SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) — Timbuk2 is launching a new program with several partners to encourage its customers to reuse, recycle and repair its bags.
The Timbuk2 Life Cycle program, announced to time with Tuesday's Earth Day, includes new agreements with Yerdle, iFixit and TerraCycle. Timbuk2 also has hired a full-time repair sewer in San Francisco as part of the program.
"The Timbuk2 Life Cycle is the most responsible thing we can do environmentally — extending the life of our existing products — and we are passionate about the reduce, reuse, repair, recycle and reimagine aspects of the program," said Timbuk2 brand director Lizzy Fallows.
Fallows said the new Life Cycle program was inspired by Patagonia's Common Threads Partnership.
"Patagonia educated us about the 5 R's of their Common Threads Partnership and encouraged us to use a similar structure for our Life Cycle program. Their mentorship and generosity developing, testing and launching our program was invaluable. Patagonia really walks the talk, and we look forward to furthering the cause of their Common Threads Partnership through our Life Cycle initiatives."
Yerdle is an online community where people give and get things for free. Timbuk2 is encouraging its customers to use Yerdle to give away old Timbuk2 products they no longer want. Alternatively, customers can send any unwanted bags back to Timbuk2 and the company will find it a new home via a local nonprofit partner and give the customer 30 percent off his or her next Timbuk2 purchase through this month, and 20 percent thereafter.
Timbuk2 also has published new fix-it manuals and is offering replacement parts to customers who want to repair their bags. Alternatively, customers can now send in damaged bags to the company's headquarters in San Francisco, where the newly hired sewer will repair it.
Bags that are no longer usable can have their materials reused by TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based upcycling company. Customers who send in bags to be upcycled will receive 30 percent off their next Timbuk2 purchase through April and 20 percent thereafter.
Timbuk2 is also now encouraging customers to create something entirely new out of their bag, with ideas on its website.
Finally, Timbuk2 is now working with TerraCycle to debut two new messenger bags created from discarded U.S. Postal Service bags. The upcycled messenger bags are available in brown and white in two sizes for purchase for $99 (size small) and $109 (size medium).
