circular and recyclable FREITAG backpack is made of only one material, from fabric to straps

FREITAG’s first circular backpack made entirely of nylon

FREITAG introduces its first circular backpack made entirely of monomaterial, from fabric to buckles and zippers. The backpack can be recycled repeatedly, given its single-material construction. This monomaterial is polyamide 6, better known as nylon (6). For FREITAG, it is versatile, robust, and adaptable enough for them to create 17 components that make up the entire circular and recyclable backpack.

images courtesy of FREITAG

Nylon 6’s properties lend the backpack a water-repellent skin and a series of sturdy zippers, straps, labels, and sewing threads. Producing FREITAG’s first circular and recyclable bag isn’t a one-man job. They collaborate with a Taiwanese partner in the textile industry to help develop mono-material into a water-repellent object too by generating three layers made exclusively of polyamide 6 or nylon 6.

Recyclable backpack with crossbody outer pocket

Design-wise, FREITAG teams up with British designer Jeffrey Siu, whose design influences hark back to the bike culture to which FREITAG is closely affiliated. They aim to interpret everyday urban life, hence the musette, which is a small detachable bag that comes along with the circular, recyclable backpack as a tribute to cycling accessories. This backpack-buddy is to be worn as a practical crossbody bag or serves as an additional outer pocket when attached to one of several points on the backpack.

The backpack also features a folded base and flexible roll-top fastener, which makes the volume adjustable and the space adaptable to fit as many objects as the user needs. FREITAG also includes additional outer and inner compartments, a padded back including a laptop compartment, and useful extras such as a quick-access compartment and a key docking loop for the Mono[PA6] Backpack. On the shoulder strap, details about the circular and recyclable backpack’s life and production are printed, reminding users and passersby of its making process.

Return the circular, recyclable backpack to FREITAG after use

FREITAG assures that its first circular backpack, named MONO[PA6], can be recycled almost instantly and infinitely. The user just needs to ship the ultra-worn-out backpack to Zurich through the FREITAG take-back service, and from there, the company sends it to the Institute for Materials Technology and Plastics Processing (IWK) in Rapperswil, near Zurich. The research and recycling partner shreds the bag in its entirety and then processes it into nylon granulate, which can be reused for new items, such as backpack components.

For FREITAG, the idea behind circularity is that it can only work if the users have used their product, like the first circular and recyclable backpack, for a very long time, take good care of them, and repair them when necessary instead of buying a new one. The brand asks their users to return the worn-out items to them when the time comes to allow proper recycling and handling of the circular backpack and products instead of them ending up in landfills.

As of publishing the story, the FREITAG Mono[PA6] Backpack is available from April 24th, 2024, at the FREITAG Flagship Store in Zurich, at the FREITAG Stores in Tokyo Shibuya, Shanghai, Seoul by June, and Bangkok Silom by Pronto, in selected concept stores, and online at their website.