Putting an End to the 'Throw It Away When It Breaks' Mentality! TIERRAL's Vision for the Ideal Suitcase, Crafted From Recycled Materials

As the summer travel season draws to a close, September ushers in a return to our daily routines. Many of you might be considering a new suitcase for upcoming business trips or weekend getaways.

A suitcase is an indispensable travel partner, but the moment it breaks, it turns into a cumbersome piece of "bulky waste." Stepping up to tackle this problem is the suitcase brand TIERRAL. We sat down with Yoshihiro Yamaguchi from Itochu Retail Link Corporation, the company behind TIERRAL, to discuss the issues facing suitcases and the brand's eco-friendly approach.

In Japan, most broken suitcases end up being crushed and sent to landfills. According to an announcement by the Ministry of the Environment, the remaining lifespan of final disposal sites for general waste across the country is estimated at around 20 years, making the shortage of landfill space an urgent problem.

"Many people decluttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and since they couldn't travel, a staggering number of suitcases were thrown out. The volume was so immense that some local governments even began allowing them to be disposed of as regular trash," says Yamaguchi.

With a growing need for product improvements that match real-world suitcase usage, TIERRAL decided to rethink its material selection from the ground up, making the leap to use recycled PET to lessen its environmental footprint.

"For every 1 kg of new PET produced, about 2.15 kg of CO2 is emitted. With recycled PET, however, that number drops to about 0.45 kg per kg—an 80% reduction in CO2. Furthermore, PET material doesn't release toxic gases or dioxins when incinerated, making it safer for disposal and a raw material that is mindful of the health of factory workers."

However, not just any recycled PET will suffice. That's why TIERRAL has partnered with a company in Shanghai, China, that specializes in recycled PET.

"The president of this company is incredibly passionate about recycled PET. For their raw materials, they meticulously select high-quality PET bottles, food-grade containers, and textiles. After washing and crushing, the materials are dried. They maintain a strict process because if there's too much moisture, the quality can degrade during the melting phase," Yamaguchi explains.

On the flip side, recycled materials come with their own set of challenges. For many plastics, including PET, recycling is more costly than producing new materials. This is one of the key reasons why recycled materials aren't more widely used.

"From a business standpoint, it would be cheaper to avoid recycled materials. But the suitcase market has very few eco-friendly options. We believe that by offering an 'eco-conscious suitcase,' TIERRAL can encourage a shift in consumer behavior driven by environmental awareness. As a brand, we are committed to this cause, even if it means lower profit margins, because we want our products in the hands of as many people as possible."

"Frankly, using recycled materials for products in the 20,000-yen price range is a major challenge, but we're standing firm on our principles and plan to incorporate a variety of recycled materials going forward."

Caster Innovations to Keep Suitcases Out of the Trash

But the innovations to keep suitcases from ending up as garbage don't stop there.

One of the most damage-prone parts of a suitcase is its casters. We've all heard stories of wheels wearing down from years of use, breaking down due to hydrolysis, or failing in the middle of a trip.

"When you get your casters repaired, it's almost never just one wheel. A single new wheel would be at a different height than the other worn-out ones, throwing off the balance. So, the standard practice is to replace at least two at a time, which typically costs around 8,000 yen."

"If you have a suitcase that cost you in the 10,000-yen range, you're more likely to buy a new one than spend 8,000 yen on repairs. And just like that, another suitcase is headed for the landfill."

This is where TIERRAL's "TORERU2.0" series comes into play.

With this series, you can remove the caster units with a single touch—no tools needed. It's so simple that anyone can easily detach and reattach the casters.

"Not only can you replace the casters if they break, but the feature is also a hit with people who find it a hassle to wipe down the wheels at their doorway after a trip or before putting their suitcase away, and those bothered by the dead space the wheels take up in storage. The casters are sold in a set of two for 1,980 JPY (incl. tax), so you can keep your home clean, reduce waste, and save some money."

Another one of TIERRAL's popular products is the "TOMARU2.0" series.

"This series features a Japanese-made wire brake system that locks the casters with the simple flick of a switch on the suitcase's body. Suitcases with stopper functions are extremely popular in Japan. For that reason, while the TORERU2.0 doesn't include a stopper, the upcoming 3.0 version, set to launch this fall, will feature a foot-operated stop."

It's also equipped with a host of user-friendly features, such as a front-opening compartment for easy access to your belongings on the go, a hook for hanging a bag, and an expandable function to increase capacity when you have more to carry.

A Suitcase That's Kind to People, Not Just the Planet

TIERRAL is committed to making products that value "quality, the environment, and the future."

"Beyond being environmentally conscious, our products are designed so that a customer's purchase also contributes to support activities. We are particularly focused on initiatives that support the children who will shape our future.

This includes our participation in the Red Cup Campaign. For every suitcase purchased, an amount equivalent to one school meal is donated to the Japan Association for the World Food Programme (WFP), a certified NPO. To raise awareness of this initiative, our products also feature a Red Cup Campaign tag."

TIERRAL has brought its vision of the "ideal suitcase" to life through a tangible design that is "built to last, with parts that can be replaced and reused if they break." This vision is realized with recycled materials and replaceable casters. As a way to connect your travel companion to the future, why not make "TIERRAL" your next choice?