Eco Vessel sets sail for world of safe sipping

BOULDER — Following the initial scare over potentially harmful effects of Bisphenol-A in plastic bottles in 2007, people scrambled to toss those drinking containers and look for alternatives.

Although researchers continue to debate the extent of BPA’s negative health effects, many of those people decided to stay on the safe side and use products made of other materials.

Feeling that there was a lack of safe, sturdy food-storage containers and water bottles for kids, Jon Fox, a father of two, decided to add a new option to the shelf.

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Fox in 2008 launched his company, Eco Vessel LLC, as a maker of sustainable and reusable beverage bottles. Response to his products, in the form of sales, continues to indicate that he’s not the only person looking to get around the potential downside of BPA.

“Since 2008 we’ve at least doubled every year – that’s 200 percent growth,” he said. The company employs five people in addition to Fox, who is the sole owner.

Eco Vessel uses stainless steel with no liners or coatings to make its containers. The silicone used to make the company’s lunch boxes and straw spouts is food grade.

Fox partnered with like-minded organizations such as Denver’s Water For People early on to support the mission of providing safe drinking water for everyone.

Eco Vessel donates 1 percent of every bottle’s purchase price to the international nonprofit that focuses on safe water programs in 11 developing countries.

“I traveled with them in Guatemala this past February when they were developing water and sanitation projects for schools and villages,” Fox said. “They were installing toilets, teaching sanitation techniques and meeting with local communities so they could be involved. We sometimes go to trade shows and donate all sales to them.”

Eco Vessel products include filtration bottles, insulated bottles and food-storage containers. Some of the bottles have three layers of insulation so the outside temperature doesn’t affect inside products.

In addition to containers made specifically for children, the company carries a bottle that can turn river, lake, stream and tap water into a safe sip. The Aqua Vessel Insulated Filter Bottle removes 99.9 percent of giardia and cryptosporidium, which are common parasites. It also reduces metals such as lead and chemicals such as chlorine.

With 20 different products – about 150 when you include color options and sizes – the filter bottles rank No. 1 in sales for the company.

Eco Vessel containers’ retail prices range from $12 to $40. Filters, which work through 100 gallons, are replaceable.

“They’re made mostly in Asia,” Fox said, pointing out that he hasn’t found stainless steel bottles made anywhere else. “We make filtrations in Utah and warehouse them directly in Denver.”

Retailers in 20 nations carry Eco Vessel products. Around town, they can be found in shops that include Boulder Book Store, Alfalfa’s Market and Where the Buffalo Roam. Online sites include Amazon.com.

“We’re just launching a product for Pottery Barn Kids, and we’re also in high-end hotels like the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons,” Fox said. “We make products for the whole age range of people and build personal relationships through social media, Facebook and our website.”

Additional marketing efforts include partnering with companies such as Justin’s LLC for contests and sponsoring events such as the upcoming ARISE Music Festival in Loveland.

Eco Vessel also is the official water bottle for the Reebok Sparten race, a nationwide enhanced obstacle race with almost 3 million Facebook followers.

Other sales channels such as independent reps, a public relations campaign and online ads keep the company name in front of potential customers.

Fox has funded Eco Vessel with personal and family dollars – about $30,000.

He describes challenges to this point as breaking into the market as a new company, maintaining product quality while continuing to develop new products and building the company without third-party funding.

Knocking on doors and attending trade shows has been Fox’s focus to get into the market.

“We’re not running on huge inventories, and we’re maintaining good credit terms with our vendors and suppliers,” he added. “We want to be one of the worldwide leaders in this market and grow into a multimillion-dollar brand.”