Customer Care:
1-800-251-4535
April 9, 2008
PMI/Aladdin/Stanley Statement Regarding Bisphenol-A
For many
decades, PMI/Aladdin/Stanley has responsibly produced to-go food and beverage
containers and we stand by the safety of all our products.
Polycarbonate
and Bisphenol-A
Some of our reusable water bottle products are made from
food-grade polycarbonate which includes a bonding ingredient known as
Bisphenol-A (BPA). Food-grade polycarbonate has been approved by the Food and
Drug Administration for direct food contact use.
PMI/Aladdin/Stanley has closely monitored BPA and
polycarbonate findings from the Food and Drug Administration and many other
reputable civic, scientific and government organizations from around the world.
These findings and statements indicate that polycarbonate food and beverage
containers are not a health risk to humans, and based on these findings, we
firmly believe in the safety of our polycarbonate products.
The current position from the Food and Drug Administration,
from Documents dated April 2008 states:
Based on our ongoing review, we believe there is a large
body of evidence that indicates that FDA-regulated products containing BPA
currently on the market are safe and that exposure levels to BPA from food
contact materials, including for infants and children, are below those that may
cause health effects. However, we will continue to consider new research
and information as they become available.
At this time, FDA is not recommending that anyone
discontinue using products that contain BPA while we continue our risk
assessment process. However, concerned consumers should know that several
alternatives to polycarbonate baby bottles exist, including glass baby bottles.
For more information from the FDA on BPA please visit: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html
New Materials –
Aladdin Clean & Clever Water Bottle
PMI/Aladdin/Stanley also prides itself on offering solutions
to meet current lifestyles. As some consumers are mindful of BPA, Aladdin
recently introduced the Aladdin Clean & Clever® Water Bottle,
which does not contain BPA. The water bottle is made from a brand new
plastic called Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, which is a completely different
material than polycarbonate, and is Bisphenol-A free. Additional details can be
found in the press release below.
Number 7 Plastics
The numbers found on the bottom of plastic materials are
called the Resin Identification Code, which helps classify plastics for
recycling purposes. Details are found here: http://www.plasticsindustry.org/outreach/recycling/2124.htm
Polycarbonate is simply one type of plastic that is coded
#7. There are many, many other plastics coded as #7 that are NOT polycarbonate and
do NOT contain BPA. These include new bioplastics fashioned from plants, as
well as the copolyester material used in Aladdin’s new BPA-free Clean &
Clever Water Bottle. The reason they are all coded #7 is simply because they do
not fit into other categories, and are therefore classified together as
“other.” Aladdin’s Clean and Clever Water Bottle is made of BPA-free material
and is labeled #7 as it is new material and does not fit into other
classifications.
New Aladdin Water Bottle Offers Improved Quality and
Performance with Eastman Tritan™ Copolyester
Kingsport, Tenn., (March 27, 2008) – Aladdin®, a division of Pacific
Market International (Seattle, WA) and maker of a wide range of popular
insulated food and beverage storage products, recently partnered with Eastman
Chemical Company to develop and manufacture the CLEAN & CLEVER WATER
BOTTLE™ product line using new Eastman Tritan™ copolyester. Tritan combines the chemical resistance
and low residual stress of traditional copolyesters with higher heat resistance,
making it ideal for use in reusable food and beverage containers that require
excellent dishwasher durability. In addition, Tritan is not manufactured with bisphenol-A (BPA).
The new product line was
recently launched at the International Home and Housewares Show 2008 held at
A History of Fresh
Thinking
Celebrating its
100th anniversary in 2008, Aladdin has a long history of developing innovative
insulated storage products. Its most popular early product – the metal lunchbox
– became an icon of 20th Century design and remains an ensuring symbol of
American pop-culture. More recently, the company has developed a variety of
stylish storage product lines built on a foundation of inventive function and
design.
The attributes that have
personified the Aladdin brand for much of its history helped the company
recognize the value of Tritan
over alternative materials.
When Aladdin first
introduced the CLEAN & CLEVER WATER BOTTLE line, it was manufactured with
polycarbonate. However, as some consumers began asking for options for
materials that did not contain BPA, Aladdin began an active search for a
material that could match polycarbonate’s clarity and toughness
characteristics. Aladdin discovered Eastman Tritan copolyester and found the
perfect fit.
The Material
Advantage
Tritan combines the
chemical resistance and low residual stress of traditional copolyesters with
higher heat resistance. This unique balance of properties gives molded parts
excellent dishwasher durability. In addition, the combination of lower residual
stress and Tritan’s potential
for faster molding cycles enables manufacturers greater design flexibility
while maximizing product differentiation and performance.
The new 24-oz water bottles
will be marketed to active women and their families. Not only is the new
polymer highly durable and dishwasher safe, it is also shatter, stain, scratch
and odor-resistant, making it perfect for families on the go.
“Tritan offers exceptional clarity and
unmatched durability when compared to polycarbonate,” explains Robert Harris,
CEO and Owner, Pacific Market International. “After a thorough examination of
Tritan and its benefits, we’re confident we chose the most versatile polymer on
the market.”
Eastman Tritan also has excellent processability
and can be used in molds designed for polycarbonate. From initial R&D
testing to retail rollout, Aladdin was able to commercialize the CLEAN &
CLEVER product line within eight months.
“While our operations team
had little experience working with copolyester molding in the past, the
performance characteristics of Tritan
made the transition far easier than we could have predicted,” says Harris.
The Aladdin CLEAN &
CLEVER line of water bottles will be sold at Kohl’s Department Store and online
through Aladdin at www.aladdinsustain.com
“In today’s increasingly
competitive marketplace, brand owners and product designers are constantly
seeking new methods to differentiate products and meet changing consumer
needs,” says Randy Beavers, Polymer Solutions Executive, Specialty Plastics
Business Organization, Eastman Chemical Company. “We’re pleased that Aladdin
has chosen our new-generation copolyester as a way to differentiate their
product’s performance.”
About Aladdin®
For more than 90 years, Aladdin Industries has
produced many of
About PMI
Established in 1983,
privately-held Pacific Market International (PMI) revolutionizes the way people
eat and drink on the go. The company owns the Stanley®, Aladdin® and MiGo®
brands and operates a thriving private-label business for globally recognized
companies. PMI is headquartered in
About Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman
manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide. It
provides key differentiated coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products;
is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers; and produces PET polymers for
packaging. As a Responsible Care® company,
Eastman is committed to achieving the highest standards of health, safety,
environmental and security performance. Founded in 1920 and headquartered
in
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