THE FREITAG MONO[PA6] BACKPACK

Thinking and acting in cycles is integral to FREITAG’s DNA. Our vision is clear: we aim to design bags and accessories that are not simply made from used materials but are also circular.

Actually, we have already achieved this with the development of the F-ABRIC compostable clothing line and the circular smartphone CIRC-CASE. After three years of development, we are now presenting our next innovation: the circular Mono[PA6] Backpack. A functional, durable, and water-repellent everyday companion, made from a single material and fully recyclable.

The idea behind our circular backpack is simple: it consists of a single material and can, therefore, be recycled as a whole. So, after a long life, it doesn’t end up in the garbage but returns to the material cycle.

However, the circularity principle can only work if you do your bit: And that means using your Mono[PA6] Backpack as long as possible, looking after it and having it repaired, and then, when its time has come, bringing it back to FREITAG.

From Zurich, the discarded backpacks are then sent to a recycling partner, where they are shredded as a whole and mechanically processed into PA6 granulate. The material can then be used to make new items, such as backpack components.

All Mono[PA6] Backpack components are made of PA6. However, restricting production to a single material is more complex than it might sound.

A total of 17 components made of PA6 had to be found, each with their own specific requirements regarding texture and properties: from a water-repellent primary material and sturdy zippers through to the carrying straps, the sewing thread, and a comfortable back padding.

We firmly believe that the transition to a circular economy can only be achieved through a collaborative effort. That's why we teamed up with a Taiwanese partner in the textile industry to jointly develop the innovative water-repellent outer material of the Mono[PA6] Backpack.

FREITAG also pursued a co-creative approach to product design by teaming up with British designer Jeffrey Siu to create the Mono[PA6] Backpack. His design references the bike culture to which FREITAG is so closely affiliated and reinterprets it.

We want your Mono[PA6] Backpack to be part of your life for as long as possible. That’s why we designed it to be easily repaired. Your nearest FREITAG store will be happy to provide you with a whole bunch of life-prolonging measures.

But what happens when the Mono[PA6] Backpack finally reaches the end of its life? We take back discarded Mono[PA6] backpacks, collect them, and recycle them as a whole. Which means your old companion can be transformed into something new.