Overview:

Sustainability 6.8/10
Non-toxicity 7.0/10

Augustnoa makes backpacks and bags from PCR (post-consumer recycled content).

Highlights

  • Recycled and upcycled materials
  • Non-toxic dyeing processes

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Sustainability

score : 6.8/10

Packaging

The brand uses 100% recycled shipping boxes, as well as recycled paper for product tags and tissue wrapping. By relying on recycled cardboard and paper, August Noa reduces the demand for virgin packaging materials and diverts post-consumer waste into useful packaging.

Ingredient Sustainability

Flagship products use 100% recycled fabrics: for example, each Classic Noa backpack is made from about 30 recycled plastic bottles turned into durable polyester (RPET) fabric. The Everyday Tote’s exterior incorporates reclaimed cotton fiber (equivalent to 12 recycled cotton shirts), with an interior lining made from RPET canvas using 6 plastic bottles. Even the diaper bags and travel accessories use recycled textiles like recycled nylon and polyester derived from post-consumer plastic. The only less sustainable materials appear in a few items (e.g. a jewelry case uses synthetic “vegan leather” polyurethane), but the vast majority of August Noa’s fashion and home products utilize recycled or upcycled fibers.

Energy Use and Footprint


The company participates in carbon-neutral shipping for online orders via Shopify’s Planet program, offsetting the delivery emissions for all shipments. However, beyond shipping, August Noa has not disclosed data or targets related to manufacturing energy, renewable energy usage, or greenhouse gas reductions in production. Given that products are manufactured in China (albeit in what the brand describes as “ethical, certified” facilities), the lack of transparency on factory energy efficiency or overall corporate carbon footprint is a notable gap.

Waste Management

The brand’s model of using recycled inputs directly tackles waste by reclaiming what would otherwise be trash (plastic bottles, textile waste) and turning it into new products. To date, August Noa reports repurposing over 229,000 plastic bottles and cotton shirts combined into their product materials. Specific data on manufacturing waste or any take-back program for old products is not provided.

Business Model

August Noa’s business model incorporates some sustainability-minded principles, though it remains a traditional product sales model at its core.

Non-toxicity

score : 7.0/10

Notably, August Noa’s products (such as the Classic Noa backpack) are made with components that meet OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification, meaning every fabric, thread, and trim has been tested and verified free from a wide range of toxic substances. The company also avoids materials known for toxicity issues. For example, it uses PU-based vegan leather instead of PVC (which can contain phthalates and chlorine.

Social Responsibility

score : 5.1/10

Despite the lack of granular disclosure, the available evidence points to a socially responsible approach: the brand openly prioritizes ethical production and there have been no reports of labor violations.

August Noa’s product line is fundamentally cruelty-free and vegan.

Community engagement appears to be a weaker area in August Noa’s sustainability profile, as the brand has not publicly detailed any significant community-focused programs or philanthropy.