The company creates bags made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, which are also 100% recyclable themselves, and to date, has saved three million plastic bottles from ending up in landfill or the ocean. The bags are designed to embrace slow and circular fashion, while still placing an emphasis on both functionality and beauty. Products include backpacks, pouches, reusable bags and totes, which emit less CO2 than cotton bags.

The company has a large focus on ethics and sustainability, working to reduce the 92 million tonnes of textile waste created annually from the fashion industry. Kind Bag recognises the importance of a sustainable supply chain and works in partnership with its factories, suppliers, and warehouses to ensure that they are members of the ethical trade organisations and hold the highest certificates in the market for manufacturing.

The business has ambitious plans to become a leading accessory brand, using the loan from Triodos Bank UK to accelerate its growth. The finance will be used to expand the team, invest in marketing, and develop the range of bags through new product development.

From its base in Hackney, Kind Bag has had a strong presence in the UK since 2019 with listings in prestigious retailers such as Selfridges, Waterstones, Anthropologie, and Kew Gardens. It also exports to over 25 countries worldwide with international accounts including Macys, David Jones and Bealls.

Founded by director and CEO Maria Rodriguez, Kind Bag is currently an all-female and multi-cultural team.The company actively aims to support and collaborate with female artists – its fashion collections to date include working with illustrators Roeqiya Fris and Maggie Stephenson on two ranges of printed shopping bags.

Maria Rodriguez, CEO of Kind Bag, commented: “We are excited to grow the business even more, and are eager to bring unique and stylish yet ethical and environmentally friendly accessories to a wider audience. We are pleased to be working with Triodos, a bank that fully understands our social and environmental mission. Good ethics is at the core of what we both do.”

Kate Donovan, business banking relationship manager, added: “It is important to Triodos that we finance organisations committed to making a positive difference, Kind Bag has a strong focus on sustainability, working hard to reduce plastic and textile waste, and bring a positive influence into the fashion world.”

Beyond the products themselves, all of Kind Bag’s packaging is fully recyclable and eco-friendly, using paper tape, recycled cardboard sleeves, FSC-certified paper and eco-friendly ink. Its UK warehouse is plastic free with a goal to be net zero by 2023.

Kind Bag supports 1% For The Planet, the respected international organisation whose members contribute at least one percent of their annual profits to environmental causes.

-Ends-
 

Notes to editors

For further information please contact:

Ellie James

About Kind Bag

Created by Maria Rodriguez, Kind Bags are made of 100% recycled materials in a bid to combat plastic waste and replace some of the 1 trillion single-use bags across the globe. The British brand has recycled over 3.5 million plastic bottles to date. Available from www.kindbag.co, Anthropologie, Kew Gardens, Oxfam, Selfridges and independent retailers nationwide.

About Triodos Bank

Founded in 1980, Triodos Bank has become a frontrunner in sustainable banking globally. As an independent bank that promotes responsible and transparent banking, it does not see any conflict between a focus on people and the planet and a good financial return. Instead it believes that they reinforce each other in the long-term.

Triodos Bank has banking activities in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Spain and Germany as well as Investment Management activities based in the Netherlands but active globally. Triodos Bank co-founded the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), a network of 67 sustainable banks. Together these banks want to grow sustainable banking and its impact on the real economy substantially.

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Triodos Bank UK Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triodos Bank NV. Registered Office: Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS. Registered in England and Wales Company No. 11379025. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 817008. VAT reg no 793493383.