Sea Bags acheives GreenCircle Certification

Maine-based company’s totes and bucket bags certified as being made from 100% recycled content from recovered sails and sail cloth.

GreenCircle Certified has verified that the material used to make Sea Bags tote bags and Sea Bags bucket bags is made from 100% recycled content from recovered sails and sail cloth material. Since 1999, the Maine-based designer and manufacturer of bags and accessories all made from repurposed sail cloth, has helped keep over 700 tons of old, unusable or retired sails out of landfills. The handles are made from virgin rope manufactured in the United States.

GreenCircle is an internationally recognized third-party certification entity whose thorough evaluation process provides independent verification that sustainability claims related to an organization's products and operations are honest, valid and verified. GreenCircle Certified sets the standard for accuracy and accountability regarding products made from upcycled materials.

“We are so proud that our two most popular products have been certified by GreenCircle for recycled content. While sustainability has always been at the heart of who we are, we have long recognized that brands cannot simply use the words ‘recycled’ and ‘sustainability’ in their mission without substantiated proof,” says Beth Shissler, president and chief sustainability officer of Sea Bags. “This third-party audit, verification and certification with GreenCircle is really important because it aligns with our values, guides us into the future as a company and makes us better at what we do. We chose GreenCircle because we believe they are a certification that consumers can trust and after reviewing their processes for certification we believe they have the fortitude to become a household name.”

To receive certification, Sea Bags went through a rigorous audit and assessment process, including an audit of their bills of material, processes and manufacturing locations. Sea Bags will undergo an annual recertification with GreenCircle as well as pursue additional product certifications in the near future.

“We applaud Sea Bags for achieving GreenCircle Recycled Content certifications for their Tote Bags and Bucket Bags,” says Tad Radzinski, certification officer at GreenCircle. “The Recycled Content certification was the first standard developed by GreenCircle in 2009 and has been used as a reference for a wide range of industry organizations. The marketplace is full of products with recycled content claims, but Sea Bags stands apart from the rest because they went the extra mile to validate their claims with third-party certification. Sea Bags is not only diverting a significant waste stream from landfill with the use of recycled sails in their bags, they are also contributing to the circular economy by extending the life of these sails. Sea Bags is demonstrating their commitment to transparency and to being a brand their customers can trust.”

Sea Bags says it is determined to have a larger impact in the future of retail manufacturing through meaningful partnerships, advocacy and inspiration -- all while continuing to craft and deliver one-of-a-kind handmade products.