You've heard of why LAMOSE has steered away from plastic. But why have we chosen steel as the material to construct your new bottle out of?
Â
- Food grade steel - what does it mean
The 18/8 designation signifies the amount of chromium and nickel within the alloy. It means that itâs composition is 18% chromium and 8% nickel. A steel with over 11% chromium content is considered stainless as the element creates an oxide barrier on the metalâs surface to prevent rust from forming. Nickel on the other hand improves this corrosion resistance, and the higher the content, the better. (bosunsupplies.com)
18/8 grade steel is the most common grade used for anything that may touch food, and for good reason! It is essentially invincible against the types of acids and sugars that are in food and drink, and is still easy to clean. It is very resilient to stains, It just as durable as other materials, and it can also hold up against the heat from cooking. Compared to other materials, steel is the best choice for food. Plastics can leach compounds like BPA into your system, and aluminum tends to react and create an unwanted taste in water. While glass keeps your drinks tasting pristine and is completely recyclable, it can crack or even shatter when dropped. Itâs used for all kinds of things, from kitchenware to the largest production facilities for all of the food you enjoy today, and of course: LAMOSE bottles! (bssa.org, steel.org)
- Recyclable and durable
- 100% recyclable
- If youâve tuned into our previous post regarding recycling, youâll know that recycled products are often weaker than those made of virgin materials. Thatâs not the case with good old steel. Its intrinsic strength allows for it to be recycled over and over without loss of strength or quality. The American Iron and Steel Institute claims that 70 million tonnes of steel is recycled or reused in the US every year, with over 90% of the entire process able to be reused.
- Thereâs a reason why knights would throw a big sheet of the stuff on before battle! Steel is durable. Steel is harder than aluminum and is more resilient to scuffs and scratches. It makes an excellent choice for a bottle for a lifetime as it will take a drop and keep on going. In addition, steel is a relatively poor conductor of heat, which makes it the best option for an insulated bottle. Aluminum can be found in heat sinks, radiators, and air conditioning, enough said. (metalsupermarkets.com)
- Weight
- The one potential negative is that steel is heavy, but on the other hand you will also get durability, insulation, and pristine food and drink out of it.
- One might be able to get bottles made out of titanium, an incredible metal named after the Titans of ancient Greek mythos. It is corrosion resistant, lightweight, strong, and is extremely stable, enough so that itâs used for medical implants. However, itâs extremely expensive. Non insulated titanium bottles can go for upwards of $200 Canadian dollars! The only insulated ones Iâve seen hold 300mL.
- In all, it will be up to you as to what your next water bottle will be made of. Or if you will decide to carry a water bottle at all. Whatever your decision, remember that wherever you go, #LAMOSEGo!
Â
https://www.bosunsupplies.com/stainless-steel-info.html
https://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=91
https://www.steel.org/sustainability/recycling
https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/10-differences-aluminum-stainless-steel/