There are endless uses for a durable, ethical backpack, whether that’s camping, hiking, or simply trekking your work-from-home gear to the nearest coffee shop with an outdoor patio.
If you’re back at the office or returning to school soon, why not treat yourself to a cute, environmentally friendly bag that will hold all your essentials without adding any plastic to the planet.
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What are sustainable backpacks?
How are sustainable, ethically made backpacks any different from a normal bag or rucksack?
Regular backpacks are typically made from polyester, a petroleum-based plastic fabric that is heavily pollutive to produce and that sheds microplastics into waterways when washed or thrown away.
Bags are also often made as quickly and cheaply as possible, often overseas, in countries where labor laws could be lax or nonexistent.
Eco-friendly backpack brands on the other hand, typically use recycled or natural materials in their bags and compensate their workers fairly.
There is a wide range of sustainable materials used in ethical bag-making: recycled plastics, cotton canvas, and recycled leather are popular options.
These materials put significantly less of a burden on the environment, and they tend to be more durable – because one of the best ways to live sustainably is to use what you have for as long as you can.
Related Reading: Best Eco-Friendly Notebooks
Top Eco-Friendly Backpack Brands
Here are a few of our favorite sustainable, ethical, and eco backpacks for school, work, and travel that will keep you organized this year and beyond.
BELLROY
Bellroy is the tech kid of the ethical backpacks industry. Their designs are sleek, efficient, durable, and meticulously thought out. On top of that, they pride themselves on using sustainable materials like recycled polyester made from plastic water bottles, or recycled nylon made from nylon offcuts for their bag fabrics.
A certified B corporation, Bellroy gives back to social and environmental causes and facilitates an ethical workplace.
Our pick: Classic Backpack, Recycled in Navy
EVERLANE
No doubt you’re already familiar with ethical fashion heavyweight, Everlane. Well, the good news is that you can now you can take your adoration one step further by wearing one of their stylish sustainable bags!
Made from recycled polyester and available in a range of different colors, there’s one to suit all styles.
Everlane monitors its supply chain to make sure workers’ rights are upheld, they are paid fairly, and the working conditions are safe.
Our Pick: The ReNew Transit Backpack
TENTREE
Sustainable brand Tentree have created the perfect travel backpack. Holding a whopping 35L it’s designed to take you anywhere and everywhere. It even has a roomy 15″ laptop sleeve.
Every inch of this stylish backpack is made from environmentally friendly materials. The body is made from recycled plastic bottles, the foam padding from excess algae bloom, and the buckles from recycled post-industrial factory waste.
It that wasn’t enough to sway you, Tentree are a certified B corp company, and every item purchased plants 10 trees! They also make some of our favorite ethical kid’s clothes.
Our Pick: Mobius 35L Backpack
PARAVEL
Paravel specializes in eco-friendly travel backpacks and bags of all kinds. If you like monograms, then Paravel is the travel brand for you – nearly everything they make can be personalized to make it unique!
Their backpacks fold down and zip into a small pouch, so they’re a breeze to bring along on longer trips too.
Made from recycled plastic bottles, this carbon neutral company (that also makes some of our favorite sustainable luggage) also employ a traceable supply chain to track recycled materials.
Our pick: Fold-Up Backpack in Flatiron Grey
HORIZN STUDIOS
Horizn Studios range of backpacks are made for everyday use. Made to the highest standards, they perform just as good as a commuting backpack as they do out hiking.
Made from vegan fabrics such as recycled cotton canvas, or recycled nylon, their range is also PETA approved.
Your backpack will be shipped carbon-neutral, and in eco-friendly pacakaging.
Our Pick: SoFo Rolltop Backpack