Interview with Otterbottle’s Shannon Andrukow

I got the great opportunity to do an interview with the creator of Canada’s Otterbottle Inc. Shannon Andrukow. She is a full-time mother and entrepreneur and it truly was a real honor to do this interview with her.

Otterbottle Inc. Questions

What is the most influential thing that inspired you to first produce the Otterbottle?

My kids. It is amazing how ultra health conscious and environmentally aware you become when you have children. I thought i was already there, but the kids took it one step further.

What differentiates the Otterbottle from other competitors like Klean Kanteen?

I wanted to fuse style with health and practicality. Otterbottle offers cool designs which allow people to personalize the bottles. The designs are unique.

Where did the name Otterbottle come from?

Otterbottle is very environmentally focused. our mission is to conserve the planet’s water. An otter is an animal that lives in water, which we want to preserve and it rhymes with water, so it is not easily forgotten.

Did you come up with all of the designs and if so do any have a special meaning?

My designer is one of my closest friends, so yes, every design has great meaning. I trust her and her talent implicitly. Most of the ideas come from friends and family and then she magically translates the concepts into incredible designs that appeal to everyone.

Currently Otterbottle is only sold in Canada. Do you have any plants to expand sales to other countries including America?

Yes, but we would likely explore counrties in Europe first…

I see that you use high grade 18/8 stainless steel to produce each Otterbottle. Are they made from recycled materials and if not has the idea come up?

Using recycled steel is a great idea and it is something we are currently exploring with the manufacturer.

What were some of the main reasons for choosing the David Suzuki Foundation to provide a portion of your proceeds to?

I remember watching Dr. Suzuki on the nature of things as a child. I consider him the founder of the environmental movement in Canada and i have complete respect for him. if you ask a Canadian to name a person who makes them think of the environment, i would guess 9 out of 10 people would say “David Suzuki.” I am just as honored that the DSF would permit me to work with them – we share their goals and values.

Many people have become concerned about purchasing products made in China. Was there a reason you chose to have them made in China?

In 2007, 47% of the world’s steel came from china. as such the economics for sourcing steel and producing the bottles there is better than anywhere else. To our knowledge there are no stainless steel water bottles being produced in Canada. in all of our research all stainless steel bottles are being manufactured in china (including Klean Kanteen and Sigg stainless steel). As such, the manufacturing process in Asia is far more advanced than anywhere else in the world. This aligns with our objective to provide the consumer with a cost-effective, high quality, durable, and reusable product. Our bottles are metal tested in Canada for quality assurance purposes and we are very specific on our expectations for ethical practice and fair treatment to employees. our companies’ mission has a global perspective as opposed to a domestic focus. Our company promotes a plastic-free world for your health and your environment. In saying this, we are referring to the world, not one country. Reducing plastic and increasing environmental awareness is everyone’s responsibility.

Personal Questions

What are some of the things that you do in your daily life that help you live a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle?

I have always been very conscious of the 3 r’s and in order – reducing (less consumerism), re-using (bottles, bags, mugs, etc) and recycling. I am a major proponent of educating others where i can in addition to making eco-friendly behavior just a way of life, which i have done for decades.

As a full-time mother, was it difficult ( and is it still difficult ) to have a good work-life balance?

Almost impossible. I work very late nights, very early mornings, spend the days with my kids. now that the business is up and running well, the objective is to delegate, delegate, delegate!

I just want to say thank you for taking your time to answer these questions. It has been a pleasure to be writing an article about your great company. Not only is Otterbottle Inc. trying to make a difference by producing reusable stainless steel water bottles, but you are also giving back to your community. Is there anything further you would like to tell my readers?

Thank you kindly for all of your support. Initiatives like yours and mine are what is going to make a difference on this planet.

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