Mike Rosen says Bamboo Bottle started from a joke. On the way to the Outdoor Retailer trade show several years ago, one of his friends sarcastically told Rosen — who already reps K2 skis, Yakima racks, and Beyond Coastal sunscreen, among other products — that he needed something else on his plate.
“‘He needs a summer project, like to make a bamboo bottle or something,’” Rosen remembers his friend saying.
That casual jest sparked an inspiration that led to Bamboo Bottle Company, which today produces hundreds of thousands of stylish, glass-lined, reusable water bottles sold by 500 U.S. retailers, and in five countries. The headquarters of Bamboo Bottle, which originally was in New Hampshire despite the fact that three of the company’s principals live in Truckee and North Tahoe, was moved to Truckee in June. Rosen, who has lived in Truckee since 1990, is joined by Bamboo Bottle Senior Vice President Patrick Carland, another long-time Truckee local. George Grass, a successful Tahoe City entrepreneur, rounds out the local executive team as the company’s CEO.
Two materials — bamboo and glass — set the bottle apart from others in the market. Unlike plastic or metal, glass does not affect the water’s taste or leach any chemicals into the water. The bamboo outer shell is stylish, insulating, and durable. Sheathed in the bamboo shell, the glass bottle can be dropped to the ground without breaking.
Rosen said Bamboo Bottles, which first hit the market last year, were being introduced just as consumers started turning to glass as an alternative to plastic and metal.
“Everything tastes better with glass,” said Rosen. “Now everyone wants to drink out of glass. We kind of hit it by accident. We’re the only glass bottle on the market that is durable.”
Apart from the glass interior, the bottle’s sleek style, simple design, and sustainable message have made the product popular.
“We were met initially with more excitement than I have seen in my 20 years in the industry,” said Rosen. “When people get it in their hands, their reaction is phenomenal. People love it.”
The bamboo species, a fast-growing and renewable type called “Moso” or giant timber bamboo, is harvested in China. A “9/90” symbol on the bottom of each bottle refers to how fast the bamboo grows once it has reached maturity — 90 feet in 9 months.
“It’s durable. It’s renewable, and it looks great,” said Rosen of the material.
Initially, Bamboo Bottle had hoped to produce everything for the bottle domestically, but the U.S. has little commercial bamboo production because of government regulation stemming from concerns about its rapid growth and invasive characteristics.
The Bamboo Bottle’s lids are made at a Washington state manufacturing plant, the company offsets its carbon emissions, and since the company started, it has donated to “1% for the Planet,” a coalition donating partial profits to world environmental groups. Those credentials, along with the chemical-free glass lining, have made it popular at events such as the recent Wanderlust festival in Squaw Valley.
Bamboo Bottles are available at many local retailers, including New Moon Natural Foods, Mountain Hardware, Porters, Tahoe Dave’s Squaw Valley, Tahoe Mountain Sports, and Granite Chief. Three lid types are available for the bottle — screw top, hot top, and flip top. Bottles start at $20.
Bamboo Bottle is now in the middle of its second year of production, and the executives are thinking ahead to a lighter version of the bottle and more sizes. The company also is pushing the bottles into as many retailers as possible.
Bamboo Bottle also offers “co-branding,” where an event or company can have its logo laser engraved on the bottles alongside the Bamboo Bottle logo. Info: bamboobottleco.com.
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