SUPPLY CHAIN

Yayasan GOT BAG Indonesia Foundation Office, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Koordination und Durchführung des Clean-up-Programms

Our partner foundation Yayasan GOT BAG Indonesia runs a clean-up program that collects plastic waste. In addition, the foundation focuses on education and expanding the waste management system to comprehensively address the problem of ocean plastic pollution. We are in regular contact with the eight full-time employees of GOT BAG Indonesia. Our Lead of Mission Leonie visits the organization multiple times a year to work closely with the Indonesian team and the collecting communities. She reviews progress and makes decisions together with the team about additional projects.

Clean-up Communities, in Bantul, Indonesia

Plastikmüllsammlung

The clean-up program was launched in Demak on the north coast of Java. This Indonesian region is located at the mouth of several rivers that transport large amounts of plastic waste from the island's mainland into the sea. GOT BAG Indonesia has since expanded its program to the regions of Jepara in the north and Bantul on the south coast. The clean-up program includes fishers and other collectors who gather plastic from the sea, mangrove areas, and coastal regions such as river delta areas. At the collection points, residents who do not have access to functioning waste management systems can also dispose of their household plastic waste. Additionally, we source plastic bottles for the production of our backpacks from our recycling partner's plastic collection network, which is Ocean Bound Plastic certified.

Clean-up Communities, in Demak, Indonesia

Plastikmüllsammlung

The clean-up program began in Demak on the north coast of Java. This Indonesian region is located at the mouth of several rivers that transport large amounts of plastic waste from the island's mainland into the sea. GOT BAG Indonesia has since expanded its program to the regions of Jepara in the north and Bantul on the south coast. The clean-up program includes fishers and other collectors who gather plastic from the sea, mangrove areas, and coastal regions such as river delta areas. At the collection points, locals who do not have a functioning waste management system can also dispose of their household plastic waste. Additionally, we rely on our recycling partner's plastic collection network, which is Ocean Bound Plastic certified.

Clean-up Communities, in Jepara, Indonesia

Plastikmüllsammlung

The clean-up program began in Demak on the north coast of Java. This Indonesian region is located at the mouth of several rivers that transport large amounts of plastic waste from the island's mainland into the sea. GOT BAG Indonesia has since expanded its program to the regions of Jepara in the north and Bantul on the south coast. The clean-up program includes fishers and other collectors who gather plastic from the sea, mangrove areas, and coastal regions such as river delta areas. At the collection points, locals who do not have a functioning waste management system can also dispose of their household plastic waste. Additionally, we rely on our recycling partner's plastic collection network, which is Ocean Bound Plastic certified.

Warehouse in Jepara, Indonesia

Sortierung, Reinigung, Ballenpressung und Lagerung von Plastikmüll

All recyclable plastic types (e.g. PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE) collected and submitted by community collectors are brought to the foundation's warehouse in Bantul or Jepara. There, staff manually sort the material by specific plastic types and colors, removing labels and caps. The sorted and processed plastic is then compressed into cube-shaped bales by a machine. These are then transported to corresponding partners in the region for mechanical recycling.

Warehouse in Bantul, Indonesia

Sortierung, Reinigung, Ballenpressung und Lagerung von Plastikmüll

All recyclable plastic types (e.g. PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE) collected and submitted by community collectors are brought to the foundation's warehouse in Bantul or Jepara. There, staff manually sort the material by specific plastic types and colors, removing labels and caps. The sorted and processed plastic is then compressed into cube-shaped bales by a machine. These are then transported to corresponding partners in the region for mechanical recycling.

PET Recycling Partner Surabaya, on Java, Indonesia

PET-Recycling für die Produktion des RE:PET-Materials

PET bottles collected and processed by GOT BAG Indonesia's collection communities are sent to our recycling partner in Surabaya. Here the material is shredded, washed again, dried, melted, filtered, and extruded into rPET pellets. In addition to the PET bottles collected by the clean-up program, we also source Ocean Bound Plastic certified PET through our recycling partner on Java.

Certifications: Ocean Bound Plastic, Global Recycled Standard

RE:PC Recycler, on Java, Indonesia

Quelle für recyceltes Polycarbonat

RE:PC is recycled polycarbonate material made from discarded water dispenser containers. These containers are not collected through GOT BAG Indonesia's clean-up program, as a replacement system typically exists for them. We therefore source these materials from our recycling partner in Indonesia, who collects the containers within a maximum radius of 50 km from the coast from restaurants or businesses that use water dispenser stations. The recycled polycarbonate we use for our RE:PC is Ocean Bound Plastic certified and a very lightweight and durable material, ideally suited for luggage cases and sunglasses.

Certifications: Ocean Bound Plastic, Global Recycled Standard

RE:NYNET® Recycler, in Taiwan

Quelle für recyceltes Nylon

RE:NYNET® is a recycled nylon fabric made from discarded fishing nets. We source this material through our partner and yarn spinner Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation in Taiwan. We use RE:NYNET® for products that benefit from its soft, lightweight yet durable properties.

Certifications: SGS, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015, Global Recycled Standard, bluesign System Partner

Recycling Partner, on Java, Indonesia

Mechanisches Recycling von Kunststoffen (ausgenommen PET)

For some plastic types that we cannot use for products ourselves, such as PP, HDPE, LDPE, etc., the GOT BAG Indonesia foundation continuously expands its network with locally based companies that can mechanically recycle them. They are processed into so-called secondary raw materials before they can be used for other products.

Cement Plant, on Java, Indonesia

Partner für die Verbrennung von nicht-recycelbarem Plastikmüll zur Energiegewinnung

A large portion of the plastic waste collected by GOT BAG Indonesia consists of non-recyclable composite materials. Many plastic pieces are also too heavily degraded by sun and saltwater to be mechanically recycled. Many plastic materials therefore do not have sufficient quality or can only be recycled with disproportionately high effort. We currently pass these materials on for thermal recovery, where they are used as an alternative to fossil fuels for energy generation.

Yarn Spinning Mill, near Taipei, Taiwan

Garnproduktion für RE:PET

At our partner's spinning mill, we produce so-called filament yarn from the rPET pellets. The base yarn is 300 denier, meaning a 9,000-meter-long thread weighs 300 grams. The yarn is extruded in an almost endless process from the molten PET. After extrusion, the yarn is stretched to be strong enough for subsequent weaving. For black fabrics, we dye the yarn during extrusion — this dyeing process requires neither water nor solvents. Additionally, the spin-dyed yarn has an extremely high color fastness.

Certifications: Ocean Bound Plastic, Global Recycled Standard

Weaving Mill, near Taipei, Taiwan

Weben, Färben und Beschichten des RE:PET- und RE:NYNET-Materials

The yarn is woven in a weaving mill into a particularly robust 600D or a lighter 300D Oxford fabric. The best yarn qualities (AA) are selected for the warp yarn, as the tensile strength requirements are highest with dense weaving. All black products are typically spin-dyed. This means that black color pigments are added to the yarn during spinning, eliminating the usual wet-dyeing process. For all non-black products, we dye the textile directly after weaving with disperse dyes in a nearby dyeing facility. We avoid dyes and additives that appear on a negative list (e.g. from Oeko-Tex, Bluesign, or ZDHC). After dyeing, the fabrics are coated on the back with a thin TPU layer of approximately 0.15 mm — for waterproof welding. On the outer side of the fabric, a very thin, permanently water-repellent PU coating is applied.

All fabrics for sewn products receive only a thin waterproof PU layer on the back and a PFC-free DWR coating on the outside.

Certifications: ISO 45001:2018, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015, Global Recycled Standard, bluesign System Partner

Cut, Make, Trim in Jepara, Indonesia

Zuschnitt und Schweißen von RE:PET-Produkten

For our waterproof products, we use the high-frequency welding process. In high-frequency welding, materials are first cut and then welded together using specially made molds in the high-frequency machines. The TPU material is melted at the weld seams — and only there — using an alternating electromagnetic field of approximately 27 MHz, and bonded together by the pressure of a press. The seams are then 100% waterproof and very durable.

Our products do not consist solely of the main material — additional product-specific accessories such as buckles, zippers, straps, foams, and tapes are added. Where possible, these components are made from recycled materials, although some are not yet available on the market.

Certification: Recycled Claim Standard

Cut, Make, Trim in the Ho Chi Minh City Region, Vietnam

Zuschnitt und Nähen unserer genähten RE:PET- und RE:NYNET-Produkte

For sewn products, we use fabrics without a TPU coating. The cut fabric pieces are sewn and bar-tacked using special sewing machines for backpacks. We manufacture exclusively sewn products in the Ho Chi Minh City region in Vietnam.

Our products do not consist solely of the main fabric — additional product-specific accessories such as buckles, zippers, straps, foams, and tapes are added. Where possible, these components are made from recycled materials, though some are not yet available on the market.

Certifications: Global Recycled Standard, Recycled Claim Standard, FairWear audited, ISO 9001:2015

Sunglasses Production in the Zhejiang Region, China

Herstellung der RE:SHADES

Our recycling partner supplies the RE:PC used for the frames of our RE:SHADES. Additional components, such as lenses made from recycled industrial polycarbonate.

Certifications: Global Recycled Standard

Luggage Production in the Jakarta Region, Indonesia

Herstellung der RE:SHELL Koffer

Our recycling partner supplies the RE:PC material used for the hard shells of our RE:SHELL luggage cases. The shells are formed using vacuum thermoforming. Additional components are purchased and assembled to complete the luggage production process.

Certifications: Global Recycled Standard

Warehouse for Product Shipments in Europe

in Bischofsheim, Deutschland

Warehouse for Delivery to the United States

in Portland, Nordamerika

Headquarters

in Mainz, Deutschland

Over 70 employees are part of the GOT BAG team in Germany. Our office has been located in Mainz, the state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, since the company was founded.

Office USA

in Keizer, Oregon

Our team in the USA is based in Keizer, Oregon.