Sustainability
Because children are our future
Sustainably responsible since 2010
We want a world where kids can be kids - free, playful and unburdened.
Since the founding of ergobag 15 years ago, we have passionately worked on being the most sustainable elementary school brand and to keep our ecological footprint as small as possible. All of this with the goal of creating and maintaining a liveable environment for the elementary school children of today.
Sustainability has not just been an important part of our brand DNA since foundation. We are proud of being a pioneer and role model for 15 years, becoming better every year and setting new, high standards again and again.
Collect. Recycle. Re-appraise.
We want to make the future bright, as well as the school yard! That's why the outer fabric of our very first ergobag was made entirely from recycled PET bottles.
And because we believe recycling is better than disposal, we have now introduced a new recycling innovation: Textile-to-Textile. Old textiles are spared incineration and given a new lease of life as an innovative fabric. And we transform this fabric into the main component of our multi-colored companion for every school day.
Recycling is part of our DNA
For us, it makes perfect sense to give used materials a second life. In addition to textile-to-textile recycling, we have been using recycled outer fabrics made from PET bottles since the company was founded, turning "bottles into bags" since 2010. This principle has set standards and contributed to PET recycling becoming commonplace in many industries today. But we are thinking ahead: even though PET recycling remains useful, it removes valuable resources from an existing cycle. That is why we want to act even more consistently in the future and focus more on textile-to-textile recycling to keep materials in the textile cycle.
No rubbish in - no rubbish out - clean production
Our guiding principle: to avoid using any harmful substances in the manufacturing process from the outset, so that no chemicals are released into the environment and both people and nature remain protected. We do not use perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) for water-repellent treatment, as they are not biodegradable, and we have switched our entire collection to PFC-free treatment. In addition, we have our materials regularly tested for harmful substances by independent testing laboratories to ensure that our backpacks can be used safely—throughout elementary school and beyond.
Materials tested with care
The ergobag development team carefully selects durable fibers and yarns, which are extensively tested in the textile lab for abrasion resistance, pilling, colorfastness, tear resistance, and water resistance. To prevent color transfer and ensure longevity, we dye the high-wear areas of the backpacks instead of printing on them. We use a PFC-free water-repellent treatment to ensure safe and environmentally friendly production. In addition, independent testing institutes regularly test our materials to verify compliance with limits for harmful substances, so we can ensure that our backpacks not only last throughout elementary school and beyond but can also be used with complete peace of mind.
Made from old clothes
The outer material of our particularly sustainable backpack designs is made from 100% recycled textiles! This means that we give discarded clothes and textile waste a new purpose and turn them into school backpacks. In this way, we help to conserve resources and reduce the use of new materials. An important step towards closing material cycles.
Responsible production
Since 2016, we have been working with the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF)—a multi-stakeholder organization comprising NGOs, business associations, labor unions, and companies like ours. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in the apparel, textile, and footwear industries, Fair Wear ensures that we make human rights due diligence an integral part of our daily business practices.
This is made possible by the “shared responsibility” approach, in which responsibility lies not only with the suppliers themselves, but also with us as a company. How do our business practices contribute to compliance with labor standards? On the one hand, through a comprehensive risk analysis that influences our purchasing decisions. Second, by continuously refining our sourcing practices to increase our positive impact on working conditions in the factories.
For regular on-site audits, training programs, and grievance mechanisms, we rely on Fair Wear’s local teams and use their networks to connect with relevant stakeholder groups. In addition, we undergo an annual “Brand Performance Check”—which assesses, among other things, our implementation of human rights due diligence. We were once again thoroughly evaluated during the most recent check in 2023 and have consistently been awarded “Leader” status—Fair Wear’s highest possible rating—since 2018.
State seal for sustainable textiles: "Green button"
We carry products bearing the Green Button—the Federal Republic of Germany’s official seal of approval for textiles produced in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. The ease s & m backpacks and the ergobag mini have been certified.
The certification is awarded by independent bodies based on strict criteria regarding social and environmental standards throughout the supply chain. The certification covers 46 social and environmental criteria, and both social and environmental requirements must be met.
On the one hand, the focus is on humane working conditions, such as compliance with minimum wages, occupational safety, and the prohibition of forced labor. On the other hand, environmentally responsible production plays a key role, for example through bans on hazardous chemicals and plasticizers or testing natural fibers for harmful substances.
To provide consumers with safety and the highest level of transparency, independent testing agencies, such as TÜV Nord, carry out the certification process.
Green Button Certificate
Nachhaltige Zahlen und Fakten aus 15 Jahren ergobag
Seit unserer Gründung haben wir folgende Einsparungen machen können.
75,3 Mio.
0,5l PET-Flaschen recycelt dadurch:
623
Heißluftballons mit CO2 eingespart
1,2 Mio
Badewannen Wasser eingespart (142.198m3)
