Local Japanese Manufacturer Making Shoulder Bags From Scrapped Seatbelts and Airbags

Creatore Co. in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, launched its fourth product line of shoulder bags using recycled materials under its Innoveco brand on April 28, 2008. The Shoulder Bag S is made of scrapped automotive airbags and leather seats. Based on the concept of reuse, recycling, and long life, the company has released three other types of Innoveco-branded bags since December 2007. The first one, the Business Bag/TAF, is made of scrapped seat belts and airbags -- chosen because of their strong fibers -- which would have been otherwise shredded and thrown away.

The colors and textures of these recycled materials vary depending on the type of scrapped vehicles they come from, which gives the bags a distinctive look. Made of tenacious fabric using ultra high-strength raw yarn, the bags made from used airbags are highly resistant to pointed objects, heat, and wear, and have a uniquely smooth and soft feel. And the seatbelt material the company uses is very tough and durable, because it is made with tightly knitted fibers designed to hold people safely and protect human life.

The company takes care of the environment when manufacturing these bags too, such as using cleansing agents that are naturally decomposable. Also, each bag has its "eco rating" indicated inside, which shows the ratio of scrap materials used to make it.

source: Japan for Sustainability