Solgaard
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: USA
Quick verdict
Solgaard is best for eco-conscious travelers who want functional, innovative luggage that directly funds ocean plastic cleanup. The standout achievement is staggering: 3 million pounds of ocean-bound plastic diverted since inception, with every purchase funding the removal of 6 lbs (229 bottles' worth). The brand's patented FlowCloset shelving system earned a TIME Magazine Best Inventions nod, and B Corp certification (score 82.0) adds credibility. The caveat: manufacturing locations are undisclosed despite B Corp status, some customers report durability issues with hard-shell products, and there is no independent fashion-sector assessment for validation.
Key info
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, USA
- Founded
- 2016
- Product categories
- Accessories
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- B Corp (score 82.0), NextWave Plastics member, OBP certified (Ocean Bound Plastic), Plastic Negative certified
Solgaard sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Proprietary Shore-Tex® fabric from 100% upcycled ocean-bound plastic (Fast Company "World Changing Ideas" finalist). Also uses recycled polycarbonate, recycled aluminium, apple peel leather, and ReLux (excess luxury material). The Compass Backpack achieves mono-material, fully circular design.
B Corp certified with 100% of factories audited within the past year and 85% using ICAS/WRAP third-party audits. However, specific factory locations are not disclosed, and no detailed worker condition reports are published. Manufacturing likely in China based on contextual evidence.
3 million pounds of ocean plastic diverted. Plastic Negative certified. Carbon-offset freight shipping. 55+ river barriers in Indonesia collecting 1,000+ kg of plastic daily. Mangrove restoration for carbon sequestration. Solgaard Nyx Foundation (501c3) drives cleanup operations.
B Corp score of 82.0 publicly available. Detailed impact page with partner descriptions and cleanup metrics. Regular blog updates on ocean plastic progress. However, no comprehensive annual report, no factory name/location disclosure, and limited labor data beyond audit percentages.
Carry-ons at $245–$365 are competitive with Away ($275–$345) and below Paravel ($395–$495). Strong value given the ocean plastic mission, patented closet system, and lifetime warranty. Some durability complaints at this price point are a concern.
What they do well
- 3 million pounds of ocean plastic cleaned as of April 2025, with concrete infrastructure: 55+ river barriers in Indonesia, a Mangrove Facility in Bali, and partnerships with Sungai Watch, Plastic Bank, and CRDC Global
- Shore-Tex® proprietary fabric from ocean-bound plastic: a genuine material innovation recognised by Fast Company's "World Changing Ideas" awards
- Compass Backpack is a circularity breakthrough: mono-material recycled PET construction means it can be recycled alongside plastic bottles (2023 Red Dot Award winner)
- Certified B Corp with an 82.0 impact score (vs. 50.9 median) plus NextWave Plastics membership alongside Dell, HP, and IKEA
- Lifetime warranty on luggage and patented FlowCloset™ system (TIME Magazine Best Inventions) solve real travel problems while being sustainable
Room for improvement
- Despite B Corp certification, Solgaard does not disclose specific factory names or locations, a notable transparency gap compared to brands like Patagonia that publish full supplier lists.
About Solgaard
Adrian Solgaard, a Norwegian-Canadian serial entrepreneur, launched the brand in 2016 with the Lifepack, a solar-powered, anti-theft backpack that raised $1.2 million on Kickstarter (meeting its funding goal in 6 hours). A year later, while attempting to surf in Bali, Solgaard was struck by the plastic choking the waves. Ocean cleanup became his life's mission—in 2018, he Kickstarted Shore-Tex development, and by August 2019 had launched the proprietary ocean-bound plastic fabric.
Solgaard's material portfolio includes Shore-Tex (ocean-bound recycled plastic), recycled polycarbonate and aluminium for hard-shell luggage, apple peel leather, and ReLux (repurposed luxury-handbag material). Ocean-bound plastic is sourced from the Philippines, Indonesia, and China through OBP-certified chains of custody. The brand achieved B Corp certification in February 2023 with a score of 82.0. All products fund the removal of 6 lbs of ocean plastic (229 bottles).
Manufacturing details are not publicly disclosed but production appears to be in Asia. Products ship free in the US on orders over $100, with 1–2 business day processing. The Solgaard Nyx Foundation (501c3) drives cleanup operations with support from Pershing Square Philanthropies. At $245–$395 for luggage, pricing is competitive with premium DTC brands like Away and Monos, differentiated by the ocean plastic mission and patented organisation systems.
Product highlights
Carry-On Closet® Original
Hard-shell carry-on with patented 5-shelf FlowCloset™ compression system, recycled polycarbonate, USB-C ports, TSA lock
~$265–$365
TIME Magazine Best Inventions winner; Shore-Tex interior; lifetime warranty; eliminates unpacking entirely
Compass Backpack
Mono-material fully circular backpack, all components (fabric, trims, foams, labels) made from recycled PET
~$165
2023 Red Dot Product Design Award; industry-first fully recyclable backpack; can be recycled with plastic bottles
Venture Backpack
Convertible everyday-to-travel backpack with FlowCloset system, Shore-Tex fabric, expandable +40% space
~$225–$265
Designed for digital nomads; separate Workzone and Lifezone compartments; 16" laptop storage
The Optimist's Bag
Simon Sinek collaboration expandable backpack with Shore-Tex Pro ballistic weave and LifeKit organiser
~$275
Sinek's first-ever product collaboration; sold out initially; Shore-Tex Pro fabric from 100% recycled plastic
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