Got Trash? GOT BAG.

We’re thrilled to announce a new partnership that transforms waste into something powerful: purpose. The No-Trash Triangle Initiative is now collaborating with GOT BAG, a company turning waste plastic into durable, minimalist travel gear, giving new life to the plastic collected by projects and communities like ours.

Who is GOT BAG?

GOT BAG is a German-based company with a mission to conserve our oceans, in part by creating the world’s first backpacks made of ocean plastic. Their work goes far beyond fashion though. They’re building a global cleanup movement, supporting coastal communities, and promoting circular economy solutions for marine waste.

Since 2016, GOT BAG has collected plastic waste through a network of partners organisations including GOT BAG Foundation, an Indonesian based initiative which works to keep plastic out of our oceans. They use the plastic collected by these community based initiatives to create high-quality products like backpacks, duffels, and laptop sleeves. All while spreading awareness about the global plastic crisis.

Bags for life

GOT BAG’s moon bag modelled by the team at our sorting station.

How We’re Working Together

Thanks to this partnership, we will send the plastic we collect from the beaches, rivers and businesses across North Sulawesi to be used in GOT BAG’s production process. Instead of clogging rivers, harming marine life, or being burned in open dumps, this plastic will become part of a functional, sustainable product that tells a powerful story.

Here’s how it works:

  • We intercept and collect waste from our river barriers, beach clean ups and community/business partners

  • The PET is sorted, and baled at our sorting station

  • It is then sent to GOT BAG’s recycling partner in Java to be processed into plastic pellets

  • These plastic pellets are then used to create the durable yarn and fabric that’s synonymous with GOT BAG’s end product.

This is real circular economy action, rooted in local cleanup work and connected to global impact.

Empowering People Along the Way

This partnership also helps us create stable, dignified jobs. Our team, including several former landfill workers, is at the heart of this effort—ensuring PET is properly sorted, stored, and delivered for reuse. By assigning value to plastic, we’re not only keeping it out of the ocean—we’re also building stronger livelihoods here in North Sulawesi.

A Shared Vision for a Cleaner Future

At No-Trash Triangle Initiative, we believe that waste should never be wasted. Every piece of plastic we intercept has the potential to become something better—something useful, responsible, and sustainable.

Partnering with GOT BAG means aligning with a global movement of change-makers who share our belief that ocean protection starts at the source—and that local action fuels global change.

Stay tuned as we share stories of the people and plastics behind this partnership. In the meantime, check out got-bag.com to see where some of our plastic waste might end up next.

Grainne Regan