Solgaard recently introduced the world to its eco-friendly backpack, the 'Daypack,' on Kickstarter as an upcycled bag made from ocean plastics. The upcycled backpack is made with plastic that is collected from The Maldives, flaked and heated into pellets, stretched into yarn and woven into a usable fabric. Each Daypack helps to clean up five pounds of trash from the ocean.
The design of the bag itself integrates tons of convenient features for the modern consumer, including hidden strap pockets, plus protective pockets for valuables like laptops and eyeglasses. Each bag also comes with a free stainless steel straw, which has the potential to help consumers limit their use of single-use plastic straws.
As island-sized patches of garbage form in the ocean, fish and birds choke on plastic and whales wash up on the shore with bellies full of plastic, the amount of plastic that is dumped into the world's oceans is becoming unignorable. Fortunately, many innovators are putting existing resources to use rather than using virgin materials.
Ocean Plastic Backpacks
Each Eco-Friendly Backpack by Solgaard Removes Five Pounds of Ocean Trash
Trend Themes
1. Ocean Plastic Upcycling - There is a growing trend in using ocean plastics to create innovative and environmentally sustainable products, presenting an opportunity for businesses to follow suit.
2. Eco-friendly Fashion - The fashion industry is rapidly adopting eco-friendly products and manufacturing methods, creating opportunities for brands to incorporate sustainable materials and practices into their products.
3. Single-use Plastic Reduction - As consumers become more environmentally conscious, businesses can innovate and release products that help eliminate single-use plastics that are harmful to the environment.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion & Apparel - The fashion and apparel industry can shift towards using eco-friendly materials and production techniques, creating innovative products that resonate with environmentally conscious consumers.
2. Outdoor Gear - Outdoor gear companies can incorporate sustainable materials in their products, such as Solgaard's ocean plastic backpacks, while maintaining functionality and quality.
3. Consumer Goods - Businesses that produce consumer goods can release products that help to reduce single-use plastics and use ocean plastics as a sustainable alternative, as consumers grow more aware of the impact of plastic on the environment.