Before anybody else was making stainless steel water bottles for personal hydration, before the health and environmental issues linked to plastic use were widely known, the people who make Klean Kanteens were cobbling together the first prototype from things they bought at the local hardware store in Chico, California.

In 2004 they released the first Klean Kanteen onto the market to give people a better option than plastic and lined aluminum bottles: a safe, healthy, lightweight, reusable bottle free of Bisphenol A (BPA) and other toxin substances that's easy to clean and keeps drinks fresh.

In 2007 and 2008 mainstream media started reporting on the dangers of BPA. About a year later, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch made the national news and the environmental devastation caused by plastic pollution worked its way into the collective consciousness. Worldwide, we are seeing a massive shift away from single-use plastic bottles as more people choose a refillable options, including Klean Kanteens.

Klean Kanteen continues to work towards stronger ethical and environmental goals within their company. Since releasing their first bottle onto the market they've taken significant steps to lower their environmental footprint. All their packaging, from the hangtags on the bottles to the boxes and other materials they use to ship their products, is either recycled or made from materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). In 2009 they began offsetting the energy footprint of their US-based facilities and shipping, and retroactively offset their energy use back to the beginning of 2008. Meanwhile, they continue to maintain a high level of oversight at their facilities in China to ensure the factories meet strong environmental and fair labor standards.

In addition to adopting business policies that support environmental and fair labor practices, they partner with likeminded nonprofits and environmental organizations working to educate the public about health and environmental issues. In 2008, Klean Kanteen received the Ocean Heroes Award from a collective of environmental organizations including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Ocean Conservancy, Environment California, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Heal the Bay and Surfrider Foundation for efforts to protect our oceans by reducing plastic pollution.

They also became a member of 1% For The Planet in 2008, and donate at least 1% of their annual sales to nonprofits working to protect and promote the health of our planet.

"And who are “they” anyway?" you might ask. They are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, children, and friends. They are a small, family-owned and -operated company in northern California with more than 30 years of history and an enduring commitment to product and service excellence. No shareholder meetings. No corporate headquarters. Their goal is simple: to provide Klean Kanteen customers affordable, safe, healthy, high quality products and accessories and to promote and encourage health, sustainability and environmental awareness.