Zurich – On April 24, FREITAG launched its first backpack that is not made from used truck tarpaulin, but from a single material: polyamide 6 (PA6). This is why the backpack called Mono[PA6] is completely recyclable, including all components such as zippers and buckles.
FREITAG'snew backpack is a circular innovation: After three years of development, the Mono[PA6] is the first mono-material product from the Zurich-based textile manufacturer, which has achieved international fame with bags made from used truck tarpaulins. "The vision is clear," says a press release from the manufacturer. "We want to design our bags and accessories in such a way that they are no longer just made from used materials, but are also circular." This has already been achieved with the compostable clothing line F-ABRIC and the smartphone case CIRC-CASE.
Now the mono[PA6] backpack is also circular because it is made exclusively from PA6. It can therefore be recycled at the end of its life cycle together with its 17 components such as zippers, carrying straps, buckles and sewing thread.
"The principle of circularity at FREITAG Mono[PA6]is one of shared responsibility," says the company. "It only works if customers use their product for a long time, look after it, have it repaired and - most importantly - bring it back to Freitag at the end." From there, the tour continues to the research and recycling partner IWK Institute for Materials Engineering and Plastics Processing at the OST - Ostschweizer Fachhochschule. There they are shredded as a whole and processed into PA6 granulate. And this can be used again for new things.
As everything started for FREITAG with reused truck tarpaulins, they are now part of the circular vision for the future: "The idea is to develop a recyclable tarpaulin material together with industry partners. The aim is for truck tarpaulins not to end up as waste after a long, second life as a FREITAG bag, but to be reintroduced into the cycle." ce/mm