Targus Cypress Backpack
Summary
The $99.99 Targus Cypress Hero Backpack is an environmentally friendly backpack that protects laptops and other essentials. Made from recycled water bottles, the backpack embodies Targus’s commitment to sustainability.
Sustainability: The backpack is made from 26 recycled water bottles, using GRS-certified recycled materials. This process helps to divert plastic waste from landfills and waterways. Targus emphasizes its dedication to sustainability through this initiative and a limited lifetime warranty, ensuring the backpack’s durability.
Laptop Protection: The backpack includes a dedicated padded compartment that can accommodate laptops up to 15.6 inches. This compartment safeguards the laptop from everyday bumps, drops, and wear and tear.
Storage Capacity: The backpack has a large main compartment for carrying everyday essentials or travel items. It also features a secondary compartment with a workstation for smaller accessories and a front quick-stash pocket.
Comfort and Convenience: The backpack features adjustable, ergonomic shoulder straps and a padded back panel to ensure a comfortable carrying experience. Additionally, it includes a luggage pass-through trolley strap for convenient travel. I would like to see a wider trolley strap.
Overall, the Targus Cypress Hero Backpack seamlessly blends practicality and sustainability. It offers ample storage space, reliable laptop protection, and comfortable carrying features, all while minimizing environmental impact.
Targus Sagano Slipcase
Summary
The Targus Sagano EcoSmart Slipcase is a stylish and functional laptop bag for the environmentally conscious individual. Made from recycled water bottles, this slipcase protects laptops while minimizing environmental impact.
Sustainability: The slipcase is made from 6 recycled PET bottles, certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). The use of recycled materials helps to divert plastic waste from landfills and waterways.
Design and Style: The Sagano slipcase boasts a modern, two-toned minimalist design. Its sleek and clean silhouette suits various settings, from campus to the office.
Protection: A padded laptop compartment safeguards devices from everyday bumps and scratches.
Storage: Besides the main compartment for laptop and power supplies, the slipcase features a large, zippered front pocket to store accessories like phones, pens, and business cards.
Convenience: The slipcase sports comfort handles and a removable shoulder strap for easy carrying. A trolley strap can secure the slipcase to rolling luggage. I would like to see a wider trolley strap.
The Sagano EcoSmart Slipcase is compatible with 14-inch laptops and smaller. It comes in a black and gray color scheme and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Targus EcoSmart® Innovations for Modern Professionals
The product reviews for the two Targus Ecosmart items from Targus will live in the review boxes above. I will spend the remainder of this blog looking at the overall Targus investment in sustainability. I find it an encouraging indicator that global organizations can recognize that environmental threats mean something to their markets and customers, and they can act on those threats by creating products that go some way toward mitigating them.
As a professor, strategist, and lover of both the practical and the poetic, I’m always on the lookout for tools and products that align with evolving values—both mine and society’s. Today’s professional landscape is defined not just by the tech we use but also by the ethics that shape our choices. This brings us to Targus, a brand with a legacy of creating practical, high-quality accessories for laptops, tablets, and other devices. Lately, their eco-smart and smart-enabled products have been catching my attention.
Targus is stepping into a critical space: designing solutions that meet the demands of a fast-paced, tech-driven world while embracing sustainability and smart technology. This is also a good example for other manufacturers. Rather than just putting sustainable materials into products or packaging, Targus’ sustainability destination website articulates that policy and offers thought leadership. See the Targus sustainability page here.
Sustainability in Focus: The Targus EcoSmart Line
Sustainability isn’t just a trend; it’s a necessity. As individuals and organizations strive to reduce their environmental footprints, brands like Targus are finding ways to embed eco-consciousness into their DNA. Enter the Targus EcoSmart line, which reimagines everyday business essentials with sustainability at its core.
Targus’ sustainability program is built on a robust framework aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their strategies are rooted in reducing environmental impact through circularity, ethical sourcing, CO₂ reduction, and low-waste packaging. The company’s roadmap reflects an ongoing transformation, combining ambitious goals with actionable strategies.
Key Sustainability Goals
- Net Zero by 2050: A long-term commitment to balancing carbon emissions with removal strategies.
- Packaging Revolution: By 2025, 95% of Targus packaging will be fully recyclable, and virgin plastic use will be reduced by 50%.
- Expanded EcoSmart Line: Introducing recycled materials, including ocean-bound plastics, across their product portfolio.
1. Recycled Materials with Purpose
Targus EcoSmart backpacks and cases are crafted from recycled materials—primarily PET polyester derived from plastic bottles. A single backpack can repurpose dozens of bottles that would otherwise contribute to the ever-growing mountains of waste. Using recycled materials, Targus helps reduce demand for virgin resources, lowering energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the production process.
What’s striking is how well these products balance sustainability with durability. The materials don’t feel cheap or flimsy; in fact, they’re robust enough to endure the daily grind of commuting, traveling, and working on the go. For professionals who care about the planet, but also need reliable gear, this line delivers.
The Serious Insights Target List for Products and Packaging
We see a lot of products. Most of them arrive in packaging that isn’t sustainable, isn’t labeled and creates microplastics during the process of opening the package. We can do better. Here is a current list of items we would like to see change in packaging and in products in the future.
- Eliminate plastic wrap from the outside of retail boxes.
- Find a different solution than plastic for separating contacts on items that charge.
- Stop designing boxes with plastic windows.
- Replace plastic hangtags with cardboard, paper, robe or some other sustainable material.
- Replace plastic blister packs and foam with paper-based solutions. If plastic blister or foam packs are recyclable, label them as such.
- Don’t glue non-recyclable materials to recyclable materials.
- Don’t create contamination in the recycling process by, for instance, coating recyclable plastic with other materials, like velvet fuzz.
- Stop using small plastic tag fasteners; use string or some other biodegradable material.
- Put recycled material in the product, not just the packaging.
We suggest that all organizations deconstruct their product packaging as part of the design process. Separate it out in the way a conscientious consumer might. See what ends up in recycling and what is headed for landfill, down to the tiniest item. Then, take the landfill pile and reimagine it.
2. Thoughtful Design
Functionality is a hallmark of Targus products, and the EcoSmart line is no exception. Padded compartments protect precious tech, while organizational features make life easier. Whether carrying a laptop or tablet―plus all the kit required to support them―the designs are intuitive and practical.
One standout feature across many EcoSmart bags is their ergonomic design. Carrying a laptop and accessories can be physically taxing, especially for frequent travelers. Targus ensures their bags not only minimize environmental impact but also maximize user comfort with padded shoulder straps, airflow back panels, and lightweight construction.
Since the introduction of EcoSmart® in 2008, Targus has rescued over 32.2 million plastic bottles from landfills, transforming them into high-performance, recycled materials. Their latest EcoSmart products go beyond sustainability by incorporating cutting-edge technology.
This is where sustainability and smart tech converge. The Cypress Hero Backpack with Apple Find My Technology exemplifies the blending of form, function, and connectivity. Losing a backpack—at the airport, a conference, or a coffee shop—can be a nightmare. The built-in tracking feature allows owners to locate a bag through Apple’s Find My app.
The Coastline Collection exemplifies Targus’ commitment to tackling marine pollution. These laptop bags use certified ocean-bound plastic, reinforcing their dual mission of sustainability and premium design.
- Backpack Composition: 69% recycled materials, including 26% ocean-bound plastic.
- Briefcase Composition: 70% recycled materials, including 24% ocean-bound plastic.
Why It Matters: Targus EcoSmart in Context
Targus’ EcoSmart approach isn’t just about products—it’s about addressing two of the most pressing challenges: environmental sustainability and how best to integrate technology into our lives.
Targus operates at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and design—a space that’s becoming increasingly crowded as brands pivot toward eco-conscious and tech-savvy consumers. What sets them apart is their focus on practical solutions tailored for professionals.
For organizations, Targus products can also play a role in demonstrating corporate responsibility. Equipping employees with EcoSmart backpacks, for instance, signals a commitment to sustainability while also meeting their functional needs.
Targus emphasizes circularity by designing products with longer lifecycles and integrating recycled materials into its products and their packaging.
Eco-Conscious Innovation
The Targus EcoSmart line represents a shift from incremental sustainability efforts to systemic thinking. It’s not enough to slap a “green” label on a product; companies must reimagine their supply chains, materials, and manufacturing processes to align with circular economy principles. Targus is making strides here, but as with any sustainability claim, transparency and third-party validation are key. Consumers should look for certifications and detailed disclosures to understand the true impact of these products.
Challenges and Opportunities
Of course, no company is perfect. While Targus is making commendable efforts, there are areas where they could push further.
- Lifecycle Management: As Targus embraces sustainability, programs for recycling or refurbishing their products could close the loop on their eco-initiatives. A backpack made from recycled bottles is great, but what happens to it at the end of its life?
- Broader Compatibility: While their universal docks are versatile, the growing diversity of devices and systems means Targus will need to continue expanding compatibility and ensuring seamless integration across ecosystems.
- More Smart Features: The Cypress Hero Backpack is a great start, but there’s room to expand smart functionality across more products. Imagine a laptop sleeve that charges devices or a bag that tracks not just its location, but also its daily activity and environmental impact.
Circling Back
Those looking for a new backpack or other bag should give Targus a look. They might just find that a product that aligns with their needs also aligns with their values.
In Targus, we see a brand that’s not afraid to evolve. By marrying sustainability with innovation, they’re addressing the twin imperatives of reducing environmental impact and harnessing technology to enhance work experiences. Their EcoSmart line sets a benchmark for how recycled materials can be elevated into premium products, while their smart-enabled offerings keep pace with the needs of modern professionals.
For me, Targus represents the kind of company we need more of—one that looks beyond profit to consider purpose. Whether a road warrior, a remote worker, or someone juggling both roles, their products offer thoughtful, reliable, and increasingly ethical solutions.
Those looking for a new backpack or other bag should give Targus a look. They might just find that a product that aligns with their needs also aligns with their values.
Targus provided the Cypress Backpack and Sagano Slipcase for review. Images courtesy of Targus unless otherwise noted.
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