that research strongly suggested that polycarbonate food and beverage containers and food cans were the main source of human exposure to B.P.A. When asked if people should stop using them, Dr. Shelby replied: “That becomes kind of a personal choice. These are certainly two things people can get around.”

In a statement, the American Chemistry Council said the draft report “affirms that there are no serious or high-level concerns for adverse effects of bisphenol-a on human reproduction and development.”

+ USA Today.com | January 22, 2008

Heat cuases chemical to leach from plastic by Liz Szabo

A new study may provide a clearer picture of how a controversial chemical called bisphenol A leaches out of plastics.

Concern over bisphenol A, or BPA, has grown since August, when a government panel expressed "some concern" that the ingredient — used in some plastic bottles, dental sealants and linings of metal cans — causes neural and behavioral problems among children.

The study in today's Toxicology Letters provides evidence that heat — not frequent use — may pose the greatest problem. Previous studies have shown that repeated wear and tear — such as running baby bottles through the dishwasher — makes BPA leach out of plastic, says the study's main author, Scott Belcher of the University of Cincinnati.

GRAPHIC: How BPA leaching can occur

In the study, new and old bottles filled with room-temperature water released the same amount of BPA. When scientists exposed new and used bottles to boiling water, however, they released BPA up to 55 times more rapidly than before heating.

BPA is known as an "environmental estrogen" or "endocrine disruptor" because it can mimic the effect of sex hormones on the body, Belcher says. Belcher didn't test baby bottles or cans of infant formula, products that have generated perhaps the most concern about BPA's safety. Instead, Belcher — an avid climber and mountaineer — focused on plastic bottles that he and other hikers commonly use.

Though scientists haven't yet conducted definitive studies in people, animal tests show that BPA affects reproduction and brain development, Belcher says. Government tests have found BPA in 95% of people studied.

Steve Hentges of the American Chemistry Council says Belcher's study adds little new information, although it does dispel the "myth" that old polycarbonate bottles break down and become unsafe. He notes that many other studies have shown that BPA can migrate into food. Significantly, however, government safety agencies in Europe and Japan also have concluded that the tiny amounts of BPA that make it into food aren't a risk.

The Food and Drug Administration, which said in November that it's "actively reviewing" BPA's safety, also has said typical daily exposures to the chemical aren't dangerous. Many remain concerned, however. Last week, Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak, both Michigan Democrats, announced they're investigating the use of BPA in products intended for children, such as cans of formula, which may be lined with BPA. They sent letters asking about the safety of BPA to the FDA and seven formula manufacturers.

+ CNN.com | December 24, 2007

Hard-plastic bottles raise worries by The Associated Press

ROCHESTER, New York (AP) -- Catching his breath at a fitness club, Matt McHugh took a gulp of water from his trusty, hard-plastic Nalgene bottle and pondered the idea of switching to an alternative made of glass, stainless steel or another kind of plastic.

Worries about a hormone-mimicking chemical used in the trendy sports accessory led a major Canadian retailer to remove Nalgene and other polycarbonate plastic containers from store shelves in early December.

"It's definitely a concern, but I'd like to learn more before I make any decisions about my water bottles," McHugh, 26, a business manager for a reggae band, said with an easy laugh. "For now, I'll probably keep using my Nalgene until it breaks. It's indestructible, I've heard!"

Vancouver-based Mountain Equipment Co-op is waiting for Canadian health regulators to finish a preliminary review in May before it reconsiders restocking its 11 stores with the reusable, transparent bottles made with bisphenol A, or BPA, a compound created by a Russian chemist in 1981.

There is little dispute that the chemical can disrupt the hormonal system, but scientists differ markedly on whether very low doses found in food and beverage containers can be harmful. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sides with the plastics industry that BPA-based products do not pose a health risk.

However, an expert panel of researchers reported at a U.S. government conference that the potential for BPA to affect human health is a concern, and more research is needed. The panel cited evidence that Americans have levels of BPA higher than those found to cause harm in lab animals.

Patagonia Inc., another outdoor-gear retailer based in Ventura, California, pulled polycarbonate water bottles from its 40 stores worldwide in December 2005. A month later, organic foods chain Whole Foods Markets stopped selling polycarbonate baby bottles and child drinking cups.

Some environmental groups in the United States and Canada expect others will soon follow suit.

"Given there are comparably priced, greener alternatives, I'm quite convinced that within a couple of years, we're going to see the end of this chemical in consumer products," said Rick Smith, executive director of Toronto-based Environmental Defense Canada.

The controversy turned an unwelcome spotlight on Nalge Nunc International, a division of Waltham, Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. It employs about 900 people at a plant tucked behind a shopping plaza in the Rochester suburb of Penfield.

"Rarely has a chemical been the subject of such intense scientific testing and scrutiny. And still, important agencies across the globe agree that there is no danger posed to humans from polycarbonate bottles," Tom Cummins, a Nalge Nunc research director, said in a statement.

The company declined to allow executives to be interviewed. Its consumer products arm, with estimated sales of $50 million to $65 million, accounts for a fraction of Thermo Fisher's $9.5 billion in annual revenues.

UBS Investment Research analyst Derik De Bruin told investors Nalge Nunc also makes translucent containers made of other, softer plastics such as polyethylene. So even a wider retailer recall of polycarbonate products "would likely have minimal impact on the company," he wrote.

Nalge Nunc was founded in 1949 by Rochester chemist Emanuel Goldberg. The lab-equipment supplier evolved in the 1970s when rumors about its scientists taking hardy lab vessels on weekend outings led to a water-bottle consumer unit targeting Boy Scouts, hikers and campers.

In 2000, a new sports line of Nalgene-brand bottles offered in red, blue and yellow hues quickly became the rage in high schools and on college campuses.

Highly durable and lightweight, resistant to stains and odors, and able to withstand extremes of hot and cold, screw-cap Nalgene bottles are marketed as an environmentally responsible substitute for disposable water bottles. This holiday season, they're being offered in new colors such as amber, moss green and vibrant violet.

In this city of Lake Ontario's southern shore, judgments about a long-admired local business were invariably leavened with sympathy.

"Nalgene is the hallmark water bottle for the backcountry," said businessman and skiing enthusiast Rob Norris, 58, as he shopped for a backpack at an Eastern Mountain Sports store.

"I don't have any reservations right now," he said. "To me, it's one of these overreaching things where there's some microscopic particles that could leach out of a piece of plastic. But who knows what's in the water we're drinking?"

But Ellen Guisto, 31, a stay-at-home mother of two, said a growing chorus of concern about the chemical makes her hesitate. "I'm not an alarmist by nature but if I hear there's a chance that this may cause cancer, I don't think I would use it," she said.

Prompted by a swell of complaints over more than three years, Mountain Equipment said it removed mostly polycarbonate water bottles and food containers, but left water filters and other products containing the chemical on store shelves. It also will continue to sell Nalgene containers made of other plastics, spokesman Tim Southam said. The consumer cooperative is Canada's largest with 2.7 million members.

In response, the FDA reiterated that "BPA has been used in consumer products for over 50 years. In that time, there has been no evidence that BPA is harmful to humans, either as the result of dietary intake or industrial worker exposures."

With more than 6 million pounds produced in the United States each year, bisphenol A is found in dental sealants, the liners of food cans, CDs and DVDs, eyeglasses and hundreds of household goods.

Citing multiple studies in the United States, Europe and Japan, the chemicals industry maintains that polycarbonate bottles contain little BPA and leach traces considered too low to harm humans.

But critics point to an influx of animal studies linking low doses to a wide variety of ailments -- from breast and prostate cancer, obesity and hyperactivity, to miscarriages and other reproductive failures.

An expert panel of 38 academic and government researchers who attended a National Institutes of Health-sponsored conference said in a study in August that "the potential for BPA to impact human health is a concern, and more research is clearly needed."

Fred vom Saal, a professor of biology at the University of Missouri and one of the study's chief authors said the panel reviewed 700 published articles on BPA, practically all published in the last 10 years. Yet U.S. health and environmental regulators "are pretending they're still in the dark," he said.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

+ Is It In Us.org | Spring 2007

A Project on Chemical Contamination in Our Bodies by Participating State Organizations

Please visit IsItInUs.org for their reported findings.

+ DailyMail.co.uk | March 13, 2006

The poison lurking in your plastic water bottle by Jo Knowsley

A Potentially deadly toxin is being absorbed into bottled mineral water from their plastic containers. And the longer the water is stored, the levels of poison increase, research reveals. As the sell-by date on many bottled waters is up to two years, scientists have now called for extensive further studies.

The research by world expert Dr William Shotyk - who has vowed never to drink bottled water again - will be published in the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal next month. It is sure to revive concerns about the safety of bottled water, the world's fastest-growing drinks industry, worth £1.2billion a year.

The tests found traces of antimony, a chemical used in the making of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, used by most mineral-water sellers.

Small doses of antimony can make you feel ill and depressed. Larger quantities can cause violent vomiting and even death. The study stressed that amounts of antimony were well below official recommended levels. But it also discovered that the levels almost doubled when the bottles were stored for three months.

Professor Shotyk, of Heidelberg University in Germany, said: "I don't want to shock people but here's what I know: Antimony is being continuously released into bottled drinking water. The water in PET bottles is contaminated."

He tested ground water and 15 types of bottled mineral water in his native Canada. The ground water contained two parts per trillion (ppt) of antimony. Bottled water had an average 160 ppt of antimony when opened immediately after bottling. But ground water stored in a PET plastic bottle had 630 ppt of antimony when opened six months later.

Professor Shotyk then tried the experiment in Europe, collecting 48 brands of water in PET bottles and water from its source in the ground at a German bottling plant. The water had four ppt of antimony before being bottled, the contents of a new bottle had 360 ppt and one opened three months later had a staggering 700 ppt.

Antimony finds its way into water by 'leaching' from the plastic in the same way that water absorbs flavour from a teabag. Health authorities said even the higher levels of antimony found are way below official safety guidelines, set at around six parts per billion by international environment agencies.

Elizabeth Griswold, director of the Canadian Bottled Water Association, added: "The levels do not pose a risk to humans. They are simply trace elements."

But David Coggan, a Southampton University-based epidemiologist who works with the Medical Research Council, called for further research into the findings.

He said not enough was known about the effects of antimony and how much had to be consumed before it became dangerous. Last year naphthalene, which can cause liver damage in high doses, was found in two bottles of Volvic mineral water. Bacteria which could leach into bottled water has been cited as a possible reason for rising levels of food poisoning.