Essens Circular

The Essens Circular: a new standard in circular travel design. Designed and produced in Belgium, this innovative suitcase is made of at least 70% recycled materials, including the shells, pre-owned suitcases (35%) and post-consumer household waste (50%). What makes Essens Circular unique is the full integration of circularity in every aspect of its design, production and use. The case is modular and easy to dismantle, facilitating recovery and recycling at the end of its service life. Each one comes with a digital passport that traces the origin of the materials and components. It provides clear instructions for maintenance, repair and - when necessary - recycling. This maximises its lifespan and completes the circle. The Essens Circular is more than a product. It is a vision of the future of travel: more sustainable, transparent and circular.

The jury on Essens Circular:

Samsonite stands for quality and functionality. Recoverability and extended service life through smart, ecological material choices has been an essential part of its DNA for years. With the Essens Circular it acquires a new circular layer. For this purpose the social economy was deployed, with a bespoke company dismantling the pre-owned suitcases and preparing them for high-quality recycling.

What does this award mean to you?

Winning this award is an important milestone for Samsonite on our journey towards a more sustainable industry. It symbolises a powerful recognition of our efforts to make our products more sustainable and enable consumers to make more conscious purchasing choices.

The recognition also means a lot to our partners; this innovation would not have been possible without close cooperation. For us, innovation and circularity go hand in hand, and this award is a major incentive to keep going.

How did the idea for this project come about?

Essens Circular arose from our experience with Essens suitcases, whose shells are already made from recycled household packaging material. That was a great step towards sustainability, but we wanted to go further: our ambition was to maximise the proportion of recycled content in the product. This raised the question: can we also reuse pre-owned suitcase shells to make new ones? Thanks to previous take-back operations, we knew how to dismantle suitcases, but it was uncertain whether that material was reusable. This is now possible through collaboration and technical validation. It means that Essens Circular is not only circular, but also an ambitious example of how our organisation is raising the bar and wants to inspire others.

What makes your project so special?

Essens Circular integrates sustainability at every level. For the first time, we are closing the recycling loop: the shells are partly made from pre-owned suitcases, returned by customers and processed with partners such as Aarova and LyondellBasell. We maximised the proportion of recycled materials: an alternative was chosen for each component without compromising on quality. Critical components are designed for easy repair by the customer or in our shops, which also facilitates disassembly. Each one comes with a digital product passport that tracks material origin and provides instructions for maintenance, repair and recycling. Essens Circular combines aesthetics, functionality and ecological responsibility at an accessible price.

How does it contribute to a better world?

Essens Circular contributes to a better world by reducing waste and creating circular value. Pre-owned suitcases and household packaging waste are given a second life, reducing pressure on natural resources and lowering carbon emissions. The project encourages cooperation between companies and sets a new standard for transparency in the travel industry. Thanks to the digital passport, customers gain insight into the origin, composition and impact of their product. Thus, sustainability not only becomes a technical innovation, but also a shared responsibility between producer and consumer. Essens Circular is more than a product - it symbolises a transition towards a circular future.