Product Release: The Recycled Collection

Before it was a wallet, it was a windshield: words we didn’t think we’d ever say, but here we are. Today, it’s more important than ever to design and create products with environmental impact in mind. That’s why our newest line, the Ekster Recycled Collection, is made from recycled windshields.

2 Ekster wallets on a carseat with shattered windshield glass surrounding


Traditionally, we’ve made our wallets with leather sourced from environmentally certified, gold-rated Leather Working Group tanneries. We also work with green factories to create products that last, and we use recycled paper for all our inserts. We know it’s not enough to counter the current linear model of economy that promotes a ‘take, make, dispose’ approach. And this edition is a shift for us, as we move towards a circular economy, which focuses on using, reusing, and recycling instead.


A pile of cars that have been flatted in a junkyard


Every year, more than 14 million cars are scrapped in the U.S. alone. Two kilograms of viable recyclable material can be foraged from one windshield.

The windshields of these cars have an invisible layer of something called PVB (or polyvinyl butyral), which keeps the glass from shattering on impact. It makes recycling windshields more of a challenge, but PVB is super versatile, and its minimal carbon footprint makes it a far greener alternative to the more commonly-used and toxic PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The best way to remove PVB from windshields is to scrape it off the glass.

How Vegan leather is created from car windshields

When you separate PVB from the glass of the windshield, you get a strong, biodegradable material that can be processed back into the cycle of use. "Repurposing that material is just one way in which we can reuse and innovate with what we have," said founder Rick Scharnigg.

Ekster Parliament wallet resting on a shattered windshield

It's a testament to the viability of sustainable practices that the 'leather' we processed from PVB resin is indistinguishable from real cowhide. This vegan leather is also water-resistant, keeping your wallet free of the stains that real leather often shows with long-term everyday use. You can rest easy knowing that it was ethically-sourced, and you'll be able to recycle it when you decide to move on to another wallet.

Person holding up an Ekster leather wallet in front of a pile of flattened cars

The material we've made this line with is also unbelievably scratch-resistant - we know, because we tried to tear through it with a knife. It’s durable, long-lasting, and it looks good; not real leather, but you wouldn't know if we didn't tell you. The Ekster Recycled Edition: another step towards a more sustainable way to create the wallets that you’ve come to love.

2 Ekster wallets laying side by side on a shatter windshield

Here at Ekster, we're in the business of making your life easier. We started with upgrading the traditional leather wallet, making it easier to use and harder to lose. Now, we're taking on the rest of your essentials to make each day easier for you.

About Ekster

Here at Ekster, we're in the business of making your life easier.

We started with upgrading the traditional leather wallet, making it easier to use and harder to lose. Now, we're taking on the rest of your essentials to make each day easier for you.

Learn more about Ekster

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