Comments for Rickshaw Bags

Comment on Moleskine Folio by Rickshaw Bagworks

Rickshaw Bagworks — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:25:46 +0000

Hi Erin. Thanks for your request. We are considering several new Folio products, including the larger format you are requesting. Stay tuned…
(Mark Dwight)

Comment on Moleskine Folio by Erin

Erin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:36:20 +0000

Please oh please consider making a line of portfolio’s for those of us who are suckers for the 7 ½” x 10” softcover moleskines. I need more space for my poetry than the little journals, but I’m in love with your products. I will keep my fingers crossed!

Comment on Rickshaw Launches Round Trip Shipper by mmdwight

mmdwight — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:23:08 +0000

Thanks Susan. I’ll be delighted to share what I know to help you do the same. -Mark

Comment on Rickshaw Launches Round Trip Shipper by Susan

Susan — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:19:59 +0000

Love this idea so much am already thinking how I can do something similar for my own business.

Brilliant idea is great to see people thinking “outside the box” keep up the great work!

Comment on Rickshaw Launches Round Trip Shipper by mmdwight

mmdwight — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:34:20 +0000

Thanks for your kind words Don. As you use your new Rickshaw bags, please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions about the designs, features, fabrics, etc. We welcome feedback from enthusiasts. Cheers! -Mark

Comment on Rickshaw Launches Round Trip Shipper by mmdwight

mmdwight — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:29:55 +0000

Thanks Natasha. We will be extending this program to all of our products. We started with the small ones to make sure FedEx and the US Postal Service — and our customers — were okay with us using our “unconventional” shipping pouches. So far, no complaints, problems or “unintended consequences”. And, it’s great to see the returned pouches in our daily mail!

Comment on Rickshaw Launches Round Trip Shipper by Don B.

Don B. — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:43:23 +0000

I think the idea is great. Within the last couple of days I bought a Zero messenger bag from REI (got a great deal ) and now just ordered from the RickShaw website a medium Commuter bag and few other goodies. Mark, I have watched most of your videos. The passion you have for the products you make shine through, very inspiring. I’ll be back soon to buy a Moleskine Folio once I recover from the $300+ I spent on RickShaw goodies of the last couple of days. Thanks

Comment on Rickshaw Launches Round Trip Shipper by natasha deganello giraudie

natasha deganello giraudie — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:50:22 +0000

What an excellent idea! This is a model for so many others to follow. This could turn into a new business unit for you in and of itself. Why not do this for all your bags?

Well done! An inspiration.

Comment on Rickshaw Launches Round Trip Shipper by Geoff S

Geoff S — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:47:51 +0000

Mark & All,

Great idea. I hope more companies see this and rethink their waste streams. Maybe they’ll turn to you for packaging.

Well done,

Geoff

Comment on Rickshaw Launches Round Trip Shipper by Rickshaw Bagworks

Rickshaw Bagworks — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:13:57 +0000

Thanks for your comment. Indeed, a formal LCA will account for all of the inputs — nylon scraps, Tyvek, zipper, thread, labels, instruction card — and logistics. The RTS pouch has only a small swatch of Tyvek for sticking the shipping labels, since they don’t stick to nylon fabric. As for factory waste consumption, we will make more pouches as shipping volume requires, and the RTS pouch is just one way to use what would otherwise be scrap. As a matter of design philosophy and methodology, we try to minimize or eliminate scrap from our designs to begin with.

We do intend to commission a formal LCA; however, Rickshaw is a small start-up company on a tight budget, and a formal independent LCA can cost at least $5,000 for even the simplest product — and a lot more for complex products. We would prefer to sponsor a college project for students learning how to perform LCAs. We have several local design schools here in SF, and will put the word out. If you know anyone who’s interested, they can contact me directly (mark at rickshawbags.com).

In the meantime, I have to rely on my own engineering and design background. My “informed intuition” tells me that replacing 10, 20, 50, 100, or more disposable cardboard boxes with a single, reusable pouch is net-good. While a formal LCA will add the necessary technical rigor to my gut feeling, I am actively instilling the mentality and practice of sustainability and social responsibility into the very DNA of our company, and I prefer experience-based action over wait-and-see caution. Every one of these projects — zero finished goods, zero waste, round trip shipping — plus our financial support for local charities and socially responsible advocacy organizations — no matter how small — support that mission.

As always, I welcome constructive comments, suggestions and criticism. This is a journey…

Respectfully,

Mark