A Bag for a Lifetime: Sustainability at TOM BIHN

Maia Hamilton
2025-02-14T11:01:38-08:00

Like people, bags hold memories – there for every moment, big or small

Whether they’re packed with resumes as you embark on your first job search, filled with stuffed animals and DVDs as you drop your kids off for their first sleepover, or hiding a graduation gift for the children who seemed to grow up too quickly…whatever it may be, a bag that lasts a lifetime will be there for–you guessed it–a lifetime.

At TOM BIHN, we believe sustainability starts with durability. A bag that lasts means fewer replacements, less waste, and more meaningful journeys. Our mission is to create high-quality, sustainable bags that stand the test of time.

Here's how we do it:

Longevity: The First Step in Sustainability

A long-lasting bag reduces consumerism and supports environmentally conscious consumption. Instead of buying a new backpack or travel bag every season, our bags are designed to be irreplaceable.

Lifetime Warranty: Every TOM BIHN bag is backed by a lifetime warranty, ensuring it stays with you for years to come. We stand behind the bags that we make. No matter how many overhead bins, road trips, or unexpected spills it endures, it remains functional and reliable.

Repair Program: Need a zipper replaced on a decade-old bag? A seam reinforced on your daily carry? We offer repairs on all TOM BIHN products, keeping your favorite bag in action rather than in a landfill. If something goes wrong and it's our fault, we'll fix it for free. Repairs due to normal wear and tear or due to other things that are not our fault will be performed, when possible, at cost right here in our Seattle factory. Learn more about our repair warranty here.

Sustainable Materials: A Commitment to A Greener Future

Material choices make a huge impact on sustainability. That’s why we’ve committed to using environmentally responsible fabrics and finishes.

X-Pac RX30: The RX line is carbon neutral and made from post-consumer filaments—specifically from PET bottles collected from the East Coast of the United States. This fabric has a lower carbon footprint while also making use of discarded materials, making it more environmentally friendly.

C0 DWR (Durable Water Repellent): We have transitioned nearly all our materials (even our zippers!) to C0 DWR, a finish that repels water, dirt, oil, and alcohol while being free of harmful perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). This makes it more sustainable and easier to repurpose. These C0 DWR fabrics have a lower environmental footprint and can be repurposed more easily–allowing us to be more conscious of our carbon footprint and environmental impacts.

Constantly Improving Materials: While our 200D Halcyon fabric is still transitioning from C6 to C0, we continue to push for more environmentally friendly materials in every product. Our material glossary is a great place to start to learn more about our fabrics.

Minimizing Waste in Production

Sustainability isn’t just about materials—it’s also about how we make our bags. Our team optimizes every step of production to minimize waste on the production floor.

90% Efficiency in Pattern Cutting: Our expert team has mastered pattern cutting to reduce scrap fabric. However, this scrap fabric doesn’t go to waste!

Mystery Organizer Pouches: Instead of discarding excess material, we turn fabric scraps into our popular Mystery Organizer Pouches. In 2024, we repurposed 993+ pounds of scrap fabric, and are always looking for new ways to expand our Mystery Series.

Custom-Cutting Dies: Using steel-cutting dies, we efficiently punch out shapes from leftover fabric, further minimizing waste. This is what allows us to create the many unique color variations of the Bantam!

Sustainable Shipping Practices & Packaging

Even the way we ship our bags is designed with sustainability in mind.

SFI-Certified Shipping Boxes: We have implemented Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified boxes, which are lighter, more durable, and require less raw material to produce, ensuring a smaller environmental footprint.

Lower Carbon Footprint: Because these boxes use less fiber, while still passing all standard tests required by shipping companies and the Postal Service, we can reduce the environmental impact of shipping your bag to you and offer you opportunities to reuse these boxes for your own shipment or storage needs.

Sustainability That Lasts a Lifetime

Sustainability means something different for everyone.

To us, it means providing the highest quality products while minimizing our environmental impact. As a small business, it is our responsibility to ensure our environmental impact is nothing but positive. From materials to manufacturing to repairs, we are committed to building bags that truly last through sustainable business practices. We are excited to see what lifetime adventures you take your TOM BIHN on.

What does sustainability mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!