Bags of Ethics and Pentagram Discuss Sustainable Design at New York Studio Event
On November 4, 2024, a full house of 80+ creative professionals gathered at Pentagram’s New York studio for an inspiring evening hosted by Pentagram Partner Angus Hyland and Smruti Sriram, CEO of Bags of Ethics. Designers, brand architects, art directors, and industry leaders from notable brands like the Parsons School of Design, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Apple, Estee Lauder, Mailchimp, and Kering came together to explore the intersection of art, design, and sustainability.
The event centered on the “Bags of Art and Design” project, a striking collection of 12 limited-edition tote bags, first unveiled at the London Design Festival. Hyland opened the evening with a deep dive into the creative process behind the designs, revealing the thought and care that went into each bag as both a functional item and a piece of art. Following Angus’s introduction, Smruti shared insights on the critical role brands play in creating a sustainable future, highlighting Bags of Ethics’ approach to sustainability through the entire product life cycle.
Bags of Art & Design
Collaboration between Pentagram, Cass Art and Bags of Ethics.
Smruti outlined the company’s commitment to sustainability across seven key stages of a product’s life cycle:
- Raw Materials Extraction: Bags of Ethics prioritises sustainable farming, partnering long-term with raw material providers to ensure environmentally friendly practices that conserve resources.
- Design & Development: Emphasising longevity and reduced waste, Bags of Ethics educates clients on sustainable materials and minimises excess by reusing deadstock materials.
- Manufacturing: Every step in manufacturing is focused on reducing waste, starting with ethically sourced materials and clear communication with all partners, from farmers to producers.
- Transportation & Carbon Footprint: By sourcing suppliers within a 250km radius and encouraging bulk shipments, Bags of Ethics is reducing transportation emissions.
- Consumer Use: By promoting reuse and repurposing, the brand encourages customers to extend the lifespan of each product, reducing waste and sparking creative reimaginings of their products.
- Recycling, Upcycling, and Repurposing: Many Bags of Ethics items are compostable and designed for easy repurposing, allowing for a more circular product lifecycle.
- Disposal: For items that have reached the end of their life cycle, the company offers compostable solutions or encourages donation, helping reduce landfill waste.
With the Bags of Art and Design project, Bags of Ethics demonstrates how brands can lead sustainable practices without compromising on creativity or quality. Both Angus and Smruti delivered powerful messages that underscored the necessity of a future-oriented approach to design—one that is environmentally conscious, artistically innovative, and built to last.
As the conversation around sustainable design continues to grow, this event served as an inspiring reminder of the role that brands, designers, and consumers can play in creating meaningful, eco-friendly products.
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