A Curated Selection of Eco-friendly Backpacks for Men and Women
Are you an adventurer who loves nature and exploration but doesn't want to compromise on where your next backpack comes from and how it is made? Discover our selection of eco-friendly backpacks for men and women and adopt your future life companion. These sustainable backpacks are ideal for walking, biking or motorcycling. They will meet all your needs, whether you're traveling to the end of the world, going to work or just strolling around town.
Our collection is made up of different products, from committed and transparent brands. You'll find vegan backpacks, recycled backpacks, upcycled backpacks and/or ethical backpacks so you can choose what suits you best. Whether you are looking for a recycled material backpack that respects the environment, working conditions and/or participates in social programs, we have what you need.
Sustainability and Circularity: Notions at the Core of Ecological Backpacks
As we all know, the fashion and clothing industry is dominated by "fast-fashion" brands. They offer products that are increasingly cheaper and less durable. This leads to two issues: mass over-consumption and an increase in waste production.
The only viable solution is to consume differently, by looking at ecological backpacks. These bags offer strong and durable materials. They are sometimes recycled or upcycled to limit their carbon footprint. To do so, brands produce locally, give a second life to raw materials, participate in the local economy and increase their lifespan.
Buy Less but Better: The Long-term Investment of Recycled Backpacks
We are often told that eco-friendly backpacks are overpriced and therefore impossible to afford. It's true, if your backpack is produced locally, with sustainable materials and in a logic of recycling waste, the initial investment will be a bit higher.
If you buy poor quality backpacks, they will inevitably wear out and get damaged faster. You will have to change them at regular intervals and see your initial savings melt away. A backpack made in France, for example, guarantees a unique know-how and therefore an optimal durability of your product over time.
Trendy & Durable Backpacks made from Recycled Materials
In order to reduce the waste production but also the environmental impact of their products, our partners have focused on two particular aspects:
- the substitution of traditional materials with more natural, less resource-intensive and more sustainable raw materials
- the valorization and upcycling of waste and/or production offcuts by using them as raw materials for their eco-friendly backpacks (sail, climbing rope, automotive rubber, recycled plastic bottles, recycled nylon etc.).
The natural fibers most often used are 100% cotton, linen, jute, wool or hemp. The latter offers one of the best yields and optimal durability.
The choice depends on the brand's values, its environment (which fibers are available locally) and its market. If the brand wants to develop a vegan backpack, wool will not be chosen. If it wishes to market a lightweight backpack, linen will be preferred.
The production processes are also reworked to be less energy consuming and polluting. For example, many brands replace chrome tanning with vegetable tanning, which is less polluting. They also prefer natural dyeing agents to chemical products that are harmful to the environment or health.
What is an eco-friendly backpack?
The particularity of an eco-responsible backpack is that it is manufactured taking into account its impact on the environment. The aim is to reduce it as much as possible. For this, each stage of the product life cycle can be concerned:
- eco-design: integrating environmental protection from the design of the backpack (reducing the number of parts, merging features, optimizing material requirements)
- sourcing of raw materials: using natural, local and eco-friendly fibers or giving a second life to recyclable raw materials
- production methods: produce locally, create synergies, promote the integration of people in need, do not produce too much stock
- waste and scrap management: reuse scraps to create new products, make bags from recycled materials, recuperate defective products or products destined for the garbage can to reuse them.
- repair service: offer commercial warranties or repair services to extend the life of the product. Some brands even offer a lifetime guarantee.
What is an ethical backpack?
An ethical backpack, in addition to taking into account the environmental and animal dimensions, is designed and manufactured in full transparency with respect for human beings. This means respecting the working conditions of all the people involved in the manufacture of an ethical backpack, their good treatment and a fair remuneration.
Some of our partners work with disabled people to help them integrate into the world of work. Others support associations or other types of groups that promote the development of local communities.
What are the certifications related to eco-friendly backpacks?
Making an eco-friendly backpack meets precise specifications. Even if there is no controlled designation, the presence of labels and certifications can help you make your choice. You can find in our collection of travel backpacks the following labels/certifications:
- GOTS - Global Organic Cotton: It's a standard for organic fibers that includes ecological and social criteria for the entire textile supply chain.
- GRS - Global Recycle Standard: it's a label that ensures the presence of recycled materials in the finished product. In addition it guarantees certain environmental and social criteria.
- PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal : it's a label that guarantees the absence of animal materials in a finished product. This implies all the production phases.
- Faiwear Foundation : it's a label aiming at guaranteeing the working conditions on the whole production chain of a product. It promotes fair wages, no discrimination, free choice of work, right to collective bargaining and trade union freedom.
- Fairtrade: it's a label aiming to improve working conditions. It considers equality and fair and stable prices, protection of the environment and employees. It also promotes the establishment and maintenance of healthy and sustainable trade relations.