Sustainable Luggage and Travel Bags That Give Back

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This post details the best sustainable luggage and travel bags (weekenders, duffel bags, travel totes, day bags, and even toiletry bags) from brands that are seeking to do right by the planet.

You’ll find functional bags made by travelers for travelers out of plastic water bottles alongside beautifully designed, handmade travel bags that give back to the artisans who make them.

There is a bag for every sustainable traveler here. Thank you for your efforts to shop sustainably and to travel responsibly.

Let’s dive in!

Sustainable luggage that folds

A sustainable suitcase and backpack that unfolds into a hanging closet

Sustainable Luggage Brand: Solgaard is committed to removing ocean-bound plastic. This sustainable brand uses eco-conscious materials like recycled polycarbonate, Shore-Plast™, and Shore-Tex™. Solgaard also uses fabric from excess luxury handbag materials and recyclable aluminum.

Sustainable Luggage: The Solgaard carry-on closet makes packing a breeze! Built-in shelving system, USB charging port in bag for on-the-go power, made from eco-friendly materials, and saves 229 plastic bottles from the ocean. Comes in two sizes and eight colors. Ten-year warranty.

Price: $275 from Solgaard + free shipping in the United States.

Sustainable Backpack: The Solgaard Lifepack Endeavor unfolds from a lightweight backpack into a hanging closet. Made with Solgaard’s signature fabric developed from recycled water bottles. Includes removable hanging closet, drop-proof laptop storage, glasses pocket, cable organization, and four secret pockets. Water-resistant bottom. 28 liters compact and 38 liters expanded. Comes in cannes sand (pictured), granada green, Atlantic blue, and baltic black.

Price: $189 from Solgaard + free shipping in the United States

Sustainable luggage that rolls

A carbon-neutral suitcase that sets the standard in sustainable luggage

Sustainable Luggage Brand: Paravel uses recycled materials including negative nylon made from post-consumer plastic water bottles. All fabrics are certified by the OEKO-Tex Standard 100. All manufacturing partners are ethical, and they are working toward 100-percent plastic-neutral certification.

Sustainable Bag: The Aviator is a carbon-neutral suitcase in that all emissions from sourcing, assembly, and shipping are offset. And, get this, Paravel also offsets the emissions from your first trip with your new sustainable luggage! Made with a polycarbonate shell, recycled zippers, recycled aluminum, and lining from plastic water bottles. Available in five colors.

Price: The Aviator carry-on is $275, carry-on plus is $295, and checked luggage is $345.

A trusted luggage brand goes sustainable

Sustainable Luggage Brand: Samsonite is a tried-and-true luggage brand with a track record for durability and an increasing emphasis on sustainability. The Samsonite eco-friendly luggage line uses fabric made from recycled water bottles.

Sustainable Suitcase: The Eco Advance Carry On Spinner is made with Samsonite’s Recyclex® fabric consisting of 100 percent post-consumer plastic water bottles. Built-in USB port, 360-degree spinning wheels, and smart-top pocket for toiletries and phone.

Price: $179.99 from Samsonite

Weekender bags & totes made for the sustainable traveler

A weekender bag that gives back to women

Sustainable Luggage Brand: Parker Clay is a certified B Corp committed to providing meaningful work and fair wages for women in Ethiopia. In fact, 46 percent of Parker Clay’s employees are earning their first wage ever. Learn more about Parker Clay’s commitment to empowering women here.

Sustainable Bag: The Taytu Travel Weekender has a trolley sleeve, so it slips over the top of your sustainable luggage. Adjustable crossbody strap and interior padded laptop compartment. The full-grain leather is sustainably sourced from food livestock ranches located close to the Parker Clay Addis Ababa factory to ensure the animal byproduct is used. Guaranteed for life. Comes in rust brown and bordeaux.

Price: Regular price $373. On sale at the time of writing for $283.50.

We believe that when you empower a woman, you empower a village.

Parker Clay

A sustainable weekender bag made from plastic water bottles

Sustainable Luggage Brand: Lo & Sons is an Asian-American-owned family business where 50 percent of products are made from recycled materials with a goal of 75 percent by 2023. They use recycled poly made from plastic water bottles, organic cotton, recycled nylon, and they use only Leather Working Group-certified leather. Sustainable bags ship in 100 percent recyclable bags and packaging with no silly plastic covering on the zipper pull!

Sustainable Bag: The Catalina Deluxe Weekender is stylish and durable. Detachable, padded strap. There is a separate compartment on the bottom for shoes. Uses recycled poly made from plastic water bottles or organic canvas.

Price: On sale at the time of writing for $129 from Lo & Sons

A classic travel tote with a green upgrade

Sustainable Bag Brand: Longchamp is a renowned family-owned business that’s been making bags in France since 1948. Famous in the fashion world for its Le Pliage Original Shoulder Bag that is spotted on the arm of many celebrities, Longchamp has given the bag a sustainable upgrade (see details below). And the company itself is undergoing a green facelift. Ninety percent of Longchamp leather is purchased by tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group (it will be 100 percent in 2023).

100 percent of plastic waste was recycled or reused in 2020. All Longchamp employees are asked to take the train for trips under four hours. There is more work to be done, but Longchamp is committed to doing the work.

Sustainable Bag: Le Pliage Green is the updated version of the famed original shoulder bag by Longchamp. I have the original, and I’m endlessly jealous of anyone who gets the sustainable version with the trademark folding design and steadfast durability – only now made out of recycled canvas. I love my Longchamp bag and I bring it on every trip. It packs small and makes for an ideal computer bag or beach bag when unfolded.

Note: This bag does contain leather trimmings.

Price: $155 from Longchamp

Sustainable day bags

A backpack that fits inside your sustainable luggage

Sustainable Outdoor Brand: Cotopaxi is a certified climate-neutral brand that makes “gear for good”. Products are manufactured ethically from factories that treat people right. Cotopaxi is a B Corp that donates one percent of revenues to humanitarian organizations. Their current focus is on helping Afghan refugees of which 80 percent are women and children.

Sustainable Day Bag: The Batac 16L Del Día Backpack is colorful and sustainably made with repurposed nylon that was destined for landfills. Because it’s unstructured, you can fold it up and fit it into your larger bag. Handmade in the Philippines by Cotopaxi employees who have complete creative control over the look of the backpacks. No two Del Día bags look the same! This Batac 16L is designed to fit inside the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L travel pack. The color options are seemingly endless (or you can opt to be surprised by the color).

Price: $65 from Cotopaxi or $60 from Amazon or $59.99 from EarthHero, a sustainable online marketplace.

A city backpack made from plastic water bottles

Sustainable Brand: Herschel is a family-owned company based in Vancouver, Canada that makes accessories for travelers with an eye toward style. They recently launched a new eco line with bags and backpacks made from sustainable materials “from liner to label”.

Sustainable Bag: The Herschel City Backpack is my favorite of the Herschel eco line. The bag is made from 11 post-consumer water bottles. Everything on the bag comes from recycled materials, including the labels, ebbing, and zipper tapes. Available in 10 colors.

Price: $69.99 from Herschel or $59.99 from Amazon

Tip: See the entire eco line of bags here.

A convertible backpack is perfect for travel versatility

Sustainable Bag Brand: ecoright is vegan and cruelty-free. They use natural, organic, and recycled fabrics. Inks and dyes are free of harmful chemicals. Employees are paid a fair wage, provided interest-free loans to educate their children, and provided with an all-expense paid vacation every year. Factories are solar-powered and ecoright collects rainwater for re-routing deep into the ground. Here’s my favorite part: ecoright has a zero-tolerance policy for plastic.

Sustainable Bag: The ecoright convertible backpack makes for a perfect travel bag because it’s so versatile. It’s like having two bags but you only have to pack one! Made from organic cotton and juton. Works as both a tote and backpack.

Price: $39 from ecoright or $29.99 from Amazon.

A sustainable bag made by travelers for travelers

Sustainable Brand: DRiiBE is a sustainable brand formed by travelers for travelers. Products are made with renewable or recycled materials. The supply chain is kept as short as possible, and products are built for multifunctionality for the minimalist traveler.

Sustainable Bag: I love the CITYC Laptop Backpack. I was completely sold when I saw the holder for a jacket or yoga mat. I don’t know how many times I’ve left my travel yoga mat behind because it doesn’t easily attach to my bag! The expandable bottom provides 25 percent extra volume when you need to pack more. Pockets on the shoulder straps hold credit cards and sunglasses. It’s machine washable, too!

Price: $146 from DRiiBE

Related: How to Find Ethical Outdoor Gear (for Cheap!)

Eco-conscious duffel bags perfect for travel

A duffel bag that is so much more than a duffel bag

Sustainable Luggage Brand: Pakt is a company formed by environmentally conscious travelers. With fair working conditions and the use of durable materials (like fabrics made from recycled single-use plastic), Pakt boasts a small line of durable products rather than a large line with mass-produced products. They call it consciousness production. And – my favorite part – products are shipped plastic-free!

Sustainable Suitcase: The Pakt One carries like a duffel bag but acts like a suitcase. It’s perfectly packable with a TSA pocket, magnetic magazine pocket, padded laptop sleeve, and more. 35L, carry-on approved. Lifetime guarantee. Comes in three colors.

Price: $220 from Pakt

A carry-on duffel bag is the perfect sustainable luggage solution

Sustainable Luggage Brand: Dagne Dover is a women-owned company that uses sustainable dyes and materials. They minimize waste by ensuring all scrap materials are used, and they started a re-sell program to buy and sell used Dagne Dover bags.

Sustainable Bag: The London carryall bag keeps you organized on a short trip. Made with Repreve® recycled lining. Laptop sleeve and shoe bag included.

Price: $230 from Dagne Dover

We do our best not to be jerks to Mother Earth, because we like her, and we know how important it is to leave less of a footprint.

Dagne Dover

A packable duffel bag that fits into your sustainable luggage (or into your pocket!)

Sustainable Brand: Coalatree started as an organic farm in Colorado before making sustainable outdoor clothing and gear. Giving back to charities and maintaining hiking and biking trails is a passion for this sustainable brand.

Sustainable Duffel Bag: The Nomad Packable Duffel is seriously convenient. I call it my “go bag,” and it comes with me on every trip. The interior pocket of the bag turns into a storage compartment, and the bag folds easily into it. Made from durable reinforced nylon. It’s 22L.

Price: $22.99 from Coalatree.

Belt bags that belong in your sustainable luggage

Whether you call them belt bags, hip bags, hip packs, or fanny packs, every traveler needs one of these!

A travelers bag handmade by women in Ethiopia

Sustainable Bag Brand: Parker Clay is a certified B Corp committed to providing meaningful work and fair wages for women in Ethiopia. In fact, 46 percent of Parker Clay’s employees are earning their first wage ever. Learn more about Parker Clay’s commitment to empowering women here.

Sustainable Bag: The Desta Belt Bag can be worn around the waist or across the body with its removable crossbody strap. The full-grain leather is sustainably sourced from food livestock ranches located close to the Parker Clay Addis Ababa factory to ensure the animal byproduct is used. Lined with sustainable goat leather. Natural dyes and water conversation practices are used. This bag that gives back to women is also guaranteed for life. Available in black, brown, and olive green.

Note: Bag contains leather.

Price:  Regular price $188. On sale at the time of writing for $141.

We aim to break the chain of dependency by providing women with the skills, tools, and means they need to uplift their communities, their way.

parker clay

A belt bag made from plastic water bottles!

Sustainable Bag Brand: Lo & Sons

Brand Features: Asian-American-owned family business with 50 percent of products made from recycled materials and a goal of 75 percent by 2023. They use recycled poly made from plastic water bottles, organic cotton, recycled nylon, and Leather Working Group-certified leather. Ships in 100 percent recyclable bags and packaging with no silly plastic covering on the zipper pull!

Sustainable Gift Features: Made of recycled poly and Leather Working Group-certified sheepskin.

Price: On sale at the time of writing for $58.80 from Lo & Sons.

Note: Bag contains sheepskin.

Tip: Shop Lo & Sons full eco-friendly collection here.

Brands and bags that give back to women

A sustainable bag that empowers women in Sumatra

Sustainable Bag Brand: Banda Bags helps empower women in Sumatra by providing employment at fair pay. The brand is also fair trade and fair labor. It is cruelty-free. Bags are hand-embroidered utilizing recycled nylon. Banda Bags seeks to make the switch to waste-plastic thread soon.

Sustainable Bag: The Weekender by Banda Bag is a show stopper. It is absolutely beautiful and made from recycled nylon. Comes in a wide variety of colors and styles, each more beautiful than the last.

Price: $385 from Banda Bags

Tip: Check out the mini weekender bag, too! ($265)

No more prearranged marriages under my watch!

Brianna Jane Raich, Founder of Banda Bags

A sustainable bag that empowers women in Ethiopia

Sustainable Brand: Parker Clay is a certified B Corp committed to providing meaningful work and fair wages for women in Ethiopia. In fact, 46 percent of Parker Clay’s employees are earning their first wage ever. Learn more about Parker Clay’s commitment to empowering women here.

Sustainable Bag Features: The Abby Drawstring Bag is perfect for a walkabout in a new city. Made from full-grain leather that is sustainably sourced from food livestock ranches close to the Parker Clay Addis Ababa factory. The aim is to ensure the animal byproduct is used. Natural dyes and water conversation practices are used. This bag that gives back to women is also guaranteed for life.

Note: Bag contains leather.

Price: Regular price $198. On sale at the time of writing for $148.50.

We believe that when you empower a woman, you empower a village.

Parker Clay

Brands and bags that give back to kids

Brand: Banana Backpacks is dedicated to supporting education programs for students in the developing world. The strap of each Banana Backpack is embroidered with the name of a student whose education was supported by your purchase.

Backpack That Gives Back: With the Khmer Explorer Travel Set, you’ll get two packing cubes and a shoe bag that fits snugly in your backpack. Weatherproof with lockable zippers, secret valuables pocket, and padded hip belt with built-in cell-phone pocket.

Price: Regular price $395 from Banana Backpacks. On sale for $345 at time of writing.

Education is a foundation of sustainable development. Beyond improving quality of life, access to education helps provide the tools required to develop innovative solutions to the earth’s biggest problems.

Banana Backpacks

Toiletry bags to organize your sustainable luggage

A toiletry bag made out of plastic bottles!

Sustainable Brand: tentree is a climate-neutral brand that plants 10 trees for every purchase (as the name aptly implies). It’s also a B Corp that ensures ethical manufacturing with garments and bags made from environmentally conscious materials.

Sustainable Toiletry Bag: The Quest 4L Toiletry bag is made from seven recycled water bottles. Ethically made in Vietnam. UPDATED: Bag is currently sold out. I’ll include the link when it is back in stock!

Price: Regular price $35. On sale for $24.50 at time of writing.

Tip: The tentree sustainable packing cubes made of recycled polyester are also a must to organize your sustainable luggage!

 We’re constantly looking at innovative ways to make apparel with the smallest possible footprint and create more circular supply chains. 

tentree

Related: Top 10 Sustainable Travel Products

This hanging toiletry bag folds to fit inside your sustainable luggage

Luggage Brand: imblu creates durable, waterproof organizers for your luggage out of DuPont™ Tyvek®. While this is a high-value recyclable material for its second-life potential, it is a form of plastic. I HATE plastic, especially single-use plastic, but the durability, recyclability, and ease of use land this toiletry bag on my list.

Toiletry Bag: This hanging toiletry bag is made from DuPont™ Tyvek® that is seriously durable and recyclable. It’s water-resistant, lightweight, and easy to clean. I can attest to the durability as I own this toiletry bag, and it takes a beating inside my sustainable luggage!

Price: $39.89 for the large toiletry bag from imblu.

A colorful toiletry bag made from repurposed nylon

Sustainable Outdoor Brand: Cotopaxi is a certified climate-neutral brand that makes “gear for good”. Products are manufactured ethically from factories that treat people right. Cotopaxi is a B Corp that donates one percent of revenues to humanitarian organizations. Their current focus is on helping Afghan refugees of which 80 percent are women and children.

Sustainable Toiletry Bag: The Del Día Dopp Kit is colorful and sustainably made from repurposed nylon that was destined for a landfill. One spacious compartment with two side sleeves and a hanging loop.

Price: $20 direct from Cotopaxi or $20 on Amazon or $19.99 from EarthHero, a sustainable online marketplace.

Our promise is to make durable gear in the most ethically sustainable way possible and to use our revenue to develop and uplift communities. In short, make products that last—and have a lasting impact.

Cotopaxi

Your sustainable luggage needs this carbon-neutral toiletry bag

Sustainable Bag Brand: Terra Thread is a family-owned company that makes backpacks and bags from fair-trade certified organic cotton. Fair-trade certified factory operations are implemented. No harmful chemicals. All products are delivered free of plastic and wasteful packaging.

Sustainable Bag: The sustainable toiletry bag from Terra Thread is handmade with fair-trade organic cotton. It is a carbon-neutral product, and each purchase supports Feeding America’s campaign to end hunger.

Price: $19 from Terra Thread

Our vision is to create the world’s most affordable, durable, sustainable, and ethically produced backpacks and bags, while having a positive impact on the world.

Terra thread

Sustainable Luggage Brand: Paravel uses recycled materials including negative nylon made from post-consumer plastic water bottles. All fabrics are certified by the OEKO-Tex Standard 100. All manufacturing partners are ethical, and they are working toward 100-percent plastic-neutral certification.

Sustainable Toiletry Bag: The See-All Vanity Case is made from plastic water bottles with leather finishes certified by the Leather Working Group. Great for travel because it’s lightweight and you can see what you’re looking for! Available in small (5.5″ x 4.75″ x 2.5) and large (8.5″ x 5.5″ x 3.75″).

Price: $65 from Paravel for the mini case and $95 for the large toiletry bag.

Note: Bag contains leather.

Tip: Get the toiletry set for $135. Add a monogram to personalize your toiletry kit!

My favorite camera bag for travel

Sustainable Bag Brand: Lo & Sons is an Asian-American-owned family business where 50 percent of products are made from recycled materials with a goal of 75 percent by 2023. They use recycled poly made from plastic water bottles, organic cotton, recycled nylon, and they use only Leather Working Group-certified leather. Sustainable bags ship in 100 percent recyclable bags and packaging with no silly plastic covering on the zipper pull!

Eco-Conscious Camera Bag: The Lo & Sons Claremont camera bag is the bag that inspired this post. When I’m traveling, I get questions all of the time about where I got this bag. (It was a birthday gift from my parents many years ago, and I love it.) It doesn’t look like a camera bag, so you can walk around without it being obvious that you have a DSLR camera on your shoulder. In fact, I often use this bag as my purse even when I’m not carrying my camera. But when I am snapping pictures, it’s nice to have the hanging SD card holder that comes with the bag. Comes in four colors. Currently, you must join the waitlist for this bag.

NOTE: The bag itself is not part of the Lo & Sons eco line. It’s made from Leather Working Group certified full-grain leather. (The lining is polyester.) I’m calling it an eco-conscious bag because, while it’s not part of the eco line the brand itself is making huge improvements to its sustainable measures.

Price: $368 from Lo & Sons

Thank you for shopping and traveling responsibly! If you liked this post, you may also enjoy my comprehensive page on sustainable travel. And please consider subscribing for more sustainable tips in your inbox.

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