Our Commitment to Sustainability

At Nola, sustainability is a commitment that runs through every stitch, buckle, and fabric choice we make. We believe that creating gear for adventure comes with a responsibility.

Leave No Trace

At Nola, “Leave No Trace” is more than just an outdoor principle - it’s a commitment to protect the places we love, and the people connected to them.

It starts with the simple act of respecting nature: take your garbage with you, don’t leave anything behind. Every trail, mountain, and forest are home to plants and animals, and it’s our duty to keep those spaces clean and untouched. But leaving no trace also means caring for the people behind our products. We work closely with our partners in Vietnam and other Asian countries, to ensure they have access to healthy food, education for their children, and the time to enjoy a stress-free Sunday with family and friends. We visit these facilities regularly to make sure they’re treated fairly and supported in a way that promotes mental as well as physical well-being.

“Leave No Trace” goes beyond nature - it’s about leaving no mental or emotional scars. We understand the challenges that come with outdoor adventures, and we’re here to support you if you ever have questions, concerns, or need guidance.

Ultimately, thisphilosophy is about protecting the world - not just for us, but for future generations. We aim to preserve the landscapes, wildlife, and communities that make every adventure possible and ensure that the outdoors remains a place of wonder for many years to come.

Lightweight Design for Real Life - Built to Last

Sustainability starts with making products that stand the test of time. At Nola, we design with durability and repairability in mind. From timeless aesthetics that won’t go out of style to reinforced construction that avoids weak points, our gear is built to handle years of adventure.

We focus on using durable materials - fabric, mesh, webbing and cords - are 100% made of recycled content. The closed-cell EVA foam in our back panels, shoulder-straps and hip-belts contains up to 65% recycled content. But we also know that no material is indestructible. For instance, common foams in back panels tend to lose performance after 8–10 years of intense use when stored correctly. Older foams used to last longer, but chemical regulations have changed and reduced the longevity. We want our products not to wear out just because of this. That’s why we design these components to be easily replaceable, no stitching required. Need new foam? You can grab it at a local hardware supply store and swap it yourself.

We’ve also faced the classic challenge in outdoor gear: lightweight vs. ruggedness. Our solution? A carefully balanced design that gives you the support and comfort you deserve without unnecessary weight. Take our 25l backpack - with a reinforced back-bone structure and proper shoulder-straps and hip-belts, it carries extremely well and still comes in at just 1.1kg.

Transparency at Every Step

Sustainability goes beyond materials - it’s about who makes your gear and how it’s made. We’re proud to have built close relationships with our manufacturing partners. We’ve personally visited most of our suppliers, ensuring that every fabric, buckle, foam, and zipper comes from facilities we trust and people we know.

When it comes to transparency, we don’t cut corners. From fabrics and meshes to cords and zippers, most of the components are made from 100% recycled content. Though for critical load-bearing parts like the main side release buckles, we stick to virgin materials to ensure they can handle serious pressure - even when someone accidentally steps on them. This way we ensure our products stay with us as long as possible.

Repair, don’t Replace

We understand that even the most beloved backpacks can experience wear and tear. But that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the trail. We know how attached you can get to a backpack. It becomes part of your adventures, like an old friend. That’s why they are built with many details to easily repair by yourself: worn out foam? Replace it thanks to the smart envelope construction. Broken side-access zipper? Five stitches easily undone – and whoop, replaced. Broken draw cord in the top opening, zipper-puller or cord-attachment point for your walking pole or ice-axe? Open the knot and attach your own choice of shoelace. And in case you need professional help, we’ve built a network of repair partners across Switzerland, the EU, BeNeLux, and Japan, trained by us to bring your gear back to life. Get in touch with us and we’ll connect you with the one who fits your request best.

Need a new buckle or a lost strap? We keep spare parts in stock and are happy to help. While we can’t promise every color will match perfectly, we’ll make sure it fits and functions as it should. Because it’s about keeping your trusted gear going.

Smart Design for Real Adventures

Every Nola product is crafted with a clear purpose: to be versatile, durable, and functional - whether you're hiking alpine trails, commuting to work, or heading out on a weekend getaway. We’ve minimized seams for better water resistance, added a traditional lid to shield the main compartment from rain, and designed the products with both mountain adventures and city life in mind.

Our design process also focuses on reducing waste. Our Swiss-based team handles everything from design to pattern-making, carefully optimizing material layouts to minimize cut-off waste during production. Many details were inspired by traditional craftmanship and old backpacks in the museum that seam to be forgotton in many modern products: a simple zig-zag stitching reduces fray on raw fabric edges as good as a binding tape – but allows for easier repairs and is even lighter. A knot on cords creates grip as good as an overmolded TPU plastic piece – but it allows to be easily attached by a less skilled worker and doesn’t need to be shipped and processed at a supplier somewhere else.

Timeless Craftsmanship

Nola’s design philosophy is rooted in the timeless aesthetics of Swiss alpine mountaineering from the 1940s and 50s. Unlike fast fashion, which prioritizes short-lived trends, our backpacks blend classic mountaineering aesthetics with modern performance, ensuring longevity in both durability and style. Inspired by
traditional materials like canvas and cotton straps, we recreate their look and feel using high-quality, recycled materials that offer superior performance while maintaining a vintage charm. Designed to withstand passing trends, and suited for both urban and outdoor use, we reduce the need for multiple products, promoting sustainable consumption.

Because at the end of the day, adventure with purpose isn’t just about where you go - it’s about how you get there and the impact you leave behind. With Nola, you can head out into the world knowing your gear was made responsibly, designed to last, and ready for every journey ahead. The only traces you should leave behind are the positive memories of your adventure.