What are they made from?
Bottle – Food Grade (304) Matt Brushed Stainless Steel.
Lid – Steel with a bamboo finish.
Seal –Food Grade Silicone Seal.
Weight:
202g (empty) for 550ml bottle
236g (empty) for 750ml bottle
Dimensions:
200mm x 70mm x 0.5mm for 550ml bottle
250mm x 70mm x 0.5mm for 750ml bottle
Where do they come from?
Jerry Bottle state that their bottles are responsibly made in China. The steel industry in the UK is non-existent in comparison to what it used to be. There are only two major steelworks left, one in Scunthorpe and one in Port Talbot. It is a bit unrealistic to expect stainless steel products of this kind to be made here either because of this.
Are they sustainable?
Steel is the most recycled material on the planet. It can be infinitely recycled, unlike plastic which is downcycled. All stainless steel that currently exists is made up of around 60% recycled steel! Stainless steel is much harder wearing than plastic, so can stay in use for much longer (leave it to your grandchildren in your will). Once it is no longer usable or just unused, it can be recycled again and again and again and again. It is a much more sustainable material than plastic in this sense. It does take more energy to make, but its reuse rate in comparison to plastic makes the end of life for stainless steel much more environmentally friendly.
Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that is generally seen as being one of the most sustainable plants due to the speed at which it grows. Jerry Bottle state their bamboo is sustainably harvested.
Silicone is a polymer, but it is made from silica, which is sand. The chemicals used in and produced by the creation of silicone for consumer applications are much less harmful (e.g. acetic acid, which is found in vinegar) than the ones used in plastic production. Moreover, it is inert, so does not emit any chemicals or toxins in its use, even when heated. Silicone does not biodegrade, but it can be recycled. Generally considered to be a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic for many uses, but is not a replacement for plastic entirely because of the difference in properties between these materials.
How about ethical?
Super ethical in that all profits from the sale of jerry bottles go to their partner water charity. These guys are helping to bring access to safe, clean water for those that don’t already have that luxury. It is a luxury that we take for granted here. Drinkable tap water is such an overlooked resource. Think of Flint in Michigan where the water is poisoned with lead. Think of the areas of the world where there is no such thing as water literally on tap, because they don’t have the infrastructure or water resources we do.
Extra good stuff:
Jerry Bottle is a social enterprise that gives 100% of their profits to fund water projects around the world, working with their partner, Waterfall Charity. Amazing! Have a drink knowing that you are helping someone else have one too.
They work with schools, universities and companies to promote their cause, to make sure everyone has clean access to water and remind people of the health benefits of staying hydrated. This company is also trying to work with businesses to advertise fill up points for your bottle, so that asking for tap water becomes less of a social stigma.
Jerry Bottle have a lifetime warranty on their products!
(Disclaimer: That’s the useable lifetime of the product, not your life. Every company and product has a different idea of what this should be, as it depends on frequency of use and all sorts of other stuff. To be honest, you’d have to try hard to break these bottles, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. It’s just a nice touch.)
Jerry Bottle have assured me they are working with their manufacturer to reduce the amount of plastic used in manufacture and transportation of their products, and have improved their packaging to make it more plastic free in the past year which is great to see. :)
Conclusion –
A sustainable and ethical water bottle that you can stick with for life. Isn’t it good to know that someone else will be able to drink up too because you had the bottle? I’ll drink to that!
