Kind Bag: a portrait of the London bag brand made from recycled bottles

Kind Bag is a London bag brand that makes every bag from recycled PET bottles: six bottles for the foldable shopping bag, 18 for the backpack, 20 for the weekender. It was founded by Maria, who grew up in Tenerife and built the company after moving to London. Kind Bag is a certified B Corp, the fabric carries the Global Recycled Standard, the printing inks are OEKO-TEX certified, and according to the brand more than ten million bottles have been turned into bags so far. At One Horizon we carry 14 Kind Bag products, from the Hackney backpack and the Lunch Bag to the crossbody made from ocean plastic. If you want to know where the patterns come from, how the bags are made and which one suits whom, this portrait is for you. The full range: Kind Bag brand page.

From Tenerife to London

According to Kind Bag, founder Maria grew up in Tenerife, where she discovered her love of nature on the island’s volcanic trails. After moving to London she founded Kind Bag with a clear idea: turn recycled plastic bottles into fabric that lasts, and make bags from it that people buy for the pattern, not out of a sense of duty. The brand is still women-owned today, with Maria as CEO. The motto is Carry Colour, and it is meant literally: Kind Bag works with patterns such as Checkerboard, Gingham, Wavy Daisy, Peas or Lemons, plus a collection with William Morris motifs such as Strawberry Thief and Goldenlily.

The backpacks are called Hackney, after the London borough, and come in three sizes: Mini, Medium and Large. They are the solid-color side of the brand, in shades such as Burgundy, Moss Green, Tuscan Yellow or Pebble Black. The patterns belong to the foldable bags, the Lunch Bag, the Weekender and the laptop sleeves.

How bottles become fabric

According to the brand, every Kind Bag is made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles. The bottles are collected, shredded into flakes, melted down and spun into yarn, which becomes rPET fabric. The fabric is certified to the Global Recycled Standard, which checks the recycled content and the supply chain. The inks for the patterns are OEKO-TEX certified, meaning they are tested for harmful substances. The packaging is plastic-free, and according to Kind Bag the bags themselves can be recycled again at the end of their life.

Kind Bag states how many bottles go into each model. The Medium Bag takes six, the Tote ten, the Medium backpack 18, the Weekender 20. The Crossbody Bag is the exception: it is made from ocean plastic, according to Kind Bag from two and a half bottles recovered from the sea. Over the years, the brand says, that adds up to more than ten million recycled bottles.

The bags are made at a partner factory in China. Kind Bag describes it as independently audited; according to the brand, all employees have permanent contracts and earn more than the local minimum wage. Kind Bag is a certified B Corp, and that certification assesses the social and environmental standards of the whole company, not of individual products.

The Hackney backpack in three sizes

The Medium backpack is the bag most people get to know the brand with. Roll top with strong magnets, a padded compartment for a 13-inch laptop, a hidden anti-theft pocket on the back, padded straps. It is approved as carry-on luggage, and according to Kind Bag the material is waterproof and PFA-free. There are 13 colors to choose from. The Mini backpack, made from twelve bottles, has the same build with a tablet compartment, in colors such as Buttercup, Lilac or Sage. The Large backpack is the version for anyone who finds the Medium too small, with a laptop compartment and in five colors. All three are in the Backpacks category.

Foldable shopping bags: the heart of the brand

The Medium Bag is the brand’s basic model. 70 g, up to 20 kg load, water-repellent, 14 × 15 × 1 cm folded, so it fits in any jacket pocket. At One Horizon it comes in 33 patterns, the largest choice in our whole range. The XL Bag is its big sister at 46 × 23 × 84 cm and 95 g, for the weekly shop or a trip to the lake. The Tote Bag, made from ten bottles, has a wide base, stands up on its own, takes a 16-inch laptop and can go in the washing machine.

For keeping small things in order there is the Essentials Case at 23 × 4 × 9 cm for pens, makeup or cables. The mesh bags for fruit and vegetables and the three-pack pouches are also part of the range but currently unavailable. All foldable bags are in the Shopping bags category.

Lunch Bag, Crossbody, Weekender, laptop sleeve

The Lunch Bag is the Kind Bag with an insulating foam layer inside: it keeps your lunch cool, has a magnetic roll closure and four inside pockets, and can be washed at 30 degrees. The Crossbody Bag made from ocean plastic is the only solid-color bag besides the backpacks, in black, cream, red, green, blue and pink, with an adjustable strap and several compartments. The Weekender measures 55 × 36 × 22 cm, weighs 650 g and has a trolley sleeve for the suitcase handle, a detachable strap and a bottle holder. The laptop sleeve comes in 13 and 16 inches, with 1 cm of quilted padding and metal buttons, and is machine washable.

Care and what applies if it gets damaged

rPET fabric is easy to look after: wipe off stains with a damp cloth, hand-wash the shopping bags when needed and let them air-dry. According to Kind Bag, the Tote Bag, Lunch Bag and laptop sleeve are machine washable, the Lunch Bag at 30 degrees. For the backpacks we recommend a damp cloth instead of the machine. If a Kind Bag arrives damaged, the rule for every product at One Horizon applies: send a photo and the order number to info@one-horizon.ch and we replace it at no cost. The details are under Returns and warranty.

Frequently asked questions about Kind Bag

Wearing color with a clear conscience

Kind Bag is the brand in our range where recycling doesn’t look like going without. You buy the bag for the pattern and learn from the label that six bottles went into it. All 14 products are on the Kind Bag brand page.

Neo Abgottspon, One Horizon, Raron. As of September 2026.