In reply to Rob Greenwood - UKClimbing:
> My understanding is that moving to 100% recycled materials - at least currently - would result in the product being less durable. One of the things that makes Nalgenes so good is the fact that they're pretty much indestructible, so - at least in theory - you buy one and it has the potential to last a lifetime.
Sounds right to me. I occasionally get various versions of Nalgene bottles (usually the slimmer ones with the more complicated locking drinking spouts) at company meetings and I've never managed to even dent one yet, so I have quite a selection. My best effort was dropping a full one at Fairy Cave Quarry that bounced down the crag before ricocheting between the very pointy boulders below. It took me a while to find it, but when I did, it had one barely visible scratch.
They were originally designed (are are still widely used) as laboratory storage bottles for all manner of chemical solutions and needed to be as inert and unbreakable as possible.