It all started with a simple question from our founder Benjamin Mandos: What if plastic waste from coastal areas could be turned into something useful?

A backpack made sense: it combines functionality with durability. By processing plastic waste from coastal regions, we create a sturdy companion designed to stay with you as long as possible.

Symbolically, it fits our attitude well: together, we all contribute. Step by step, clean-up by clean-up, partnership by partnership.

We believe in long-term partnerships and tackling challenges together. These are our three pillars:

• From Trash to Treasure: We transform waste into minimalist, durable backpacks and bags. We rely on recycled primary materials such as RE:PET (recycled plastic waste from coastal areas) and RE:NYNET® (yarn made from recycled fishing nets).
• Supporting Local Initiatives: We fund the clean-up and education program of our partner foundation GOT BAG Indonesia. It works closely with communities in Java to collect plastic waste from coastal areas, build structures for effective waste management, and implement educational projects to strengthen local environmental awareness.
• Building Partnerships: We work with organizations such as Sea Shepherd and Coral Gardeners, who are committed to protecting the oceans and the well-being of the planet. We also continuously expand our community: with people and partners who share our values.

We transform plastic waste from coastal regions into functional, durable backpacks and bags. We don't claim to solve the ocean plastic crisis through this alone. But we want to contribute to addressing it – bag by bag, clean-up by clean-up, partnership by partnership. At the same time, we use our reach as a platform to gain allies – because it takes many people to make a difference.

Our main location is in Mainz, Germany. In 2020, we also established a presence in North America, with our office in Portland, Oregon, complemented by two branch offices in Denver, Colorado, and Toronto, Ontario.

You can find our first official flagship store at Frankfurt Airport (Terminal 1, Hall B). You can also discover and try on our backpacks and bags at our official retail partners. Find locations near you easily using our Store Locator.

Yes. Since 2021, we have been consistently tracking our Corporate Carbon Footprint, which covers our internal operations and the entire supply chain (Scope 1, 2, and 3). This progressively refined data provides us with a solid foundation to precisely define our most significant reduction levers and develop targeted measures to significantly reduce our ecological impact by 2030.

We are currently defining absolute and intensity-based reduction targets and commit to publishing our comprehensive climate action plan in 2026.

In collaboration with ConClimate GmbH, we assessed the entire lifecycle of our ROLLTOP 2.0 backpack (in black) in accordance with the principles of ISO 14044. The assessment captured all environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions expressed in the unit of CO2 equivalent (CO2eq).

The key findings:

• Overall reduction: The ROLLTOP 2.0 has an ecological footprint that is approximately 22% lower overall than a hypothetical equivalent backpack made entirely from new, non-recycled plastics.
• Material savings: The use of predominantly recycled materials leads to significantly lower emissions at the material level.
  

We plan to extend these lifecycle analyses to additional products to provide scientifically sound information about our entire range.

We work closely with inspiring organizations and people who share our values, including Sea Shepherd and Coral Gardeners. You can find an overview of all our partners here. There we also explain why we chose each collaboration and how we contribute together.

Indonesia is one of the countries with the greatest plastic problem in the world. According to a World Bank report, around 7.8 million tons of plastic waste are generated there annually – of which an estimated 346,500 tons per year end up in the ocean. Where the challenges are greatest, the potential for change is also the greatest.

This is exactly where the clean-up program of our partner foundation GOT BAG Indonesia comes in. On the Indonesian island of Java – in the regions of Demak, Jepara, and Bantul – GOT BAG Indonesia works with local communities to collect plastic waste from coastal areas. These regions are located at the mouth of several rivers that transport large quantities of plastic from the interior to the sea.

The collected plastic waste is sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable components. On-site, we have found partners who process the recyclable plastic into high-quality pellets for yarn through a technologically sophisticated process.

What is not suitable for our own production is further processed into new items by local organizations or used for energy recovery. In addition to collection activities, GOT BAG Indonesia builds functioning waste management structures on-site and runs educational programs to strengthen environmental awareness.

We use independent certifications to verify our standards and continuously improve:

B Corp™ Certification: GOT BAG is officially B Corp™ certified. As a B Corp™, we are part of a global community of companies that demonstrably meet standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. You can view our score here. We are currently in the process of re-certification.

Ocean Bound Plastic Certified: This certificate ensures that plastic waste is collected in regions without functioning waste infrastructure before it reaches the ocean – under fair conditions, with full traceability and compliance with social standards throughout the entire supply chain. Since November 2025, GOT BAG GmbH holds the OBP Scope Certificate. While the primary material of our PET and nylon products already consists of recycled Ocean Bound Plastic, we have now created the foundation to officially certify this on the product in the future. Only products bearing the OBP seal are officially certified.

GRS – Global Recycled Standard: The GRS verifies recycled material and traces it from the source to the finished product. We at GOT BAG GmbH are certified according to the GRS by Control Union Certifications (CB-CUC-1298685). Since a blanket claim for entire products is not permitted in our case, a product certification always refers to individual components such as the primary fabric or inner lining. Only products bearing the GRS seal are officially certified. You can find a current overview of our certifications here.

In the past, we referred to plastic waste from coastal areas that is at risk of entering or is already drifting in the oceans as Ocean Impact Plastic.

For greater precision and transparency, we now use the direct term: plastic waste from coastal regions.

Our partner foundation GOT BAG Indonesia collects this plastic waste together with local participants. The foundation's holistic concept includes collecting all types of plastic – regardless of whether they are recyclable or not. The plastic waste is sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable components. The recyclable portion is spun into yarn. Non-recyclable components are used for energy recovery.

Originally, GOT BAG Indonesia began collecting and processing plastic from the ocean together with local participants. From the initial clean-up experience came the insight that an equally powerful lever lies in preventing improperly disposed plastic waste from the start.

By creating basic waste management structures on-site, GOT BAG Indonesia proactively prevents plastic waste from being improperly disposed of. This has many benefits: beaches become cleaner, waste becomes a valuable resource, and local environmental awareness is strengthened.

Since 2021, our partner foundation GOT BAG Indonesia has been able to collect and process over 1.8 million kilograms of plastic (as of 05/26). The total amount of coastal plastic waste collected to date is tracked via a live tracker on our website. Together with the Berlin-based start-up "Cleanhub", we document the performance of the clean-up program in Indonesia to make the quantity of collected plastic and its composition transparent.

PET (e.g. plastic bottles): 10–15% - usable for the yarn in our products

PP (e.g. packaging film): just under 5%

HDPE (e.g. plastic bags): significantly less than 5% – however difficult to identify

LDPE/LLDPE (e.g. plastic bags): 15–20%

Mixed: approximately 55% (film and plastic bag remnants, various polyethylene variants, polycarbonates, polystyrenes, polypropylene and unlabeled containers, as well as around 20% composite materials – such as sachets for shampoo or ketchup – which are particularly difficult to recycle due to their aluminum coating)

Together with GOT BAG Indonesia, we are always looking for the best possible solution for the collected plastic waste. The top priority: no plastic ends up in a landfill. Through our partner foundation, all types of plastic are directed to individual recycling solutions. PP, HDPE, LDPE, PS, and PVC are passed on to local recyclers and mechanically recycled. These are turned into items such as side tables, coasters, and lamp shades.

Low-grade and non-recyclable materials are sent to cement plants, where they replace fossil fuels.

The RE:PET yarn is made from PET (approx. 10–15% of the collected plastic). For other types, buyers are found for new products or heat recovery. Composite materials – mixtures with coatings or adhesives – can only be stored or thermally utilized, where they serve as an alternative to fossil fuels.

For this purpose, GOT BAG Indonesia cooperates with the Berlin-based start-up Cleanhub and transfers the residual materials to Indocement (a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement AG). Cleanhub sells certificates to companies that use them to finance thermal recycling and offset their plastic consumption. In return, Cleanhub documents the recovered plastic quantities and makes GOT BAG Indonesia's clean-up performance transparent.

We are in daily contact with the 23 permanent employees of GOT BAG Indonesia. Our clean-up managers also visit on-site several times a year to exchange ideas in person with our Indonesian team and plan further projects. In addition, a team of six employees from Germany visits the foundation in Indonesia every year to experience the clean-up structures directly on-site. The goal is to gain a deep understanding of plastic pollution and its impact on the local community.

Every GOT BAG product is made with recycled primary materials. In addition to RE:PET (recycled plastic waste from coastal regions sourced from the GOT BAG Indonesia clean-up), we also use RE:NYNET from retired fishing nets and RE:PC from decommissioned water dispenser containers.

Our products are robust, durable, and timelessly designed. They are made to stay by your side as long as possible. That's why we offer a spare parts and repair service and take products back when they are no longer functional.

We ship our products worldwide in reusable and recyclable packaging made from recycled materials.

Yes, our products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. No animals or animal-derived materials are used in the production and processing of our products.

In addition to recycled plastic waste from coastal areas sourced from the GOT BAG Indonesia clean-up (RE:PET), we also use RE:NYNET® (a nylon fabric made from retired fishing nets) and RE:PC (made from decommissioned water containers) for our products.

In addition to the parts we make from our recycled primary materials, we currently primarily use the following components for our bags and backpacks:

• Mesh fabric – rPET & PET (Recycled Polyester & Polyester)
• Buckles - rPA (recycled Polyamide)
• Straps – rPET (Recycled Polyester)
• Padding (depending on the model) – PE (Polyethylene), EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) or PU (Polyurethane)
  

For some padding elements, we have not yet been able to find alternatives made from recycled materials that meet our quality and environmental standards. These are currently sourced brand new, but we are working together with partners on-site to find alternatives made from recycled plastic.

The entire fabric of our backpacks and bags is made from recycled plastic waste.

However, the proportion of the overall product varies depending on the model. This is due to other components such as buckles, zippers, straps, and foam padding. For these parts, we choose recycled polyester (rPET) wherever possible. For some components, we have not yet found alternatives made from recycled materials. These are therefore sourced brand new.

RE:NYNET® is a nylon fabric made from retired fishing nets. It is chemically recycled and has the quality of new nylon.

The nylon for yarn production can only be chemically recycled, for which there is currently no infrastructure in Indonesia. RE:NYNET® does not come from the clean-up in Indonesia. We source the material from our partner in Taiwan, who has many years of experience in processing nylon from retired fishing nets.

We use RE:NYNET® for products that benefit from the material's light weight, soft feel, and brilliant colors.

Yes, this is possible. Especially with light-colored products, dark or color-intensive clothing (e.g. new jeans, dark leather jackets, or other textiles with low color fastness) may transfer color pigments to the material of your product. This manifests as discoloration or abrasion on the surface of the product.

Such discoloration is not a material defect or quality issue. It is a characteristic of the staining garment. We therefore recommend being careful when using light-colored bags in contact with new textiles.

Should discoloration occur, try to gently remove the stains with a damp cloth and mild soapy water. If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact our Customer Happiness Team.

Since our products are made from recycled primary materials, there may occasionally be small variations in texture and color. This is not evidence of poor quality, but simply a consequence of using recycled primary materials. Nevertheless, it is of course our goal to produce a flawless product. Unevenness can be smoothed out at home with a damp microfiber cloth.

All the fabrics we use are waterproof coated on the inside with PU or TPU, and additionally treated on the outside with a PU coating or DWR (Durable Water Repellency) finish to repel water and dirt.

Whether the material of a product is waterproof (suitable for heavy rain and extended outdoor activities) or water-resistant (suitable for light rain and brief exposure to moisture) can be found on the respective product page under "Material".

Some of our ROLLTOPs are specially welded: our ROLLTOP 2.0 and ROLLTOP LITE 2.0, for example, are made from a TPU- and PU-coated material using high-frequency welding. This welding process creates seams that are waterproof and have the same tear strength as the fabric. This makes the entire product very robust and all seams are waterproof.

Padded products such as the PUFFER, WAVY PUFFER, or CLOUD COLLECTION, as well as RE:PET products (excluding MOON BAG SMALL and MOON BAG LARGE), must not be machine washed.

In general, we recommend a gentle hand wash for all GOT BAG products. If you do choose to machine wash, please note the following:

• Wash separately
• Delicate or short cycle
• Low temperature (30°C / 86°F)
• Use delicate detergent
• Low spin cycle
  (≤ 800 rpm)
• Air dry

GOT BAG products are currently manufactured in Indonesia and Vietnam.

In Indonesia, our partner foundation GOT BAG Indonesia runs a clean-up program in which local participants collect plastic waste from coastal areas and the ocean and are compensated for doing so. Manufacturing in Indonesia contributes to supporting the local economy.

We also produce in Vietnam, as manufacturers there have many years of experience and specialized expertise in producing high-quality and functional travel equipment. Further information about our supply chain can be found on our Supply Chain page.

1. Our identity as a certified B Corp™

Since 2023, we have been a certified B Corp™, demonstrably meeting high social and environmental standards. For our 2026 re-certification, we are actively working on improvements in areas such as climate protection and human rights.

2. Transparency & Long-term Partnerships

We believe in long-term partnerships based on trust rather than short-term contracts. We want to know exactly where and how our products are made – which is why we carefully select our partners throughout the value chain and visit production facilities regularly on-site. This creates space for honest dialogue and joint development. This process is supported internally by our own Supply Chain Certification expert.

3. Independent Verification & Global Standards
To make our work measurable and remain transparent, we rely on strict external standards:

amfori BSCI: We are a member of amfori, the world's leading business association for open and sustainable trade. Through amfori BSCI, we continuously work to improve working conditions in our supply chain and have our partners audited according to internationally recognized social criteria.

Global Recycled Standard (GRS): We certify our supply chain, among other things, according to the GRS. This goes far beyond just the material: it guarantees us full traceability from the recycler to the finished product and ensures that strict environmental and social standards are also maintained during further processing.

The people who are active as collectors in Indonesia are paid by GOT BAG Indonesia based on the amount of plastic waste they collect. To ensure their safety at work, they receive on-site training. Already in 2024, GOT BAG Indonesia introduced a free accident insurance policy, which was very well received by the communities. Building on this, the access criteria were specifically adjusted in 2025 to make this essential benefit accessible to even more regular collectors.

Our suppliers also commit to complying with our Code of Conduct, which ensures, among other things, that none of our partners tolerate child labor, forced labor, or discrimination.

We transport the recycled plastic waste for the RE:PET primary material of many of our products in the form of pellets by ship from Indonesia to Vietnam for further processing.

The finished products travel by ship to Germany and to the USA, and are shipped to GOT BAG customers using CO₂-neutral shipping methods wherever possible. Land freight within the destination countries is carried out by train and truck.

As an internationally operating company, however, we are exposed to global uncertainties. In order not to be sold out for months in cases of delivery bottlenecks, for example, we have had to resort to air freight for a small portion of our shipments in rare exceptional cases in the past.

As with many companies in the fashion sector, more than 80 percent of our emissions arise in the supply chain – including during transport. To specifically address this challenge, we have formed a cross-team working group developing a climate strategy tailored to our business activities. We are currently defining both absolute and intensity-based reduction targets and commit to publishing our comprehensive climate action plan in 2026 – to create even greater transparency on this crucial issue.

In addition to your statutory rights, which are available to you free of charge, we grant you a voluntary warranty:

• All backpacks and bags: 2-year warranty.

If you notice a defect during this period, please contact us via email at hello-us@got-bag.com with pictures & the purchase order number. Our Customer Happiness Team will review your case promptly.

The statutory warranty of 2 years continues to apply for all products purchased in our online shop. What this means for you:

• Statutory protection: You are protected for two years against defects that already existed at the time of purchase.
• Repair or replacement: You have a preferential right to have your product repaired or receive a replacement delivery.

Our goal is for your GOT BAG product to last as long as possible. We also offer support from our Customer Happiness Team for maintenance questions.

Voluntary warranty: All customers who purchased their product in our online shop can make use of the voluntary warranty within the respective warranty period (2 years for all items).

Statutory guarantee: This is available to every customer who shops in our online shop.

If you did not purchase your product in our online shop, please contact your point of sale directly in the event of a defect.

Items are shipped from one of our warehouses in Oregon or Las Vegas usually within 48 hours of your order being placed. Our standard shipping method is a 3-5 business day shipping service to all 49 continental states via USPS, UPS, DHL or FedEx. But since we can’t control what happens once the product has left our warehouse; you should allow 3-5 business days for delivery once an order has been shipped.
If your order falls outside of this, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Happiness Team at hello-us@got-bag.com.
Shipping charges are determined by the destination and the subtotal of your order.

In case of a manufacturing defect, please reach out to hello-us@got-bag.com with pictures & your purchase order number.
You may only return an unworn, unused item, in its original condition, with all original tags still attached, within 30 days of receiving it. Please note that only unused products in mint condition can be subject to a refund.
International orders, orders exceeding the 30-day window, or items marked as Final Sale, are not eligible for a return or exchange. Please note: any additional duties and taxes for international delivery will not be refunded.
GOT BAG customers can initiate a return via our partner Re:Do. To initiate the return, please click here & register your return.

As soon as we have handed your order over to our shipping partners, you will receive an email with the tracking details for your order. Normally, this takes approximately 2–3 business days from the moment of your order confirmation. More detailed information about shipping times and availability can be found on the respective product page in our online shop.

You can individually choose your payment method in our shop. We offer Paypal, Shop Pay, Afterpay and Credit Card payments.