SUPPLY CHAIN

Yayasan GOT BAG Indonesia Foundation office, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Coordination and implementation of the clean-up program

Our partner foundation Yayasan GOT BAG Indonesia operates a clean-up program in which plastic waste is collected. In addition, the foundation focuses on education and the expansion of 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 several times a year to work closely with the Indonesian team and the collecting communities. She reviews the progress and makes decisions on additional projects together with the team.

Clean-up communities, in Bantul, Indonesia

Plastic waste collection

The clean-up program was started in Demak on the north coast of Java. This Indonesian region is located at the mouth of several rivers that transport large quantities of plastic waste from the island's mainland into the sea. GOT BAG Indonesia has now 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 collect 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. In addition, 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

Plastic waste collection

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 now 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 ocean, mangrove areas, and coastal regions such as river deltas. At the collection points, locals who do not have a functioning waste management system can also dispose of their household plastic waste. In addition, we rely on the plastic collection network of our recycling partner, which is Ocean Bound Plastic certified.

Clean-up communities in Jepara, Indonesia

Plastic waste collection

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 now 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 deltas. 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 the plastic collection network of our recycling partner, which is Ocean Bound Plastic certified.

Warehouse in Jepara, Indonesia

Sorting, cleaning, baling and storage of plastic waste

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

Warehouse in Bantul, Indonesia

Sorting, cleaning, baling and storage of plastic waste

All recyclable plastic types (e.g. PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE) collected by members of the communities are then brought to the foundation's warehouse in Bantul or Jepara. There, employees sort the material manually by specific plastic types and colors and remove labels and caps. The sorted and processed plastic is then pressed into cubic bales in a machine. These are then transported to relevant partners in the region for mechanical recycling.

PET Recycling Partner Surabaya, on Java, Indonesia

PET recycling for the production of the RE:PET material

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.

Certificates: Ocean Bound Plastic, Global Recycled Standard

RE:PC Recycler, on Java, Indonesia

Source for recycled polycarbonate

RE:PC is recycled polycarbonate material made from discarded water dispenser containers. These containers are not collected through the GOT BAG Indonesia clean-up program, as an exchange system usually exists for these containers. Therefore, we 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 companies that use water dispenser stations. The recycled polycarbonate we use for our RE:PC is Ocean Bound Plastic certified and a very lightweight and robust material that is ideal for luggage cases and sunglasses.

Certificates: Ocean Bound Plastic, Global Recycled Standard 

RE:NYNET® Supplier, in Taiwan

Source for recycled 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.

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

Recycling partner, on Java, Indonesia

Mechanical recycling of plastics (excluding PET)

For some types of plastic that we ourselves cannot use for products, such as PP, HDPE, LDPE etc., the GOT BAG Indonesia foundation is continuously expanding 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 for the incineration of non-recyclable plastic waste for energy generation

A large part of the plastic waste collected by GOT BAG Indonesia consists of non-recyclable composite materials. Furthermore, many plastic parts are too heavily affected by sun and salt water to be recycled mechanically. Therefore, many of the plastic materials are not of sufficient quality or can only be recycled with disproportionately high effort. Currently, we 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

Yarn production for RE:PET

At our partner's spinning mill, we produce what is known as filament yarn from rPET pellets. The base yarn is 300 denier, meaning that a 9,000-meter-long thread weighs 300 grams. The yarn is extruded almost endlessly 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. In addition, the spin-dyed yarn has extremely high color fastness.

Certificates: Ocean Bound Plastic, Global Recycled Standard 

Weaving mill, near Taipei, Taiwan

Weaving, dyeing and coating of the RE:PET and RE:NYNET material

The yarn is woven in a weaving mill into a particularly robust 600D or a lighter 300D Oxford fabric. For this purpose, the best yarn qualities (AA) are selected for the warp yarn, as the tensile strength requirements are highest for dense weaving. All black products are generally solution-dyed. This means that black color pigments are added to the yarn during spinning. This eliminates the standard wet dyeing process. For all non-black products, we dye the textile directly after weaving with disperse dyes in a nearby dye house. We avoid dyes and additives that are on a restricted substances list (e.g., from Oeko-Tex, bluesign, or ZDHC). After dyeing, the fabrics are coated on the back with a thin TPU layer of about 0.15 mm – for waterproof welding. A very thin, durable water-repellent PU coating is applied to the outside of the fabric.

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

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

Cut, Make, Trim in Jepara, Indonesia

Cutting and welding of RE:PET products

For our waterproof products, we use the process of high-frequency welding. In high-frequency welding, the materials are pre-cut and then welded in the high-frequency machines using specially made molds. During this process, the TPU material is melted at the weld seams – and only there – with an alternating electromagnetic field of about 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 exclusively of the main material – additional product-specific accessories such as buckles, zippers, straps, foams, and tapes are added. Whenever possible, these components are made from recycled materials, although some of them are not yet available on the market.

Certificate: Recycled Claim Standard

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

Cutting and sewing of our sewn RE:PET and RE:NYNET products

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

Our products do not consist exclusively 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, although some of these are not yet available on the market.

Certificates: Global Recycled Standard, Recycled Claim Standard, FairWear-audited, ISO 9001:2015

Sunglasses production in the Zhejiang region, China

Production of the 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.

Certificates: Global Recycled Standard

Suitcase production in the Shanghai region, China

Production of the RE:SHELL suitcases

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

Certificates: Global Recycled Standard

Warehouse for shipping products in Europe

in Bischofsheim, Germany

Warehouse for delivery to the United States

in Portland, North America

Headquarters

in Mainz, Germany

More than 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 its founding. 

Office USA

in Keizer, Oregon

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