Patagonia to SIGG: We're Finished!

The press release that fell into our inbox on Thursday left no room for interpretation: “Patagonia Terminates Relationship With SIGG Water Bottles,” the headline screamed. Today, the ethical activewear label formally ceases all co-branding and co-marketing efforts with the beleaguered Swiss reusable-bottle company, as well as the sale of SIGG bottles in its stores, through its catalogs, and online.

Breaking up, as they say, is hard to do. SIGG HAS BPA IN IT!

Patagonia, in short, feels duped. “We did our homework on the topic of BPA, going all the way back to 2005 when this subject first emerged in discussions in scientific journals” says Rick Ridgeway, Patagonia’s vice president of environmental initiatives. “We even arranged for one of the leading scientists on BPA research to come to our company to educate us on the issue. Once we concluded there was basis for concern, we immediately pulled all drinking bottles that contained BPA from our shelves and then searched for a BPA-free bottle. We very clearly asked SIGG if there was BPA in their bottles and their liners, and they clearly said there was not.”

SIGG ad with Patagonia’s founder couldn’t be pulled in time
Eagled-eyed readers of this month’s Backpacker will notice a SIGG ad featuring Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s founder and owner, holding a SIGG bottle with a 1% for the Planet logo. Created in an effort to support and promote 1% for the Planet, an alliance of companies that Chouinard co-founded, the ad went to print before Patagonia could pull it. Whlle Patagonia will continue to support 1% for the Planet, it will no longer do so through co-promotion with SIGG.

Refunds for Patagonia-purchased SIGGs
Patagonia is currently accepting returns of any SIGG bottle purchased through the company, and it’s offering its customers full refunds. (Unlike, say, a certain bottle manufacturer.) All unused SIGG inventory on Patagonia store shelves will be sent back to SIGG to be recycled.

Meanwhile, Patagonia is on the hunt for another bottle company to hook up with.