MOON BAG RUFFLE
We are in a state of constant change and are working to overcome the challenges and limits of our mission as best we can. Here you can find out where we are hitting our limits and how we deal with them.
LIMIT: OCEAN PLASTIC
In 2018, we launched a “Fishing-for-Litter” project in Indonesia, where fishermen collected plastic waste as bycatch directly from the ocean. Over time, the clean-up program has evolved. Collecting plastic directly from the ocean is becoming increasingly costly and inefficient. The majority of efforts now focus on collecting plastic waste from coastal areas on land, including beaches, rivers, mangroves, and villages. This approach has a significantly greater impact, as it prevents plastic from ever reaching the ocean in the first place. Plastic that is already in the ocean is difficult to fully remove, as it is distributed by wind and waves, breaks down into smaller pieces, and sinks to the ocean floor. As a result, today only a small portion of the total plastic collected by our network of fishermen is retrieved from the ocean as bycatch.
By focusing collection efforts on coastal areas and river deltas, the program effectively helps reduce plastic pollution at the source, thereby decreasing the amount of plastic in the ocean. In 2023, approximately 12% of the plastic collected by GOT BAG Indonesia came directly from the ocean and waterways.
LIMIT: SCALING
We continuously improve our clean-up operations. However, the volumes of plastic collected do not match the demands of our material production. The amount of PET collected through the clean-up program varies significantly due to seasonality and market demand. When the market price for PET is high, fewer bottles end up in the environment, as they are collected earlier.
To ensure a steady supply of rPET for yarn spinning and fabric production, we rely on both the clean-up program and the local collection network of our Ocean Bound Plastic certified recycling partner in Surabaya, Java. Over the past year, we have observed an increase in PET collectors in the clean-up region and across Indonesia. We view this as a positive development, as some types of plastic have become valuable and provide an economic opportunity for people, with the added benefit of less waste remaining in the environment.
We expect the volumes and share from other collection networks to continue growing, as less PET is available and competition for it does not align with our mission. Nevertheless, we remain committed to expanding our clean-up operations in Indonesia. We believe that giving plastic waste economic value is key to long-term impact, even when we cannot use all of it in our production.
LIMIT: RECYCLING ALL TYPES OF PLASTIC
In the clean-up program, communities collect every type of plastic they can find, regardless of shape, size, or condition, as any plastic waste can harm nature. However, plastic waste comes in many colors and chemical compositions. For our fabric made from recycled plastic waste from coastal regions, we can currently only use PET bottles, which accounted for 12% of collected waste in 2023. The majority of collected plastic, however, consists of lower-grade plastics, such as multi-layer or composite plastics, or heavily degraded or unidentifiable waste.
Currently, GOT BAG Indonesia sends non-recyclable plastics to cement factories, where they replace fossil fuels in energy production. Other recyclable plastics that are not suitable for our bag production are either sent to recycling partners or stored in our warehouse until suitable recycling solutions are found. Due to limited recycling technologies and partners on the ground, it takes time to find the best solution for as many types of plastic as possible. We strictly avoid disposal in landfills, as these are often poorly managed and prone to leakage in Indonesia. As a result, a significant portion of collected plastic goes to thermal recovery, as not many types can currently be integrated into our products.
LIMIT: USING COLLECTED PLASTIC FROM THE CLEAN-UP PROGRAM FOR PRODUCT MANUFACTURING
The communities of the clean-up program in Indonesia collect all types of plastic materials. However, not all types of plastic are suitable for recycling into yarn or components. In addition, only some of the plastics needed for our products can be collected through the clean-up program. For example, the material for our hard-shell luggage and sunglasses — recycled polycarbonate — comes from our recycling partner on the island of Java, as polycarbonate water containers are rarely found in the areas where the clean-up program’s collection activities take place.
Furthermore, products such as backpacks and bags consist of many components beyond the main material, which we cannot manufacture ourselves and therefore source from supplier partners. Wherever possible and available, we select recycled components from the market.
LIMIT: PET YARN RECYCLING
Not all PET collected by GOT BAG Indonesia is suitable for yarn production. To spin high-quality yarn from recycled PET, it is necessary to have a well-sorted, homogeneous batch of high-quality PET. Bottles that are too heavily degraded by sun and saltwater, or contaminated with oil, cannot be recycled into yarn. We are exploring alternative uses for this material, such as downcycling into roof tiles.
Additionally, certain colors are sorted out, as we cannot dye dark PET into lighter colors. Such materials are sold to recyclers who manufacture other products.
LIMIT: SHARE OF RECYCLED COMPONENTS
From the very beginning, we have strived to make our products from recycled plastic waste from coastal regions. To date, we recycle PET. However, many components such as buckles, straps, zippers, mesh, and foams cannot be made from PET. We therefore use other recycled components from suppliers on the market for these items.
Wherever possible, we source and select recycled materials for our products. We use most components made from recycled materials, with the majority consisting of recycled post-consumer material. However, we have not yet solved the challenge of sourcing foams (PE and PU) and zipper sliders from recycled materials.
You can find an overview of all certificates and awards here.
