The first circular FREITAG backpack—made from a single material, from the buckle to the strap and the outer material, right down to the drawstring and zipper: All parts are made of fully recyclable polyamide 6.

Designed as a multifunctional everyday companion, the backpack features a detachable musette, a main compartment with adjustable volume thanks to a roll-top and foldable base (complete with a key loop), a padded laptop compartment, an exterior pocket, and a side zipper for quick access to the main compartment.

The small musette comes with a detachable carrying strap for solo use and can be attached to the main compartment or across the chest between the backpack’s two shoulder straps. Typical FREITAG: The bag is sturdy and water-repellent and designed so that it can be repaired if it ever gets damaged—preferably by the FREITAG staff themselves.

The best part: When the bag finally reaches the end of its useful life after years of use, FREITAG takes it back and ensures it is fully recycled.

FREITAG has always approached design from the end result. In their search for suitable materials for a bag that was both functional and durable, brothers Daniel and Markus Freitag discovered used truck tarps over 30 years ago. The rest is design history; to this day, the Zurich-based company upcycles several hundred tons of tarpaulin annually into bags, backpacks, and accessories, thereby saving them from the landfill. To ensure the products have a long life, Freitag also offers repair and exchange services. But because every bag eventually wears out and the PVC and polyester tarps cannot be recycled, there is now a second product line called MONO[PA6]. Instead of used materials, FREITAG uses polyamide 6 (PA 6)—better known as nylon—in the form of a monomaterial, as the technical term goes. The backpacks and bags are made entirely of PA 6—from the fabric to the thread, zippers, and even the label. What does this have to do with the end? Thanks to their monomaterial construction, MONO[PA6] products can be efficiently recycled in one piece. To ensure this actually happens, FREITAG also offers its own take-back service—thus guaranteeing a Full Circle Moment right from the moment of purchase.