MOON BAG RUFFLE
We are in a constant state of change and are working to master the challenges and limits of our mission as best we can. Here you can find out which topics push us to 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 by-catch directly from the sea. Over time, the clean-up program has evolved. Collecting plastic directly from the sea is becoming increasingly costly and inefficient. The majority of efforts are now concentrated 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 entering the ocean in the first place. Plastic that is already in the ocean is difficult to remove completely, as it is dispersed by wind and waves, breaks down into smaller pieces and sinks to the seabed. Therefore, today only a small portion of the collected plastic waste is retrieved from the sea as by-catch by our network of fishermen.
By focusing collection 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 sea and waterways. We have given the plastic waste its own name – Ocean Impact Plastic. This distinguishes it from the term “ocean plastic”, which is only associated with plastic collected from the oceans, while “Ocean Impact Plastic” emphasizes the positive impact on the oceans by preventing plastic from entering and potentially having negative effects on the marine ecosystem.
LIMIT: SCALING
We are continuously improving our clean-up operations. However, the amounts of collected plastic do not meet the needs of our material production. The amount of PET collected in 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 because 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 that PET collectors are increasing in the clean-up region and throughout Indonesia. We see this as a positive development, as some types of plastic have become valuable and offer an economic opportunity for people, with the benefit that less waste remains in the environment.
We expect that the volumes and the share from other collection networks will continue to grow as less PET is available and the competition for it does not align with our mission. Nevertheless, we remain committed to expanding our clean-up operations in Indonesia. We believe that for long-term impact, it is crucial to give plastic waste an economic value, even if we cannot use all of it in our production.
LIMIT: RECYCLING ALL TYPES OF PLASTIC
In the clean-up program, the 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 structures. For our fabric made of Ocean Impact Plastic, we can currently only use PET bottles, which accounted for 12% of the waste collected in 2023. The majority of the collected plastic, however, consists of low-quality plastic, such as multi-layer or composite plastics or heavily degraded or unidentifiable waste.
Currently, GOT BAG Indonesia sends non-recyclable plastics to cement plants, 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 kept in our warehouse until suitable recycling solutions are found. Due to limited recycling technologies and local partners, 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 in Indonesia and prone to leakage. Consequently, a significant portion of the collected plastic goes into thermal recovery, as not many types can currently be integrated into our products.
LIMIT: USE OF THE 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. Furthermore, only some of the plastics required for our products can be collected through the Clean-up Program. For example, the material for our suitcase hard shells and sunglasses – recycled polycarbonate – comes from our recycling partner on the island of Java, as polycarbonate water containers are rarely found in the vicinity of the Clean-up Program's collection activities.
In addition, products such as backpacks and bags consist of many components beyond the main material that we cannot produce ourselves but source from supply partners. Whenever possible and available, we choose recycled components from the market.
LIMIT: PET YARN RECYCLING
Not every 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 degraded by sun and salt water or contaminated with oil cannot be recycled into yarn. We are researching alternative uses for this material, such as downcycling it into roof tiles.
In addition, 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 manufacture our products from recycled Ocean Impact Plastic. So far, we recycle PET. However, many components such as buckles, straps, zippers, mesh, and foams cannot be made from PET. Therefore, we use other recycled components from suppliers on the market for these items.
Whenever possible, we source and select recycled materials for our products. We use most components 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.
