The History of Klean Kanteen Water Bottles

In the early 2000s, single-use plastic water bottles were on the rise. At the time, the environmental impact of single-use bottles and the health risks of plastic were not well understood. But a Chico, California-based inventor named Robert Seals became concerned. Using materials from his local hardware store, Seals created a prototype for America’s first reusable stainless steel water bottle. Unlike its European forerunners, Seals’ bottle was free of both aluminum and BPA lining, which made it both safer for human use and more sustainable to produce. In 2004, Seals founded Klean Kanteen and began selling the first reusable stainless steel water bottles in the United States. Seals mainly sold his bottles at music festivals, environmental fairs, outdoor recreation events, and similar gatherings. Soon, siblings Michelle Kalberer and Jeff Cresswell, along with their father Darrel “the Dude" Cresswell, joined Klean Kanteen to help run operations. In 2005, the Cresswell family began fully running Klean Kanteen. While the Classic bottle is still available today, Klean Kanteen has expanded their offerings to include a wide range of reusable water bottles in various sizes, colors, and cap styles. (The company also offers reusable coffee cups and other drinkware as well as reusable food storage containers, straws, and more.) Notably, the company has also become a certified B Corp and is certified Climate Neutral. Today, Klean Kanteen has many loyal fans and is not only the oldest but also one of the most respected producers of reusable water bottles in the United States.