How are Out of the Woods bags and products sustainable?

Out of the Woods products feature Supernatural Paper which is made of tree cellulose from FSC®-certified forests. Because trees are a renewable resource, it has a lower carbon footprint compared to many other materials used for bags, particularly those derived from petroleum-based products. The mission of Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is to promote environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world’s forests.

How many single-use bags can be diverted from landfills and waterways by using a reusable or washable bag?

Using reusable bags and washable bags, whether for shopping or common daily carrying, can save hundreds of single-use bags a year, possibly over 500 according to some studies. A single person would remove more than 22,000 plastic bags from the environment if they used reusable bags over their lifetime.

What is Supernatural Paper™, the material used to make Out of the Woods™ bags?

Supernatural Paper™ is a material made with tree cellulose from responsibly and sustainably managed forests. And because cellulose is a renewable resource, Supernatural Paper™ has an improved environmental profile compared to petroleum-based materials. This unique material is both washable and water repellent, which means you can safely clean the exterior or even get caught in the rain without worrying about damaging your bag. Supernatural Paper™ is also 100% animal-free but has the same look and performance of leather.

Why does Out of the Woods use Supernatural Paper products?

Supernatural Paper has a unique look of well-worn leather while being animal-free and has a lower carbon footprint than other oil or petroleum-based products. It’s also strong and durable and since it’s washable, can have greater use and longevity in many cases.

Where does Out of the Woods get its trees, wood and paper materials?

Out of the Woods Supernatural Paper gets its start in FSC®-managed forests in Europe where we source our tree cellulose which is converted to pulp and ultimately Supernatural Paper.

How are Out of the Woods products produced?

Our production facility, featuring an open, airy design in natural green space, is located just outside of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam where we have been operating for well over 10 years. We operate and adhere to the standards of one of the world’s leading ethical trade service providers, Sedex. The facility where our products are produced is regularly audited for labor standards, health & safety, the environment, and business ethics under SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit Report).

Are Out of the Woods bags and products soaked in toxic flame retardant chemicals or PVCs?

Out of the Woods uses no flame retardant chemicals or PVCs in our products.

What’s so bad about cotton and leather? Aren’t those materials replenish-able too?

While cotton can Be grown and replenished, it is “’very water intensive to cultivate and process’, taking between 10,000 and 20,000 gallons of water to make a single pair of jeans and up to 3,000 to make a T-shirt.”¹ As for leather, the animals used to make leather hides may reproduce and thus we may replenish the resource, however there is a significant amount of water use required to raise livestock — approx. 27,460 gallons of water for one hide. Not only are livestock water intensive to raise, they also have a very high carbon footprint due to the high methane outputs. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that livestock are responsible for about 14.5% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions via methane. ¹

In contrast, the trees cellulose used to make our Supernatural Paper are from responsibly managed forests — meaning that the forests are mindfully tended under Forest Stewardship Council®’s principles to be socially beneficial, environmentally conscious, and economically viable, thus ensuring the long-term health and ongoing growth of those forests. In addition to sustainable forest management, 93% of the water used in production of Supernatural Paper is returned to the ecosystem in its original clean and safe condition, while the remainder re-enters the water cycle through evaporation.

So while it is true that cotton and leather are materials you can replenish, the cost to the environment in doing so can be much greater than that of responsibly produced paper, like Supernatural Paper.

¹ https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/fabrics-environment-fast-fashion-eco-friendly-pollution-waste-polyester-cotton-fur-recycle-a8963921.html
² https://www.fluencecorp.com/water-use-in-the-leather-industry/

Are Out of the Woods bags developed by hand?

Sewing of Out of the Woods bags and products is done by hand. While the base material for Supernatural Paper itself is manufactured by machinery, much like a paper press, the final construction of our bags are done in Vietnam.

How long can you keep hot foods in our cooler bags?

For hot items, the fuller the bag is of warm/hot items, the longer the items will stay warm in the bag. Our insulated bags keep contents warm for approximately 30 minutes. As ‘warm’ is a subjective term, we recommend checking and possibly reheating your food at your destination so food is at your personally desired temperature. Please also keep the food safety temperature zone of your contents in mind when traveling with food.

How long can you keep cold foods in our cooler bags?

Our insulated bags do not require usage of ice or ice packs. However, we do recommend that you use them if your bag is not completely full of cold items. As a rule of thumb — the fuller the bag, the cooler it will keep your items for longer. There are other factors that come into play, such as whether or not your bag is sitting in the hot sun or in a hot car, that may affect the ability of the bag to keep items cool for an extended period of time. We recommend ‘playing it safe’ by filling your bag with as many cool/cold items as possible, keeping the bag tightly closed and out of the sun while you transport groceries from store to home. Dependent on these variable factors, our insulated bags may keep items temperature controlled for approximately three hours.

Can I put ice directly in cooler bags?

It is not recommended to put ice directly in cooler bags. While our coolers have a heat-sealed inner lining that is water resistant, we do not recommend putting strictly ice or ice cubes in our coolers as they are not meant to hold straight liquid. Instead, we recommend the use of reusable ice packs to keep the contents cool for extended periods of time. Alternatively, you could put ice in sealable reusable baggies to keep things cooler.

What is the insulation in insulated bags made out of?

The insulation is made of multiple layers: PEVA inner lining and PE foam insulation. PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) is a non-chlorinated vinyl.

Where can I buy an Out of the Woods™ bag?

You can view the list of retailers that carry our bags in stores and online, or purchase one directly through our site.

Do you ever have sales or offer promo codes?

You bet we do! Subscribe to our mailing list to be the first to know about our latest promotions and members-only promo codes.