The Natural History Museum has embarked on a new collaboration with the B Corp certified bag and apparel brand, ROKA London to launch a new line of responsibly made bags that ‘put an urban spin on the traditional field bags used by scientists working outdoors.’

The new Waterhouse Field Backpack takes its name from Alfred Waterhouse, the architect of the iconic South Kensington building which first opened its doors in 1881.

The range also incorporates both the Museum’s vision of a sustainable future and ROKA London’s emphasis on recyclable materials. In fact, the backpack’s main waterproof canvas material is made from recycled plastic material (rPET), sourced from post-consumer plastic such as plastic bottles.

Emma Russell, senior licensing manager at the Natural History Museum, said: “The Museum has long admired the ROKA London brand and its ability to seamlessly integrate fashion, sustainability, and practicality within their collections.

“We know first hand how well designed and crafted their bags are and it has been a delight to work alongside the ROKA London team to create a new style that suits a wide variety of lifestyles, agendas, and expeditions.”

ROKA London was officially certified a B Corp business in June 2023 highlighting its commitment to being a purpose driven business “dedicated to making a positive impact on people and the planet.” Among its sustainability ambitions, the business had outlined its goals to reach net zero carbon in the next five years as it continues to innovate with material usage that includes repurposing pre-consumer fabric waste such as scraps, rejects, offcuts, and trimmings for use in the production of its nylon bags.

Peter Gough, chief operating officer at ROKA London, added: “It’s an honour to partner with such an iconic museum in London with this launch which raises awareness for environmental conservation and our combined passion for sustainability.”