Grunbag: Restoring Purpose to Forgotten Materials

Grunbag: Restoring Purpose to Forgotten Materials

Danish accessory brand, Grünbag, was founded by Helen Leegaard in 2008, with the goal to create fashionable accessories out of recycled materials that would otherwise go to waste. Considering garment durability as a key component of sustainability, Grünbag hand-selects the thickest, most durable materials available. From truck tarpaulin to recycled boat sails, Grünbag takes unique waste and converts it to even more unique accessories.

Grünbag takes a zero-waste approach to the creation of their accessories, with 90% of all materials being reused, recycled textiles. Their process begins with industrial partners local to Denmark, in which employees select disposed, high-quality materials by hand to then be cleaned, hand-cut, sewn together, then quality-checked, packed and shipped.

Grünbag Yellow Backpack Alden - This sustainable backpack is developed in collaboration with American journalist and founder of EcoCult.com, Alden Wicker. Alden was in need of a backpack and she asked us if we could customize a bag for her. She was looking for a backpack stylish enough for the city, but practical enough for hiking and all kinds of weather. This backpack meets the needs of long-time travelers and digital nomads: spacious, durable, water-resistant, and Instagram-able. In other words, it is the best backpack for travelers ever. The Alden Backpack has more practical pockets than any other GRÜNBAG before. There are two pockets on each side for your water bottle and either your reusable coffee mug, a camera lens, camping utensils, or whatever else you need at hand. A zippered pocket on the front of the bag is hidden underneath the fold-down flap, to hide your mobile phone, wallet, or other valuables from pickpocketers. Inside, you'll find a lined computer pocket for a 13" laptop, plus two small pockets, and a large A4 pocket for magazines or notepads. This backpack has a shockingly slim profile even when stuffed to the brim! As a last special detail, our Alden Backpack is hand sewn from 90% recycled materials. If you're looking for something sustainable, zero waste, or vegan, our Alden Backpack ticks all the boxes. Possible use Schoolbag for young and old Computer bag Cycling backpack Hiking or sailing trip Everyday backpack Digital nomad bag

The brand offers thoughtfully designed bags, that are made with love, to last. The Alden Backpack was developed in collaboration with an American journalist, Alden Wicker. Alden is a successful writer, most well-known for founding the sustainable fashion website, ecocult.com. Her vision for the Alden backpack was to implement versatility; she wanted a backpack stylish enough to wear around the city, yet durable and functional enough to be a hiking staple. This backpack, like most of the others, is made from surplus tarpaulin that was previously destined to be disposed of within a landfill. With its durability, and resistance to water and colour fade, tarpaulin makes a perfect material for a strong, bright backpack.

The Liv Backpack by Grunbag - This Liv backpack is an All-round bag for everyday use. Good to a bike tour, shopping, and hiking in the woods. The bag has one size A4 inner pocket and two smaller pockets for keys, pens, and the like. The backpack closes with a leather strap. The bag has a minimalistic and stylish design. It is a perfect alternative for you who want a sustainable bag that will last for years. Instead of fast fashion, this bag will only get more beautiful after years of wear and tear. The bag is spacious (18 l), it is eco-friendly (made from surplus materials) and it is perfect for both school and work. The backpack consists of leftover material from tarpaulin production in Denmark. We collect the material that is cut off for producing truck covers and party tents: never used, but nevertheless would otherwise be put in the landfill. The material is durable and does not lose much color or shape, and it is exactly this strong material that you can find in the majority of our GRÜNBAG bags and the Liv Backpack. The fabric of the shoulder straps is made of recycled plastic and is lined with a soft fabric made of large thermal suits, which we get from Viking Lifesaving Equipment. The inside pockets are made from mesh banners, which were used as advertising banners in Denmark.

The Liv and Norr backpacks are made from the same recycled tarpaulin sourced from truck cover and party tent manufacturers in Denmark. They are both meant to be multipurpose, in a great size for any use. As most of Grünbag’s backpacks are, the interior is made from a combination of recycled thermal suits sourced from a partner supplier, Viking Lifesaving Equipment, and recycled polyester fabric made from waste plastic bottles. The Norr backpack, however, is also available in collaboration with Viking Lifesaving Equipment for the exterior. Made entirely from recycled boat sails, these backpacks are still extremely durable, but offer a new look if you’re looking for something a little different.

VIKING Lifebag Backpack by Grunbag - VIKING Lifebag Backpack is an all-round backpack made from liferafts. It is a multi-use bag perfect for work, in school, a bike ride, shopping, or a walk in the forest. The bag has an inner pocket for your computer or important papers as well as to smaller pockets for keys, pens, and the like. The bag closes with reused webbing tapes and a recycled buckle. Made from highly durable materials crafted to withstand industrial wear and tear, our bags thrive with everyday use. They are therefore perfect companions for your adventures in life. The possibilities are endless and with a GRÜNBAG backpack, you have a water-resistant and durable backpack that will last you for years.

The development of their unique backpacks requires an equally unique design process. As most of the materials are reclaimed from industrial manufacturers, there are many limitations to the design due to lack of bendability and difficulty cutting. This causes the design process to occur in the opposite order to that of regular accessory design; the material becomes the first priority. It is now the question of what kind of purpose the material could serve, rather than what material could serve the garment’s purpose.

Completed with sustainable packaging made from recycled cardboard, Grünbag’s purposeful, zero-waste approach to durable accessories is an example of just what sustainable fashion should be.

Check out Grünbag Denmark at https://www.grunbag.eco/.

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