Sustainability • Recycled Materials
Every Kind Bag starts life as something most of us throw away: a plastic bottle. Here is how plastic bottle recycling becomes RPET fabric, and how that fabric becomes a bag you can use for years.
Plastic bottles are everywhere, from water and fizzy drinks to cleaning products, and too many end up in landfill or the ocean. At Kind Bag we give that waste a second life by turning bottles into colourful, practical bags for everyday use.
Why bottles, and why RPET?
Drinks bottles are made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a durable, recyclable plastic. Once recycled, it becomes RPET, short for recycled polyethylene terephthalate. Using RPET reuses plastic that already exists instead of making new polyester from oil.
Bottle → Flake → Fibre → Fabric → Kind Bag
1) Collecting and sorting
Used bottles are gathered from recycling bins, collection points and municipal systems, then sorted by type and colour so the PET can be processed into good-quality RPET.
2) Cleaning and shredding
Bottles are washed to remove labels, caps and residue, then dried and shredded into flakes. Clean flakes are essential for strong, reliable fabric.
3) Melting and spinning into yarn
The flakes are melted, extruded into fine fibres and spun into yarn. This step turns waste into a textile input without making new, virgin polyester.
4) Weaving into fabric
The RPET yarn is woven into a lightweight, water-resistant fabric that folds down small, ideal for a bag you carry everywhere.
5) Cutting, sewing and finishing
The fabric is cut and stitched into our designs by production partners we work with closely on quality and working conditions.
What goes into one Kind Bag
- 6 recycled bottles go into our original Medium Reusable Bag. Other products use more (our Medium Hackney Backpack uses 17), so check each product page for its figure.
- Up to 20kg carrying capacity for the Medium Reusable Bag.
- 100% recycled materials, water-resistant and machine washable at 30°C on a delicate cycle.
The biggest difference a reusable bag makes comes from using it again and again, so the best bag is the one you'll actually keep with you.
FAQ: your RPET questions, answered
What is RPET fabric?
RPET is recycled polyethylene terephthalate: post-consumer plastic bottles turned into yarn and fabric. It performs much like ordinary polyester, but it starts from plastic that already exists. For a fuller explainer, read What is RPET Fabric?
How does the recycled plastic bags process work?
In short: collect → clean → shred → melt → spin → weave → sew.
Is RPET durable?
Yes. Our RPET fabrics are made for everyday carrying, shopping and travel. Load ratings vary by product, so check the product page for yours.
How does RPET compare to other bag materials?
Cotton, jute and hemp each have their own strengths and trade-offs. We compare them in RPET vs. Other Sustainable Bag Materials.
Beyond the bag
Kind Bag has repurposed millions of bottles to date. By designing products people love to use, we hope to cut demand for single-use carriers and keep plastic in use rather than in nature. Read more about our story and mission.
Ready to carry change?
Choose a bag with a story, one that turns plastic bottles into something you'll use for years.
