Chic and Sustainable: 20 Eco-Friendly Bags & Accessories Brands

Anne Hermine - Recycling & Upcycling, based in Vienna, Austria, transforms used plastic bags and coffee packaging into unique, customizable bags, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional bag manufacturing. The brand's commitment to upcycling is rooted in the belief that repurposing materials can contribute positively to environmental preservation, as demonstrated by their diverse product range, which includes everything from cosmetic bags to stylish backpacks, all handcrafted to be durable and splash-proof. By purchasing from Anne Hermine, consumers participate in a cycle of reuse that reduces landfill waste, ensuring that each bag not only stands out aesthetically but also supports eco-friendly practices.

Artichoke, established in 2017 by Lorenzo Scotto, emphasizes sustainability by repurposing used sails into durable, lightweight backpacks, ensuring each product is unique and built to last. The brand maintains ethical production standards by collaborating with Italian artisans who are fairly compensated for their skilled work, reflecting a commitment to both quality craftsmanship and responsible labor practices. With a focus on producing in Italy and upcycling materials, Artichoke offers a sustainable option for travelers seeking a reliable and ethically-made backpack for their journeys.

A_C Official integrates sustainability into its product line by using innovative materials such as Desserto, a plant-based leather made from cactus, and Sileather, a recyclable silicone-based fabric, both offering environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional materials. The brand emphasizes ethical production, with their ateliers providing fair wages, safe working conditions, and social compliance, striving for radical transparency in their operations. Additionally, A_C Official embraces a circular economy approach, incorporating upcycling with 'deadstock fabrics' and creating 'Ecoprene' from recycled materials, while also ensuring the end-of-life recyclability of their products.

BEEN London emphasizes sustainable practices by crafting bags from recycled materials, such as leather offcuts, single-use plastic bottles, and fruit waste, aiming to reduce environmental impact and landfill waste. Their products are locally handcrafted in East London, supporting traditional artisans, and come with certifications like Global Recycled Standard and PETA-Approved Vegan, ensuring ethical and environmentally conscious production. Additionally, BEEN London designs for longevity and repairability, with a commitment to reforestation and maintaining a carbon footprint 87% smaller than the market average, demonstrating a holistic approach to sustainability.

Behno commits to ethical fashion by implementing "The behno Standard" at its partner cut-and-sew factory, MSA Ethos, focusing on the fair treatment and involvement of garment workers in the conversation. Their luxury leather bags are crafted in collaboration with world-class factories and conscientious tanneries, which are part of the Leather Working Group, ensuring environmental and worker safety standards. Additionally, Behno partners with the environmental non-profit Canopy to ensure sustainable sourcing of tree-based fabrics and packaging, aiming to protect ancient and endangered forests and promote transparency and sustainability in their supply chain.

Corkor stands out in the vegan fashion industry by offering a variety of eco-friendly products crafted from cork, a natural and renewable material sourced from the bark of cork oak trees in Portugal. Founders Natália and Vítor ensure top quality by owning and overseeing their workshop, where local artisans handcraft each piece, merging traditional craftsmanship with small batch production to maintain premium quality without the premium price. With a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, Corkor emphasizes customer satisfaction, although return shipping is not covered, and they ensure a hassle-free return or exchange process.

EcoRight integrates sustainability into its brand ethos by carefully selecting eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, recycled PET, and a unique blend of jute and cotton (Juton), all contributing to reduced water consumption, emissions, and energy use. The brand's ethical manufacturing practices are evidenced by SEDEX (4 pillar) and FairTrade certifications, ensuring fair wages, safety, and respect for workers. Additionally, EcoRight's commitment to eco-friendly processes includes solar-powered facilities, rainwater harvesting, aiming for carbon neutrality, and a strict no single-use plastic policy, reinforcing their dedication to environmental stewardship.

Elvis & Kresse transforms decommissioned London fire hoses and leather off-cuts into high-quality lifestyle accessories. The brand's commitment to sustainability is reinforced by its partnership with the Burberry Foundation, aiming to repurpose at least 120 tonnes of leather waste. Additionally, Elvis & Kresse demonstrates a strong ethical stance by donating 50% of the profits from their fire-hose range to The Fire Fighters Charity and from their Fire & Hide Collection to Barefoot College International.

FREITAG has pioneered the upcycling of used truck tarps into unique, durable bags since 1993, with products regularly featured in their range, including messenger bags, backpacks, and accessories. The brand emphasizes circularity through initiatives like creating biodegradable textiles from hemp, linen, and modal for clothing, and developing fully recyclable products such as the CIRC-CASE and Mono[PA6] backpack. Committed to sustainable practices, FREITAG has abolished traditional hierarchy for self-organization among employees, supports cycling culture, and fosters community engagement with platforms like S.W.A.P. for product exchange.

Globe Hope transforms recycled and surplus materials into high-quality corporate gifts, such as bags and apparel, promoting sustainability and circular economy. The brand repurposes materials like seat belts, fair carpets, and surplus leather, creating limited collections due to material constraints and fostering long-term relationships with local manufacturers in Finland and the Baltics. With a commitment to transparency, Globe Hope products are designed for durability, awarded for Finnish design, and contribute to reducing waste and conserving natural resources.

GROUNDTRUTH, led by the Scott sisters, integrates sustainability into their brand by focusing on three core pillars: People, Planet, and Performance. Their products are crafted from 100% recycled materials, and they maintain a transparent, ethical supply chain with Bluesign® certified partners, ensuring fair labor practices and gender pay equality. Committed to environmental stewardship, GROUNDTRUTH offsets their carbon footprint through the Mai Ndombe project, while their durable designs, backed by a 15-year warranty, are rigorously field-tested to ensure longevity and reduce waste.

Joyya is a brand that epitomizes ethical manufacturing and community empowerment, crafting high-quality bags and apparel with materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, sustainable jute, and water-based inks. The brand operates under fair trade principles, earning an A+ grade in Tearfund's 2021 Ethical Fashion Report, and ensures transparency by disclosing their suppliers' fair-trade status. Through Joyya Collective, they provide meaningful employment, social services, and foster strong community relations in West Bengal, India, striving for a positive impact on both people and places.

LaBante London is dedicated to producing vegan and cruelty-free accessories, ensuring no animals are harmed for fashion, and is certified by PETA as a vegan brand. The brand's commitment to ethical production is evident in its support for fair wages and safe working conditions in its manufacturing processes, primarily in India and Portugal. LaBante's sustainability efforts are further highlighted by its use of recycled and environmentally friendly materials, having planted over 1.4 million trees and recycled over 10 million plastic bottles, contributing to both reforestation and waste reduction.

Mariclaro stands out for its commitment to sustainable production, crafting unique bags and accessories from repurposed materials such as vintage automotive interiors and aviation materials since 2008. Each Mariclaro design is handmade in Canada, ensuring high-quality, limited-edition pieces that are imbued with history and character, exemplified by their work with prestigious clients like Mercedes Benz and Air Canada. The brand's process involves meticulous sourcing and cleaning of materials, with a focus on traceability and individual craftsmanship, which earned them the Globe Award for Environmental Excellence in 2011.

Mashu, a vegan handbag brand, emphasizes sustainability by using 100% vegan materials like Piñatex®, apple leather, and Vegea, which are organic, plant-based, or recycled, ensuring the conservation of natural resources. The brand partners with local artisans in Athens for production, promoting local economies and traditional crafts, and offers complimentary repairs to encourage long-term use over fast fashion. Mashu also collaborates with TreeApp to plant five trees for every bag sold, reinforcing their commitment to environmental impact reduction and community benefits.

O My Bag is committed to sustainability by providing fairly paid jobs in India. The brand actively contributes to environmental conservation by recycling water during the leather tanning process, emphasizing their focus on responsible manufacturing. Additionally, O My Bag extends the life of their products through a second-hand program, effectively reducing waste and preventing bags from ending up in landfills.

PANAFRICA brand emphasizes sustainable practices, using organic cotton from Burkina Faso and traditional wax prints from Côte d'Ivoire. They maintain transparency and integrity by directly overseeing the entire production chain, ensuring fair labor practices and contributing to local economies. PANAFRICA's commitment extends to environmental and social initiatives, aiming to leverage fashion as a catalyst for positive change in Africa.

Parker Clay emphasizes ethical production and sustainability in their leather goods, sourcing materials locally from Ethiopian farmers and employing women artisans, many of whom are survivors of human trafficking. They offer fair wages, education, healthcare, and other benefits, creating a positive community impact. Their handcrafted products, designed for longevity, use eco-friendly practices, including recycled water in tanning, and are shipped in plastic-free packaging. Parker Clay's commitment to sustainability extends to their entire supply chain, ensuring minimal environmental impact and adherence to fair trade principles, as evidenced by their B Corp certification.

Pinqponq demonstrates a commitment to sustainability through its resource-conserving manufacturing process, use of 100% recycled PET bottle fabrics, and PFC-free impregnation. The brand maintains transparency in its supply chain and upholds ethical labor practices, evidenced by its Leader Status with the Fair Wear Foundation and partnership with bluesign® to eliminate harmful chemicals. Additionally, pinqponq's minimalist design ethos emphasizes functionality and durability, promoting a balanced lifestyle and responsible consumption.

Sans Beast is committed to creating fashion without the use of animal products, offering handbags and accessories that are both stylish and ethical. Their materials include a majority of fabrics with 58% recycled content, as well as bio-based and cotton materials, with a focus on evolving towards more sustainable innovations. With each purchase, Sans Beast supports animal welfare and environmental causes, reflecting their dedication to ethical practices and sustainability in the fashion industry.

Svala integrates sustainability into its brand by using innovative, eco-friendly materials such as MIRUM®, a USDA certified 100% biobased material that is plastic-free, recyclable, and circular, and Piñatex®, made from pineapple leaf fibers that provide additional income for farmers without requiring extra land, water, or fertilizers. Cork used in their products is sustainably harvested in Portugal, enhancing CO2 absorption and supporting biodiversity, while their Italian vegan leather is produced in a family-owned factory with a focus on green energy and non-toxic processes. Additionally, Svala's commitment to ethical practices includes local handcrafting in Los Angeles, carbon offsetting, and charitable donations, including tree planting with every order.

Unbelts demonstrates a commitment to social and environmental sustainability through ethical supply chain management, ensuring living wages for workers, and prioritizing partnerships with suppliers who face systemic barriers. Their products, including the stretchy, size-inclusive belts, are designed for longevity and are made using recycled materials, with a focus on reducing waste through repair programs and upcycling initiatives. As a certified B Corporation, Unbelts is audited for its concrete social and environmental efforts, offering transparency through detailed sustainability reports and actively participating in community advocacy for sustainable apparel.