18 Eco-Friendly Backpacks You Can Wear With Pride

Do you need a recycled backpack? Tentree uses REPREVE® recycled polyester with BLOOM foam padding, which is a foam made out of plants. This padding consists of algae that expand and endanger other life forms.

Tentree has an interesting and transparent manufacture approach. It lists how much carbon dioxide the factory emits for each backpack, and how much water it spends during the process.

This company is also B Corp certified, meaning it is very responsible about the environment and labor conditions. Tentree’s goals for the future are huge. It wants to plant over a billion trees over the next decade.

This company mainly focuses on making backpacks for daily use. If you are a hiker, these backpacks aren’t exactly ideal for you. Still, Lo and Son's backpacks are very useful, versatile, and innovative. The main focus of this brand is on practicality and smart design.

Lately, the company has focused more on incorporating eco-friendly materials in its backpacks, using organic canvas collection, recycled poly collection, recycled nylon, etc. Lo and Sons is not completely sustainable and eco-friendly, but it should become soon.

Lo and Sons also has partnerships with many environment protection organizations, and it is working hard on becoming as eco-friendly as possible.

Parker Clay is a very interesting brand of handcrafted luxury leather backpacks. Its manufacture is located in Ethiopia, and each of the employees is a highly experienced artisan.

Don’t worry, even though the factories are in Africa, Parker Clay is a certified B Corporation, which means that it puts labor and environmental ethics first.

Parker Clay cares about workers, but also about its customers. This company makes sure to use high-quality materials and make high-end products. It uses full-grain leather, respecting the Green Tannin Initiative. It uses less energy and water in production, without any toxins or sulfides.

Solgaard is there for global citizens and those who love to travel sustainably. If you want an eco-friendly backpack, you’re at the right place.

The Lifepack contains pretty much everything a modern traveler might need in a backpack. Depending on your needs, the Lifepack can contain a power bank, a Bluetooth speaker, and even a solar system. The company also offers a wide range of luggage trunks, duffels, slings, and daypacks.

Solgaard is also strong in the sustainability section. For every sale it makes, the company extracts 5 lbs. of plastic waste from the ocean.

While not the biggest on the market, Paravel’s selection of sustainable backpacks is very interesting. As of this writing, the range includes the Fold-Up, Mini Fold-Up, and Upland models.

They feature timeless designs, top-notch craftsmanship, and interesting customization options. You can have your initials embroidered on each backpack. All three models are also available in multiple color options.

The company sources its plastic from bottles retrieved from the ocean. For example, the Fold-Up backpack takes 15 bottles to make. The Mini Fold-Up takes 10 bottles.

TUMI has recently unveiled the Recycled Collection, a line of eco-friendly bags, backpacks, and slings. If you want a recycled backpack, this collection is for you.

Nathan, London Roll Top, Carson, and Hartford are your eco-friendly backpack options as of this writing. All four backpacks, as well as the rest of the collection, are made of recycled nylon and plastic. Up to 17 salvaged bottles go into one backpack. However, that doesn’t mean they’re any less sturdy, comfortable, or durable.

Needless to say, these backpacks, like the rest of the TUMI lineup, sport high price tags.

Timberland is one of the biggest names in the outdoors apparel section. However, the company is also among the eco-conscious major brands today. It is taking concrete steps toward sustainable production, and is a bright example other big name brands should follow.

Timberland’s women’s and men’s backpacks, while not the most sustainable in the world, are becoming increasingly more eco-friendly. Thus far, the company has only introduced recycled nylon lining, with further steps expected.

If you’re looking for a sturdy backpack, OGIO is your brand. It offers a huge range of backpacks that are built to last, and then some. You can choose between the classic outdoor models with rugged reinforcements, laptop backpacks, and options for urban weekend adventurers.

OGIO also has options for the eco-conscious. Alpha Convoy, for example, is a sustainable backpack, made of Cordura. It is OGIO’s proprietary material that the company derives from recycled and salvaged plastic.

CotoPaxi knows how to make a backpack sustainable. A portion of the brand’s backpacks, most notably from the (Re)Purpose collection, are made of leftover fabric that CoroPaxi buys from other manufacturers. That way, you can enjoy the outdoors completely guilt-free.

Each (Re)Purpose ethical backpack is available in a staggering number of color options. There’s even an option to randomize the color selection. What’s best about them, these backpacks won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Terra Thread is a sustainable company focused on bags and backpacks. If you’re an eco-conscious traveler, you might find this brand to your liking.

Eco-friendly backpack options include two models – one with a regular laptop sleeve, and the other with a padded laptop sleeve. Both models have a functional, understated design, and a ton of color options.

Both models are hand-made and feature GOTS and Fair Trade-certified cotton. Due to the nature of the manufacturing process, you can expect minor variations in size and imperfections.

Bellroy hails from Australia, and is focused on leather accessories. The company sources the best and most sustainable hides it can find, and also employs other eco-friendly and sustainable production and business practices.

The Classic is the most ethical backpack in Bellroy’s backpack collection. It is available in two sizes – 22L and 20L, and a multitude of color options. It is made of sustainably made and sourced polyester and high-quality leather.

While not the most sustainable backpack on the market, it is a big step in the right direction. Hopefully, Bellroy backpacks will be even more sustainable in the future.

Kathmandu is a brand that needs little introduction, if at all. It offers super-durable and highly specialized bags and backpacks. The brand is one of the most popular choices among outdoor enthusiasts and urban nomads.

The backpack collection caters equally to freelancers on the move and serious hikers, and even alpinists. Most models feature parts made of recycled and responsibly sourced nylon and polyester. However, the discreet L-Tra Pack is completely made of recycled polyester.