What Nalgene does

Nalgene is a Rochester, New York-based manufacturer of reusable plastic water bottles and hydration products, founded in 1949 and operating today as the Outdoor Products Division of Nalge Nunc International Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO). The company's portfolio centers on wide-mouth and narrow-mouth bottles ranging from 12oz to 48oz, manufactured primarily from Eastman Tritan Renew plastic derived from 50% recycled content via ISCC certified mass balance, with a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Ultralite line for weight-sensitive outdoor users. All products are BPA/BPS/BPF and phthalate-free, dishwasher safe, leak-proof, and backed by a lifetime guarantee covering functional damage from regular intended use. The product surface extends beyond core bottles into Lock Top (On-The-Fly) fitness bottles, Oasis canteens, collapsible Cantene, FreshFlow straw bottles, kids/sippy cups, food-grade storage containers, and rotational limited-edition artist collaborations.

Nalgene generates revenue through two principal streams: direct-to-consumer sales of bottles, accessories, and storage containers via its e-commerce storefront at nalgene.com (with flagship 32oz Wide Mouth bottles priced $16.99-$19.99), and a co-branding/bulk customization service for corporate promotions and events, accepting orders of fewer than 140 bottles through an online customizer and 140+ bottle orders through a dedicated distribution team. Distribution is supplemented by an affiliate program, brand ambassador program, and a wholesale/distributor network, with all fulfillment centralized in Rochester and free shipping offered on orders over $20 within the contiguous U.S. The customer base spans outdoor enthusiasts, fitness users, kids/families, corporate/B2B buyers, and everyday consumers, and the company runs a Nalgene Water Fund social impact program that has contributed over $1.2M since 2019 to clean water initiatives in underserved U.S. communities. Integration with Epic Water Filters products (filter cap kits, replacement cartridges) positions the brand within the broader outdoor filtration ecosystem, while the interchangeable cap architecture across bottle lines creates an accessory-driven switching cost for existing customers.

Name

Nalgene

Legal name

Nalge Nunc International Corporation

Website

https://nalgene.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nalgene is a Rochester, NY-based manufacturer of reusable plastic water bottles and hydration accessories, operating as the Outdoor Products Division of Thermo Fisher Scientific subsidiary Nalge Nunc International. It sells Tritan Renew and HDPE bottles, kids/canteen lines, and bulk customization services through its DTC website, B2B distribution team, and affiliate network to outdoor, fitness, family, corporate, and everyday consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reusable Water Bottles

NAICS

Plastics Bottle Manufacturing (326160)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beverage Packaging (Bottles, Cans, Cartons, Kegs) (IMALAHAD)

Keywords

• Reusable water bottles
• Outdoor hydration products
• BPA-free drinkware
• Custom branded bottles
• USA-made bottles

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Nalgene generates revenue primarily through direct sales of water bottles, accessories, and storage containers to consumers through its e-commerce website. Products include various bottle sizes (12oz, 16oz, 24oz, 32oz, 48oz), lid types (Wide Mouth, Narrow Mouth, Lock Top), and materials (Tritan Renew, HDPE).
2. Custom/Bulk Orders: Revenue from co-branding and bulk custom orders for corporate promotions, conferences, trade shows, employee appreciation events, and retail distribution. Orders under 140 bottles use an online customizer; orders of 140+ bottles go through a distribution team with minimum order requirements.
3. Nalgene Water Fund Donations: The company contributes $5-10 per limited-edition Water Fund bottle purchase to nonprofit partners (Reverb, Inc.) for clean water initiatives in underserved U.S. communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nalgene manufactures and sells reusable water bottles and outdoor hydration containers, primarily made from Tritan Renew plastic (BPA/BPS/BPF-free, derived from 50% recycled content). The catalog spans Wide Mouth, Narrow Mouth, Lock Top/On-The-Fly, Ultralite, Oasis, Cantene, FreshFlow straw, Kids/Sippy, and Limited Edition lines in sizes from 12oz to 48oz, all backed by a lifetime guarantee. The company also provides customization and co-branding services for corporate, event, and bulk orders (under 140 bottles via online customizer; 140+ via dedicated distribution team).

Product overview

Nalgene is a manufacturer of reusable water bottles and outdoor hydration products, founded as part of Nalge Nunc International and now operating as the Outdoor Products Division of Thermo Fisher Scientific. The core product portfolio centers on wide mouth and narrow mouth water bottles made primarily from Tritan Renew plastic (derived from 50% plastic waste using ISCC certified mass balance), along with specialty HDPE Ultralite bottles for ultralight applications. Product lines include: (1) Core Water Bottles in Wide Mouth, Narrow Mouth, Lock Top/OTF, and Ultralite variants ranging from 12oz to 48oz; (2) Specialty bottles including Oasis canteens, Cantene collapsibles, FreshFlow straw bottles, and storage containers; (3) Kids/Sippy cups including Grip-N-Gulp and OTF kids bottles; (4) Limited Edition Collections featuring seasonal artist collaborations (Surrealist, Stained Glass, Pride, Mythical Creatures prints); (5) Accessories including caps, sleeves, and the Epic Filter Cap system for backcountry water filtration; (6) Co-Branding/Customization services for bulk orders; and (7) Nalgene Water Fund social impact initiative. All bottles are BPA/BPS-free, dishwasher safe, leak-proof, and made in the USA with a lifetime guarantee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wide Mouth Bottles

Quantifiable outcome

• Products made from Tritan Renew derived from 50% plastic waste using ISCC certified mass balance
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Thermo Fisher ScientificcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Thermo Fisher Scientific partnered with Nalgene to build the Flint Community Lab, contributing nearly $650,000 in lab equipment, funding, and bottles for water sample collection. Thermo Fisher is also the parent company of the Nalgene brand under Nalge Nunc International Corporation.
• Reverb, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2019Nalgene partners with Reverb, Inc. as the nonprofit partner for the Nalgene Water Fund. Reverb distributes donations from Water Fund bottle sales to clean water initiatives in underserved U.S. communities. Nalgene contributes $10 per Water Fund Exclusive Bottle purchase and $5 from Appalachia bottle sales to Reverb.
• DigDeepcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDigDeep's Appalachia Water Project and Navajo Water Project receive donations from Nalgene Water Fund bottle sales. Nalgene made a $50,000 donation to DigDeep's Appalachia Water Project in 2024 for the 5-year anniversary of the Water Fund.
• COPEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCOPE (Community Organized Pantry Equipment) receives support from Nalgene Water Fund donations, specifically for student-led water testing programs in Navajo Nation.
• Diné Designer Jaden RedhairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNalgene collaborated with Diné designer Jaden Redhair to create the limited-edition 'Tó éí iiná' (Water is Life) bottle, with $5 from every sale supporting clean water solutions on the Navajo Nation reservation.
• Epic Water FilterscoreTechnology or IntegrationNalgene bottles integrate with Epic Water Filters products including the Epic Filter Cap + Kit and replacement cartridges. The partnership allows Nalgene to offer filtration solutions for outdoor and travel use. Customer support for Epic products is directed to Epic Water Filters.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hydro Flask: Iconic reusable water bottle brand competing in the same outdoor/lifestyle hydration category. Comparable price points, similar sustainability positioning, and overlapping customer base of outdoor and everyday consumers.
• YETI (Rambler): Premium reusable drinkware line including the Rambler bottle family. Competes directly in the high-end reusable bottle segment with strong DTC and retail distribution and an aspirational brand positioning similar to Nalgene's.
• Stanley (PMI Worldwide): Historic reusable bottle brand recently revived via viral Quencher tumbler and bottle drops. Direct competitor in insulated reusable drinkware with overlapping retail, corporate gifting, and outdoor channels.
• Owala: Fast-growing DTC reusable bottle brand with patented FreeSip spout. Competes in the same everyday/fitness hydration segment as Nalgene's OTF and Narrow Mouth lines and has rapidly captured Gen Z and millennial share.
• Klean Kanteen: Sustainability-focused reusable bottle brand. Closely comparable to Nalgene on eco-positioning, lifetime durability, and B-Corp style mission, though Klean Kanteen is stainless-steel-led.
• Thermos: Established reusable bottle brand cited alongside Nalgene as a key sustainable bottle focus company in industry research. Overlaps directly in consumer hydration and insulated drinkware categories.
• Takeya: Insulated bottle and hydration brand competing in the premium reusable segment. Overlaps with Nalgene on cold/insulated hydration and outdoor retail distribution.
• CamelBak: Outdoor hydration specialist competing in hiking, biking, and adventure segments. Overlaps with Nalgene's Ultralite and outdoor bottles on filtration compatibility and trail use cases.
• Simple Modern: DTC-led reusable bottle and tumbler brand with broad color/print catalog comparable to Nalgene's customization and limited-edition strategy. Targets similar everyday and gift-giving occasions.

Others

• Brita: Water filtration leader whose pitcher and on-the-go filter products are adjacent to Nalgene's Epic Filter Cap partnership. Comparable mission (reduce single-use plastic, improve hydration) and shared retail shelf with reusable bottles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/nalgene
• Xx.com/nalgene
• Facebookfacebook.com/nalgene
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nalgene

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nalgene