Packaging
Orders are packaged in 100% recycled, recyclable cardboard with no single-use plastic.
Material Sustainability
GOT BAG predominantly relies on recycled synthetics and certified organic fibers, with only minimal conventional material usage. The brand is transparent about material sourcing: its website details the origin of its Ocean Impact Plastic (collected in Demak, Indonesia, through its own clean-up program) and even names a partner in Surabaya for additional certified ocean-bound plastic supply. Many materials have third-party validation (Bluesign® approved fabrics, Global Recycled Standard certification for the supply chain).
Using waste-derived inputs (plastic bottles, nets, etc.) greatly reduces demand for new plastic and diverts trash from oceans. The trade-off is that products remain synthetic and not biodegradable. Microplastic shedding is a lingering concern for any polyester/nylon product. Also, certain minor components (e.g. foam padding, some hardware) still use virgin plastic due to quality needs, which the brand acknowledges as an area for improvement. They are actively working with partners to find recycled substitutes for these last elements.
Energy Use and Footprint
In terms of climate impact, GOT BAG shows some good practices but also room to grow in transparency. On the positive side, the company avoids emissions-intensive transport methods – it opts for sea freight over air freight to ship products, which significantly cuts down carbon output. Additionally, all customer shipments are climate-neutral, with GOT BAG purchasing carbon offsets for delivery through DHL GoGreen.
However, GOT BAG has not yet published a comprehensive carbon footprint or set publicly visible emissions targets. As a relatively young, small enterprise, it lacks the detailed GHG reporting one might expect from larger brands. There’s no disclosed data on manufacturing energy sources or factory emissions. Production likely occurs in Asia (where the bags are assembled and materials are processed), but we have no information on whether those factories use renewable energy or efficient technologies. As a B Corp, GOT BAG would have evaluated its energy and emissions to some extent, but the specifics remain opaque externally.
Waste Management
Waste reduction and circularity are at the core of GOT BAG’s mission. The entire premise of the brand is turning trash into treasure: it literally sources raw material from plastic waste that would otherwise pollute ecosystems. Through its cleanup program in Demak, Indonesia, GOT BAG collects more plastic than it needs for its products, ensuring surplus waste is removed from the environment. To date, over 1,000 metric tonnes (2 million pounds) of ocean-impact plastic have been retrieved. Importantly, GOT BAG doesn’t just cherry-pick the easy-to-recycle PET bottles; the team gathers all types of plastic waste from beaches, mangroves, and rivers (from PET to multi-layer sachets), reflecting a commitment to overall waste cleanup, not only material cherry-picking.
In terms of manufacturing waste, we don’t have specific data on factory off-cuts or scrap, but the Global Recycled Standard certification suggests materials are tracked and waste is minimized or recycled during production. Each backpack comes with a 2-year warranty and free repair service; spare parts (like buckles or straps) are available to fix broken components rather than replacing the whole bag. This ethos of repair and durability helps keep GOT BAG items out of landfills for as long as possible.
Business Model
GOT BAG’s business model is oriented around slow, intentional consumption rather than fast-fashion turnover. The brand launched with one flagship product (the Rolltop backpack) and has grown its line carefully, focusing on evergreen designs that remain available year-round instead of transient seasonal collections. Most of its products are classic styles in neutral colors meant to be useful for years (e.g. black, navy, beige backpacks that won’t go out of fashion). New releases tend to be occasional and mission-driven. For instance, a special edition in partnership with Sea Shepherd, or the introduction of a new category like sunglasses or luggage, rather than constant weekly new arrivals. The catalog is still relatively small and curated, with an emphasis on core functionality (backpacks, travel bags, wallets) that discourages overconsumption by design.
