What Makes a Backpack Sustainable?

What is your backpack made of, how was it manufactured, and is it sustainable? The better the durability of your backpack, the less waste the system bears. Plus, it’s also more cost-effective for your wallet when your backpack is durable. Of course, we do understand the concern that even the most sustainable backpack must retire at some point. A point where the zippers are beyond saving or backpack itself has unsolved spillages that you cannot begin to count. So, if you find yourself in a situation where you need a new bag, stand for the eco-friendly cause by bringing a sustainable backpack into the picture.

What makes a backpack sustainable and why does it matter?

Conscientious Water Usage

The fashion industry consumes about 79 billion cubic meters of water per year. Further, textile dyeing and treatments using toxic chemicals account for around 20% of the world's wastewater. This is only the tip of the iceberg— factories expand, which further spreads the untreated water infestation worldwide. Unsurprisingly, the wastewater is incredibly dangerous, and in many cases, is not (and cannot be) safely treated. The consequences ultimately fall on marine animals and humans.

Meanwhile–

Sustainable backpacks are made using innovative techniques that use minimal water.

Terra Thread backpacks are free of harmful toxins.
Our backpacks are made of rain-fed organic cotton.
This does not just help cut down water consumption but also eliminates the risks of toxic chemicals entering the water bodies.

No Plastic Microfibers

Plastic microfibers make up around 35% of the micro plastic pollution in the water bodies. Textile manufacturers use materials of poor quality, such as polyester and viscose, for cost-saving reasons. Regrettably, polyester is made from plastic, emitting excessive amounts of carbon dioxide. Plastic microfibers also end up in our food via aquatic life, endangering human health.

Meahwhile–

Terra Thread’s sustainable backpacks are free of synthetic microfibers.
Every bag is made from Fairtrade certified organic cotton. Organic cotton is natural and biodegradable, a safer choice over the harmful synthetic fibers of fast fashion.

Minimal Fabric Waste

In recent decades, the volume of clothing items soaked up by humans has shot through the roof. The World Bank reports 62 million metric tonnes of apparel consumption in 2019. And it is expected to reach 102 million in 10 years. This may be helpful for global economic growth, but it also means more items are ending up in landfills– cheap quality clothing does not sustain, and we end up needing to purchase more while throwing out the old. Among the most pressing matters are garments suffocating the landfills and burning clothing items. The overburdened landfills produce hazardous chemicals or massive quantities of toxic fumes, threatening lives and polluting the environment. Excessive production needs to be controlled to mitigate fabric waste pollution. And backpack brands like Patagonia are a brilliant example of avoiding material waste. They use recycled polyester, fabric woven with plastic bottles, and old garment wastes to manufacture their backpacks and other outdoor gear.

Meanwhile–

Keeping in mind both environmental and social consequences of excessive consumption:

Terra Thread uses Fairtrade Certified Organic Cotton and manufactures them in a Fair Trade Certified Factory — every last product, from our regular-sized backpacks to our mini backpacks.

Stands for Humanity

Sustainable items encourage consumers and businesses to make choices that are long-term. Acting responsibly spans over generations, beyond the financial statement generated in the short term. Purchasing sustainable backpacks entails social responsibility. The fashion industry as a whole is not celebrated for being responsible. And when it comes to fast fashion backpacks, the concern is not just about sustainability. There are ethical concerns as well— aside from environmental damages, the manpower factor is equally alarming. Factory workers are paid very little and work in deplorable conditions. Sweatshops, child labor, unfair treatments, are all associated with fast fashion.

Meanwhile–

Ethical brands dedicated to sustainable production help the people involved in the manufacturing process to improve their social situation by paying living wages, safe working conditions, and other uplifting benefits. Further, they are also involved in social causes and other give-back programs to do as much good as possible.

Terra Thread takes joy in being one of the most sustainable backpacks in the market.
Our backpacks are Fair Trade Certified, Fair Trade Standards guarantee safe working conditions for workers and empower them by advancing their economic development.
Terra Thread supports Feeding America to fight against hunger across America by donating meals for every purchase.