How the Luggage Industry Is Rethinking Materials and Repair

Over the past decade, how everyday products are made has become a relevant and highly discussed topic in both the travel and business worlds. Businesses are looked at more closely for their manufacturing practices, and travellers ask more questions about the materials, the repair options and the weight of the bags they buy. At Eminent we design our own bags, so we know what goes into making your luggage and we look closely at workplace practices. But let's take a look at what is changing in the luggage industry, from spare parts to new materials to lighter bags. 

Focus on durability

A focus within the luggage industry is quality: products made to a high standard, with parts that can be repaired or replaced instead of a bag that is thrown away at the first problem. Advances in material technology and a better understanding of what goes into a well-made bag mean customers can now choose between a very cheap suitcase and a quality bag with a warranty, spare parts and a repair service behind it. It is worth looking at what stands behind the price, not only at the price.

In good quality durable bags: hard shell luggage that had previously been known to crack with time and travel are now being manufactured with polycarbonate and soft shell cases are expected to have a high denier rating to ensure longevity. Parts such as the wheels, locks, telescopic handles and standard handles can be replaced over time, with brands creating replaceable components that allow customers to keep the product for longer.  Even smaller items such as zipper pullers have the ability to be replaced. Replacing these items usually costs far less than buying a completely new suitcase. Eminent offers a wide selection of spare parts and a repair service through its repair partner, so you can replace a worn part instead of the whole suitcase. Our customer service will tell you which part fits your model. 

Materials play a part too. Eminent uses a hard-shell material called Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO), a polypropylene-based thermoplastic. It is lightweight and designed to absorb impact, and it is known to cope with a wide range of temperatures, such as a bag left in the sun while it waits to be loaded onto a bus, or the cold of a plane's baggage compartment. As a thermoplastic, TPO can be recycled where suitable facilities exist. 

A shift towards recycled materials

Manufacturers have also started to develop bags with recycled materials, and there are two ways this can be done. Post-consumer recycled materials come from items thrown away by consumers, such as bottles, recycled plastics or even old baggage, which are used to produce a new item. Post-industrial materials are what is left over during production, for example the offcuts of an item that has been moulded. At Eminent, the lining of selected suitcases is made from recycled PET (rPET), a soft fabric.  

Some companies are also experimenting with biodegradable materials that break down faster when they are disposed of, although these materials are still under development.

These materials are still being developed, because it is not easy to combine a strong, light bag with a new material. Work in this area continues across the industry, from recycled linings to new shell materials. 

Many travellers care about what their luggage is made from. That is why Eminent already uses recycled PET (rPET) for the lining of selected suitcases.

Increased demand for lightweight baggage options 

Airlines and travel agencies keep tightening the weight requirements for passengers, so every kilo in the suitcase itself counts.  In general passengers are aware of the weight regulations applied by airlines when travelling. However in the past 10 years the requirements for these weight restrictions have become more of a regulated issue, and penalties have become higher. As this has become an ingrained part of travelling today, customers are leaning towards lighter options of bags to pack easily within the boundaries set.  A market research report conducted by technavio predicted that between 2019-2023 the interest in purchasing light weight bags and business bags for travel would increase substantially over the demand for traditional suitcases. People are wanting lighter weight suitcases, and smaller more compact travel bags to fit in with the airlines weight restrictions. As a result, more customers are choosing bags that help them to travel lighter, such as hard shells in polycarbonate or TPO. 

Accountability of customers.

As we have entered an age of internet freedom, brands are always under scrutiny about the materials they use, the way they produce their products, the initiatives they choose to support and much much more. This analysis from keyboard warriors or video reviewers provides a lot more accountability for the claims that businesses make. The internet brings luggage enthusiasts together: you can even find entire forums discussing a brand’s materials or debating the merits of hard and soft shell luggage. There are also an abundance of second hand facebook groups that help to give an insight into brand quality and offer people an opportunity to test a product before they decide to commit to that brand. Because customers value honest information, this discussion is posted on many channels, and it is a company’s choice whether to take the feedback on board or to lose credibility with its customers, whatever the claim. 

Finally, materials and repair are major topics of interest across the industry. At Eminent we hope that you will consider aspects such as the TPO shell material and the recycled lining of selected models when you research how to choose your next bag. It is always worth doing a bit more research to make sure you have versatile luggage that suits the way you travel.