Accurate plastic water bottle consumption data are lacking, however, the statistics that are available are alarming. In 2018, consumption by Americans topped the 1 million bottles per minute rate (about 60 billion bottles per year where fewer than 9% are recycled). More than 4 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide each year.
Last Spring, May 2019, an American explorer retrieved plastic waste from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, 11 km below the surface in the Mariana Trench. That same week, the story of a deceased whale off the coast of the Philippines also made the news: researchers removed 88 pounds of plastic from its stomach.
Scientists estimate that more than 1 million birds and 100,000 sea creatures die each year from either consuming or becoming entangled in plastic. Indeed, the statistics are grim.
Targus, a leading provider of laptop cases and mobile computing accessories, envisions a sustainable future. The company has launched a line of eco-friendly bags made from recycled water bottles which are cleaned, flaked, re-polymerized and spun into a woven fabric that is used to produce the bags. Certified by Global Recycled Standard (GRS), the Cypress EcoSmart Collection of bags are also designed with technology in mind.
Bags will be on display at CES 2020 in the LVCC, South Hall, Booth #31147. Grit Daily met with Andrew Corkill, vice president of global marketing for Targus, to learn more about the company’s efforts to merge sustainability, technology, and function.
Grit Daily: This is an exciting launch for Targus. Thanks for taking the time today to address our questions. What’s the story behind the Cypress EcoSmart bags?
Andrew Corkill: The Cypress Collection is Targus’ third collection launched as part of our EcoSmart line. It was preceded by the Balance EcoSmart line of bags which was named as a Good Design 2018 Awards Honoree by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Our other line, the Spruce EcoSmart collection of bags, boasts Targus’ top-performing backpack in our catalog. With the successful reception of the award-winning Mobile ViP+ Backpack with a wireless phone charger, it made sense to combine the technology with sustainability to extend our EcoSmart line of products.
GD: From an educational standpoint (schools, universities, hospitals, etc.), how can a product like this be effective?
AC: The megatrend of sustainability and mobility continues to grow. Schools, universities, and hospitals are now focused on efforts to increase awareness of sustainability needs and to reduce environmental impact. Consumers are increasingly focused on conscious consumption and Targus solutions are being designed to meet these needs.
GD: How does the (Cypress+ EcoSmart) backpack work? What makes it tick? Break it down.
AC: The Cypress+ EcoSmart Backpack uses a unique patent-pending cradle designed to position a user’s smartphone in the optimal position to align the charging coils of the mobile phone with the coils of the Qi charging pad.
Additionally, the cradle secures the phone to keep it positioned even while the user is moving. In addition to the technology and design, the bag is composed of recycled water bottles on the inside and out to make it as sustainable as it is smart.
GD: Any privacy (e.g. CCPA, COPPA, GDPR) considerations? More specifically, do these smart bags collect any information? If so, spill the beans.
AC: No privacy considerations apply.
GD: When will this line of EcoSmart bags be available to consumers?
AC: After Q3-2020.
“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” ~Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood
This article was co-authored by Dr. Loralyn Mears of Grit Daily. Stay tuned for the live-interview we had with David Dorantes at Unveiled.
