Responsibly Made

Meet Yao Sheng Fu, one of the workers at our manufacturing site in China. During one of our regular visits, he sat down with Klean Kanteen® and shared a little about his life and what it's like to work at the factory.

Yao wears many hats. He works on the production line forming the main body of the bottle, and also performs quality control during the transfer of bottles from the main production line to the finishing department.

Yao had just finished his shift and was happy to join Klean Kanteen co-owner Jeff Cresswell on the patio that overlooks the open quad at the factory grounds. Over tea and some tasty Chinese pastries, he told us he moved from the province of Gui Zhon, known for steel production, to work at the Klean Kanteen® factory four years ago. He pointed out that he's been with the company since the very beginning, working on the manufacturing side.

"Many people want to work at this factory because it has a reputation for being a good place,” he said, explaining that the factory’s reputation is part of the reason he moved here. He hopes it will continue to grow.

He travels home to see his family about twice a year and always goes during Chinese New Year.

When Jeff asked him where he’d go if he could travel anywhere in the world, Yao said he’d love to visit New York City.

Public dances are a popular social activity in China, and Yao said he loves to go to the dances in the local town square on weekends. He also admitted that he usually just watches because he’s kind of shy.

When we created the very first Klean Kanteen®, our goal was to promote healthy living and respect for the environment by giving people an affordable alternative to plastic bottles. From the get go, we shared some of the concerns our customers have expressed about manufacturing in China. However, after much time and research into manufacturing options, we found that by making Klean Kanteens® in China we could provide a handcrafted product of exceptional quality at a reasonable price while ensuring the environmental and fair labor standards we require.

Overseas, we have representatives from Klean Kanteen® living in China who visit our factories regularly. They are in communication with factory managers and workers to ensure implementation of quality control, fair labor, and environmental standards and policies. In addition, we require third-party social audits of our manufacturing facilities.

Right now, we’re in the process of implementing a Code of Conduct for all manufacturers, suppliers and subcontractors, which will define policies and procedures expected of any company that works directly or indirectly with us. The Code of Conduct includes guidelines covering ethical standards, employee rights, fair labor standards, professional management systems, manufacturing excellence, and health and safety of workers, employees and end users.

As part of the Code of Conduct, Klean Kanteen® is also establishing a Chain of Custody protocol requiring all suppliers, manufacturers and subcontractors to track and document the materials that go into our bottles from the raw materials to the retail floor.

The information provided through our Chain of Custody protocol will enable us to assess our production every step of the way, and to look for opportunities to meet our sustainability goals. It will also help guarantee that the companies we work with overseas and in the United States adhere to the high levels of quality control, fair labor, and environmental standards and policies we strive for.

In addition to rigorous oversight of our entire production process, we have stringent controls to ensure the quality and safety of our finished products including regular product testing through third-party, accredited laboratories to meet regulatory requirements and our own high standards for product safety. In 2010, we are implementing even more extensive testing.

We’ve also taken numerous steps to reduce the environmental impact of the packaging, shipping and retail sales our products. All Klean Kanteen® packaging, from the tags on the bottles to the boxes and other materials we use to ship our products, is recycled from post-consumer waste or made from materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Klean Kanteen® in-store displays are also made from FSC-certified wood and are finished with low VOC, environmentally friendly, water-based stains.

At our headquarters in Chico, California, also the home of our distribution center, we’re taking steps to lower our carbon footprint as well. In 2009 we began offsetting electricity use of our distribution center and main offices through the purchase of renewable energy credits that capture electricity usage since January 1, 2008. In early 2010 we launched the Green Shipping program to offset the carbon footprint from all orders placed through the online retail store. We are currently assessing the potential to generate electricity through solar technology at our Chico facilities as well.

Our commitment to responsible manufacturing, packaging and shipping is part of a much larger and more comprehensive commitment to run Klean Kanteen® sustainably. We invite you to check out our company’s sustainability philosophy and policies in detail.

But to sum it up, we believe a business should give back more than it takes. When you buy a Klean Kanteen®, you get more than a water bottle. You get peace of mind. Call it courtesy, call it fussy, or even call it karma – we’re just doing our best to give Klean Kanteen® customers the same care we provide for our own families, friends and loved ones.