SUSTAINABLE BY NATURE

It’s natural for anyone who loves adventure to want to protect the planet that we enjoy riding through. At Restrap, we take a simple approach to sustainability. We know that any manufacturing process has an environmental impact. We will seek to minimise that impact wherever we can, whether that is through design, our supply chain or end packaging. Most importantly, we will concentrate on making the best product we can while operating as a business.

MADE TO LAST

Any product that isn’t fit for purpose is not sustainable, no matter how environmentally friendly the production process is. The overwhelming majority of Restrap products are handmade in the UK by our skilled team. We use durable materials and design our products for longevity and repairability. Ultimately, we want our bags to be a purchase that you only need to make once. 

That is why we offer a lifetime warranty. Bikepacking luggage has a hard life. It is subjected to the elements, stuffed full of our belongings, bounced along rough terrain, then thrown into a drawer and forgotten about until our next trip. There’s a point where even the most robust fabrics begin to wear. We sell a comprehensive range of spare parts for products and even repair patches. For more serious damage, return your bag to our factory and we’ll repair it for you. 

DURABLE MATERIALS

We have specifically selected our fabrics to be the most durable possible; we measure the lifetime of a product in years and years. That’s why we don’t use PU laminate fabrics; the laminate eventually debonds under UV light. Our PU coated textured nylons are more stable. They are also easy to clean and hold their colour much better than some alternatives. The result is a bag that functions just as well several years down the line as it did on day one. 

We are constantly testing fabrics made of recycled materials and looking for more sustainable alternatives – whether that is low carbon impact production, or even longer life. To learn more about our fabrics, see our dedicated Technical Document here.

LOCAL MANUFACTURING AND LOWER EMISSION

Sustainability goes beyond the environment. Manufacturing in Yorkshire supports our local community and economy. 

Our workforce enjoys indoor bike parking and access to a full workshop. We offer a fleet of loan bikes for cycling-curious colleagues. 

When we moved into our current Leeds factory, we installed solar panels on the roof to further minimise our emissions impact along with reducing our electricity bill. Up to 66% (roughly 5,000kWh) of the power we use is generated by solar, which also includes charging our hybrid-electric van to make local deliveries petrol-free.

WASTE CONSCIOUS

We minimise waste at every opportunity. Fabric offcuts are minimised and reused where possible, and our packaging is ethically sourced. The cardboard that we use is made out of 100% recycled material and where we need to use plastic packaging it is biodegradable. 

By having direct control of our production line on a day-to-day basis, we manufacture to order. That means no large stockpiles or unsold products being disposed of.

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

We believe that bikepacking is for everyone. Believing that and achieving that are two different things, however. That is why we proudly support gear libraries/mentorship programmes like Roll Models and rental schemes like Adventure Kit Hire.  

We try to ensure that our ambassadors reflect all walks of life and all facets of adventure riding; from racing to touring, from community building to inspiring others.

We want you to be confident in our commitment to quality and reliability. Our materials, components and design features are chosen for their durability, resistance to the environment, and ability to withstand wear and tear, ensuring that our products are built to last and perform at their best in any situation. This is why all our products are sold with a Lifetime Warranty.

(image credits: Roo Fowler, Nic Morales)