Freitag has been making messenger luggage and equipment from used truck tarps and different supplies for the reason that early Nineties. Its company philosophy is, “We expect and act in cycles.”

The corporate is broadly thought to be one of many unique champions of round enterprise. To study extra, I interviewed Elisabeth Isenegger, communications lead and 13-year veteran at Freitag, by e-mail in November. 

Suz Okie: Are you able to give a little bit of background on Freitag’s origins and why circularity is so central to its technique?  

Elisabeth Isenegger: One thing that began with the recycling of discarded truck tarps has inspired us time and time once more to make use of sources and vitality sparingly. 

As we speak, our most important focus is maintaining merchandise and supplies in circulation for so long as doable and understanding how we are able to depart the linear financial system behind us as soon as and for all. 

Life-extending measures we’ve already applied, equivalent to upcycling, one-time recycling or restore, don’t totally fulfill this purpose. As a substitute, we are trying to drive the round financial system by closing our materials cycles and turning into a round group. …Moreover, all good issues deserve a second life.

Okie: How have been repairability, sturdiness and different round ideas factored into the design?

Isenegger: This may be seen within the hooked up pouch manufactured from recycled truck tarpaulin and the zips, which have been visibly sewn. Additionally, the piece of tarpaulin that was minimize out of the pouch to insert the zip is utilized in the principle compartment as a docking strap for keys. On this method, the tarpaulin is used effectively and functionally within the product with out leaving manufacturing leftovers. On prime of this, the spare components, equivalent to punched reflectors, are supplied totally free in our shops in order that the bag proprietor can repair some components themselves, in the event that they select.

Okie: With regard to supplies, how large of a waste stream are truck tarps, and why did Freitag begin with this explicit materials stream? 

Isenegger: Within the beginnings of Freitag in 1993, our two founders, graphic designers Markus and Daniel Freitag, have been in search of a useful, water-repellent and strong bag to carry their artistic work. Impressed by the multicolored heavy site visitors that rumbled by means of the Zurich transit intersection in entrance of their flat, they developed a messenger bag from used truck tarpaulins, discarded bicycle interior tubes and automobile seat belts.

All-in-all, business estimations declare that round 10 million sq. meters of (PVC) tarpaulins are produced yearly. 

We’re additionally working with varied industrial companions to develop a truck tarpaulin that, even after a protracted second life as a Freitag bag, doesn’t find yourself within the rubbish, however again within the cycle. The first prototypes of a round tarp at the moment are into its first spherical of testing by being mounted on small vehicles, and in 2024 there shall be a second check spherical with a primary small fleet of vehicles.

Okie: Historically, designing merchandise from upcycled supplies might be tough to scale given sporadic sourcing and extra concerned testing/high quality management. How does Freitag overcome this?

Isenegger: As a substitute of ordering a brand new materials in large volumes, we glance out for used truck tarps throughout Europe from a number of hundred completely different trucking firms, in as many various colours and prints as doable. Not all of them can be utilized as a result of they often fail high quality checks. Nonetheless, we do not see these limits to scalability as solely unfavorable, because it has helped us to pursue a wholesome, natural progress and preserve our genuine character as a distinct segment model.

Okie: The Freitag affect report denotes that you simply’re “actively trying to find higher options” to recycled PET.

Isenegger: We’re conscious that supplies produced from recycled PET bottles can solely be an interim resolution so long as the PET is sourced from [what could be] a useful closed cycle. Accordingly, we solely use them the place no round alternate options can be found and are actively trying to find higher options. In parallel, we’re at present engaged on completely different round initiatives.

We’re embarking on a brand new cycle with a product produced from only one materials. This newest round improvement from Freitag is known as Mono[PA6] as a result of each a part of the backpack, from the material to the buckles, is manufactured from only one materials: polyamide 6. The first 1,500 models of the primary round backpack shall be manufactured from virgin PA6, a non-recycled materials, and are anticipated to be obtainable in spring 2024, together with a restore idea and takeback course of. 

Okie: With regard to your round companies, it is thrilling to see you pursuing a number of round companies without delay. 
Isenegger: We provide product-related companies equivalent to restore, take-back, customization, a complimentary bag alternate and a lending program.

On prime of the prevailing companies, within the Freitag Laboratory of Progress (F.L.O.P.), a small workforce is puzzling over new round options and enterprise fashions which are consistent with our manufacturers’ objective of “Clever design for a round future.”