Born From Science
1949
Rochester, New York
Chemist Emanuel Goldberg developed the first plastic pipette jars. He went on to found the Nalge Company, which Goldberg named using his wife’s initials: Natalie Levey Goldberg.
1960s
Adirondack Mountains
Our first exposure to the wilderness happened in the 60s, when our labware scientists-who were also big into hiking-took our laboratory bottles on backpacking trips because the bottles were leak-proof and lightweight.
1970s
Northeast United States & Beyond
In the 70s, the Carry In/Carry Out trend emerged when conservationists began discouraging campers from a common disposal practice of burning or burying cans and glass containers.
By now, our labware bottles had caught on with the hiking and adventuring subculture. Even the company president’s son was using our bottles and containers on his Boy Scout camping trips. This, coupled with the Carry In/Carry Out trend, gave our president an idea: market these labware products as high-quality hiking and camping essentials.