• OUR MATERIALS

    • Woven Recycled Paper

      Engage Green Woven Recycled Paper bags are durable, water resistant and biodegradable at the end of their life. We offer a wide variety of colors from natural hues to bright sunny colors made from vegetable dyes. Our unique fabric is created using narrow strips of evenly cut recycled paper that are twisted in to strands. Theses strands are used for weaving the fabric. Organic cotton fibers are also blended with the paper strands for extra strength and durability.

        

      Recycling Facts

      • * Less trash in landfills means lower disposal cost & less pollution from waste carting.
      • * Using recycled paper pulp saves energy in the manufacturing process, using 60% to 70% less to compared to virgin pulp.
      • * Recycled paper manufacturing uses up to 55% less water that virgin pulp, and helps to preserve our forests.
      • * Manufacturing with recycled paper reduces air emissions by 74% compared to virgin pulp manufacturing.
       

      Our handles . . .Although they look and feel like leather, our handles are made of recycled plastic!

       

    • Polyester from Recycled Plastic

      Engage Green recycled plastic products are made using high-quality polyester fiber that comes from 100% post-consumer PET bottles. The fabric is chemically and functionally identical to conventional polyester but rather than damaging the environment it diverts thousands of plastic bottles from landfills!

      Engage Green bags made from recycled plastic are durable, water-resistant and soft. Designed for comfort and functionality these bags are made for modern living while demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.

      About PET:  PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) is the most popular packaging material for drinks, liquor and food today because it is lightweight, transparent and has good gas and moisture barrier properties. It is the most environmentally friendly material of all soft drink container systems in terms of total weight of air emissions and waterborne wastes.

      Recycling used soda and water bottles keeps billions of containers out of the world’s landfills and oceans, conserves crude oil and therefore reduces harmful air emissions that lead to global warming. Engage Green recycled polyester is used to make a diverse range of materials including our thermal lining and faux leather.

    • How is it made? Plastics are collected from curbside recycling and drop-off locations and taken to a material recovery facility to be sorted. Next the plastic is brought to the reclamation facility where it is inspected and washed. Once washed it is chopped into small flakes that are placed into a flotation tank and then dried in a tumbler. The dried flakes are placed in an extruder where they are melted. The melted plastic is sifted through a screen to remove any contaminants and then it is formed into strands. Finally, the strands are chopped into pellets and sold to manufacturers to make new products, such as the fabric that is used to create Engage Green designs.

    • Did you know  It takes 18 post-consumer 16 oz. plastic drinking bottles to make one yard of our material? 


      Recycling Facts
      • * Approximately 18 used plastic bottles of 16 oz. make 1 yard of our fabric.
      • * 4,800 used plastic bottles of 16 oz. saves 1 cubic yard of the landfill.
      • * According to EPA recycling 1 pound of plastic containers [PETE] save approximately 12,000 BTU’s per yard.
       

    • Sustainably Harvested Cork

      Engage Green Cork is a “natural leather” that is durable, resistant to wear, flexible, impermeable to liquids and stain resistant. The longer it is used, the softer it gets, and the velvety texture will last many seasons.

      About cork . . . Our cork is harvested from the bark of the oak tree in a way that allows new bark to grow in its place. After harvesting, the cork is mounted on a flexible fabric backing for fashion use. The process is tightly regulated to preserve the health and integrity of the trees.

      Why cork . . . Ecologically, cork is a wise choice because it is a natural and renewable material. Unlike animal hide leather, cork does not need to be conditioned. It is easily cleaned with soap and water. 

       

    • Organic Hemp

      Engage Green fabric made from Organic Hemp fibers is resistant to ultraviolet light, heat and mildew. It also repels insects and is hypoallergenic. Hemp is durable, elastic and able to withstand extremes in temperature without degeneration.

      About hemp . . . In the 1600’s, hemp was considered such a vital resource that farmers were legally obligated to grow it. Raising hemp plants does not require pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer and only very little water. This versatile and adaptable plant can thrive in almost any environment and almost any climate.

       

    • Organic Cotton

      Engage Green is doing it can to help fuel demand for Organic Cotton products by producing fashionable, functional designs.

      About conventional cotton . . . Conventional cotton production involves some of the most harmful chemicals known to man. Cotton plants and the insects that attack them are resilient and adaptable, leading to the development of new, stronger chemicals every year. The chemicals sprayed on cotton crops deplete the soil and pollute watersheds. According to the USDA, in one year alone 50 million pounds of pesticides were used on U.S. cotton fields.

      Why organic cotton . . . Organic cotton farming uses no toxins or synthetic fertilizers and is produced without bleaches, dyes or other pollutants. Natural fertilizers and advances in environmentally friendly pest control have made organic cotton farming possible. 

       

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