Why Sustainable Materials Matter

There’s a lot that goes into making a premium bag. Beyond the fabrics there are zips, rivets, buttons, straps. And we strive to use only sustainable materials. But what does “sustainable materials” actually mean? Is there an easy way to tell them apart?

Every material has a hidden cost

Let’s take the example of cotton. Cotton seems natural, it grows in the ground and is soft. Surely cotton is sustainable? But cotton uses a shocking amount of water. One t-shirt takes about 2,700 litres of water to produce. That’s enough for one person to drink for two and a half years.

Polyester seems harmless. It is cheap, durable and super lightweight. But polyester is plastic, made from fossil fuels and it sheds microplastics every time you wash it. Those microplastics end up in the ocean, in fish, and eventually in us.

Leather seems luxurious, and it lasts. But leather comes from animals and its production is linked to deforestation, pollution, and harsh chemicals.

So what makes a material sustainable?

There certain aspects that help us distinguish materials in terms of sustainability. In general, they all have to do with its production, use and end of life fate. What we need in a sustainable material are the following:

  • Low water use. It doesn’t require huge amounts of water to grow or produce.
  • Low chemical use. It doesn’t rely on toxic dyes, pesticides, or tanning agents.
  • Renewable or already existing. It comes from a source that can be replenished or it already exists and would otherwise be waste.
  • Durable. It lasts and doesn’t fall apart after a little while.
  • End of life. There must be a way to repurpose or recycle it at the end of its use cycle.

What we use

We have chosen to make some difficult choices. Using materials that already exist, use a minimal amount of water, make sure they extremely durable and take care of their fate. We work with decommissioned ferry life rafts, and here is why:

  • No new resources. The materials are already there, it is industrial scale marine waste that usually ends up in landfills.
  • No water waste. We don’t grow, dye, or process any raw materials. We use a minimal amount of water for washing.
  • No landfill. Every life raft we rescue is one that doesn’t end up in the ground.
  • Extremely durable. These materials are designed to survive storms, surely they can survive daily life.
  • Repairs and take back. We offer lifetime repairs and want to take back our products when no longer functional.

We follow the same principals beyond our fabrics. Our zips are YKK, the best quality possible, and most made from recycled PET. The plastic parts and rivets we use are 90% from recycled plastic. And all our straps and ropes are either from the life rafts themselves of from 100% rPET.

Our target

Our target is to be as sustainable as possible, ideally fully circular. We are modifying our existing models and are always on the lookout for new solutions. Since the beginning, our designs are designed for zero waste, and have kept all our off-cuts. Utilising them has not been easy though.

We have experimented with some new leather substitutes, made from pineapple, mushrooms, or other plants. They are promising but not there yet. Things change all the time though, we’re getting there.

A note on greenwashing.

Not everything labelled “sustainable” actually is. Some brands use the word as marketing, making small changes and call it eco-friendly. Being sustainable is not easy and transparency is really important. Ask the questions, read the labels, follow the links and find out as much as you can. It’s important.

We know we are not perfect. But we’re honest, use marine waste without creating more, we make things that last and repair them when they break.