FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Rethink bags good quality?
Yes, Rethink bags are fantastic quality: almost our entire range is made from premium cotton! This means it is the purest, #1 grade of cotton harvested . Most other bags are made from standard cotton, but we believe that great quality = long lasting = sustainably pure.

How long will it take to process my order?
We do our best to despatch orders received before 9 am the same day.

How long will it take for my order to be shipped?
North Island – delivery is overnight on business days.
South Island – delivery is the second, or sometimes the third business day from despatch.
Overseas – allow 14 business days for delivery.

How much will it cost to ship my order?
Free shipping on orders $50 + more (NZ only)
Auckland - $4
North Island (not including Auckland) - $5
South Island - $7
Australia - $15
Rest of the world $20

What packaging material is used to courier orders?
From the very beginning Rethink has always used brown paper to wrap our online orders, and over time we dropped the plastic sticky tape in favour for brown paper tape.  As our orders increased it became impractical to wrap every one, so we switched to small brown cartons but still use brown paper for single items.  We encourage our customers to reuse these cartons wherever possible.  For larger orders we repurpose our own shipping cartons.  Although it might not look as pretty, we're sure our customers will be pleased with our sustainable practices.  Our courier tickets are thermal paper which we know is not ideal, however at this time there aren't any suitable alternatives.

Where are Rethink bags made?
Our bags are designed in New Zealand and made in India.

Why are Rethink bags made from Certified Organic cotton?
Organic cotton is sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable. It is therefore an environmentally friendly fibre throughout its entire lifecycle. Organic cotton is a sustainable alternative to chemical-based or synthetic fibres.

We choose only Certified Organic cotton because this is our guarantee that Rethink bags are kind to both the earth and the people who make our products. Certification includes strict environmental and social criteria (including spot inspections).

Is Certified Organic cotton more expensive?
Yes, Organic Cotton is usually more expensive than conventional cotton because the farmers are paid better by the spinners (yarn manufacturers). The spinners also run various social schemes for the farmers and their families. This is a happy chain right from the farms, to the spinning mills, to the fabric manufacturers, to the finished goods manufacturers, to the retailers, and finally to you!

Does cotton use a lot of water to grow?
Organic Cotton is a very drought and heat-tolerant crop and does not require excessive amounts of water. In fact, Organic Cotton uses less water than many other major crops. Contributing to the lower net water usage is the exclusion of chemicals.

GOTS certification stipulates that all water used in the manufacturing processes must be recycled / reused. Rethink products are natural/unprocessed (grey) cotton, therefore no water is used in the manufacturing of fabric, and later in the stitching. This is in complete contrast to synthetic yarn where water is used, even in spinning process. IF the spinning process uses water, then in order to be GOTS certified a recycling system must be used.

Should Rethink bags be washed?
Yes, absolutely! It’s important to maintain good hygiene practises and keep bags clean. Gentle machine wash and hang out on the line to dry.  Our coloured bags should be washed in a cold cycle, seperately; the colours will run so take care.

Will Rethink bags shrink?
Yes, Rethink bags will slightly shrink because they are made from natural cotton however, this might be only around 1-2 cm.

What happens to old bags?
We’ve heard of some great uses for tired, old bags which are no longer fit for purpose. How about using them for cleaning windows, or pop a bar of soap in the produce bags to use as an exfoliator? If the bags are really no longer usable, pop them in your home compost and they will biodegrade over time.

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