Here at Sustainable Jungle, we’ve got sustainability in the bag… well, we’re doing our best, in part, by looking for the most sustainable handbag brands who offer purses in any shape and form—slings, totes, backpacks, you name it!
Now the bag industry as you know, has more problems than most in the overall fashion umbrella and they remain a must-have accessory. So how can we ensure we’re buying something from a brand that minimizes harm?
That’s precisely what we’re aiming for with this list of ethical handbag and purse brands. We’ve focused on brands who use more responsible materials, address human rights problems in their supply chains and employ greener business practices.
Our new Brand Rating System now takes this much further (for brands who have opted for a rating), expanding this consideration set to 22 criteria including things like climate action and product durability. You can learn more about it here and look out for the rated bag brands on the list below who have gone the extra mile to provide us with transparent information about their business.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Our Top Picks: Sustainable Purse Brands
Carry Courage offers ethically made handbags featuring one of the most sustainable vegan materials around: cork fabric, which is not only a totally plastic-free form of vegan leather but sequesters a bunch of carbon as it grows. We own the ADVOCATE tote and find it the perfect blend of style and practicality. Carry Courage has been comprehensively rated and reviewed by us – find the full rating here.
Poppy Barley offers an elegant range of handbags and purses for everyday living, crafted with functionality, minimalism and style in mind. Their bags are predominantly made with LWG certified leather and they also offer vegan alternatives made with Desserto® cactus leather. Poppy Barley has been comprehensively rated by us – find the full rating here.
For eco-friendly bags made from recycled materials and no PVC in sight, Pixie Mood sure puts us in a positive mood. We love the clever, versatile design of the Jane 2-in-1 Crossbody so much it’s become our go-to daily purse.
Index: Eco-Friendly Handbags
- Carry Courage Jump to brand
- Poppy Barley Jump to brand
- Pixie Mood Jump to brand
- Malia Designs Jump to brand
- Doshi Jump to brand
- Bellroy Jump to brand
- Matt & Nat Jump to brand
- Nisolo Jump to brand
- O My Bag Jump to brand
Carry Courage
Circular
All or some products are circular in nature - such that no part of the product needs to end up in landfill at the end of its life
Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.
Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Organic
Products are made from organic materials.
Repairs Offered
Product can be easily repaired directly by the brand.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
GOTS
PETA
Carry Courage has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Carry Courage offer their own range of PETA-approved vegan bags. These handmade bags feature a buttery soft, durable, and renewable cork exterior with organic cotton or linen lining.
Carry Courage’s cork is sourced from the world’s cork mecca, Portugal, where it’s grown sustainably with strict harvesting regulations. Their linen is organically grown at a family-owned farm in the US and the metal hardware also comes from a US woman-owned company. Their organic cotton is GOTs certified.
Their range of cross body bags, totes, travel bags, clutches (and more) are ethically made by founder Marisa and her sewing assistants in their studio in Portland, Oregon. Each bag is hand sewn in small batches, which eliminates machine emissions and wasted overstock. It also guarantees “heirloom quality” pieces that will last for generations.
Their store also stocks a NORBOO line which is made of indigenous Tibetan natural (cotton and wool) fabrics and these are made by Norboo Tibetan Handicrafts, a small artisan group in Tibet. 100% of profits from this line go back to this community.
My Personal Review of Carry Courage’s ADVOCATE Tote:
“The ADVOCATE Tote has turned into one of my go-to bags. I take it to the farmer’s market on weekends because it can hold plenty of locally grown goodies. The cork fabric not only looks great but is also easy to wipe clean, so I can set it down anywhere without worrying about it getting dirty. “
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Poppy Barley
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.
Recycled materials
Some or all products are made with recycled materialsThoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
B Corp
LWG
Poppy Barley has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Female-founded and based in Edmonton, Canada, Poppy Barley offers luxury footwear, bags, and accessories. Their stylish minimalist handbag and purse range includes backpacks, totes & work bags, crossbodies, travel bags, shoulder bags, and more.
Their bags are predominantly made from Leather Working Group (LWG) certified leather and they also offer a vegan range made from the more sustainable Desserto® cactus leather.
Poppy Barley offers a trade-in program and repair services and gives back to various communities through their Future Fund. As a certified B Corp, they comprehensively report on sustainability progress at least every 3 years. They disclose Tier 1 suppliers openly on their website and audit them directly at least every two years. They use certified organic cotton and FSC-certified materials printed with soy-based inks for packaging and shipping.
Pixie Mood
Pixie Mood is yet to be rated.
About Pixie Mood
Price Range: $36—$130
Pixie Mood has been making PETA-approved vegan accessories for over a decade, including shoulder bags, clutches, belt bags, wallets, and travel organizers with radio frequency identification (RFID) blocking technology to protect your identity and bank account.
Pixie Mood’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The brand uses a variety of GRS-certified recycled materials in their handbags, including recycled canvas, cork, solvent-free vegan leather, wool, and linings made from recycled plastic bottles.
The hardware is compliant with the European Union REACH standard, and all materials are tested annually to ensure they meet California Prop 65 standards.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Pixie Mood audits its Asian manufacturers twice annually to ensure its labor standards are met, including no forced/child labor, no harassment or abuse, safe working environments, and fair wages and benefits.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Proud to call themselves a climate-positive company, Pixie Mood partners with TerraPass to offset carbon emissions down to your browsing time, and their manufacturing uses water and energy-saving techniques.
The biodegradable packaging is corn-based and any EPE foam is 100% recyclable.
Community & charitable giving:
Pixie Mood partners with 1% for the Planet, One Tree Planted, and the Humane Society, and are always open to new partners to further their change-making commitments.
My Personal Review of Pixie Mood’s Jane 2-in-1 Crossbody:
“I personally own the Jane 2-in-1 Crossbody and there’s a reason it’s my main daily purse. It’s so incredibly versatile. Half wallet clutch, half mini purse, if I only need the wallet, I can easily detach it and be on my way. And when it’s attached to the purse, I love the added magnetics that keeps both components securely together.
It’s super cute, and the faux nubuck leather offers a stylish, timeless look that goes with any outfit—without the ethical concerns of real leather.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Malia Designs
Malia Designs is yet to be rated.
About Malia Designs
Price Range: $18—$68
Malia Designs represents harmony between western and eastern cultures, specifically that of Cambodia. Drawing inspiration from Angkor temples and the colorful streets of Phnom Penh, their huge selection includes every shape and size imaginable, from shoulder and cross body bags to bookbags.
This recycled bag brand invites you to #CARRYACAUSE and inspire a converation while you’re done it. And nothing will spark up conversation faster than their unique upcyceld designs, like that of the Recycled Cement Triangle Bag, with its bold red color blocks and Cambodian graphics.
Malia Designs’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Malia specializes in handbags made from recycled materials you don’t often see in fashion: recycled feed bags, cement bags, denim, and cotton canvas (sourced from leftover rolls of fabric from garment factories).
Supply chain & labor practices:
To create economic opportunity for Cambodians living in high risk areas for human trafficking, Malia works with three women-led fair trade fashion cooperatives that employ people from disadvantaged groups including women, the deaf, and disabled individuals. One offers a choice between home-based employment or living accommodations attached to the workshop.
Community & charitable giving:
Malia Designs wants to break the cycle of human trafficking in Cambodia by supporting organizations like Damnok Toek, a 100% Cambodian-run NGO that assists children and trafficking victims. Their donations provide bunk beds, education supplies, transportation, and vocational training for young women.
In addition, they provide grants and loans to their artisan groups for workshop expansion, training, and new equipment.
Doshi
Doshi is yet to be rated.
About Doshi
Price Range: $59—$169
Doshi is an easy choice when it comes to choosing ethical bags, considering their lineup consists of exclusively PETA-approved vegan handbags and wallets for men and women alike.
Doshi’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Doshi bags are with made of either Pinatex, PVC-free microfiber vegan leather, or (our favorite) a coated waterproof kraft paper. These are sometimes paired with a recycled Tyvek and microfiber lining.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Through BSCI and other social compliance certifications and regular staff visits, Doshi maintains high ethical standards in their factories.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Doshi’s suppliers are chosen based partially no their limited use of solvents and chemicals used in manufacturing.
Community & charitable giving:
Doshi is BIPOC-owned and donates 5% of net sales to nonprofits to like Compassion Over Killing and Farm Sanctuary.
My Personal Review of Doshi’s Pinatex Crossbody Pouch:
“The Pinatex Crossbody Pouch is my new go-to for a stylish yet practical everyday bag. With a zip top closure and adjustable strap, it’s super easy to wear. What really makes it stand out, though, is how it folds completely flat when empty—perfect for travel when you need a bag that won’t count as your personal item. It’s slim, so it doesn’t hold a ton, but there’s enough room for all your essentials. I even got my water bottle in there for a full day at a theme park!”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Bellroy
Bellroy is yet to be rated.
About Bellroy
Price Range: $39—$449
The ultimate sustainable “carry company,” Aussie-based Certified B-Corp Bellroy offers RFID-equipped sustainable wallets and eco bags, backpacks, and tech sleeves for everything from travel to daily use.
Each one is designed with both style and functionality in mind (lots of pockets, anyone?)—like the Cooler Tote, which functions as an insulated lunchbox, reusable grocery bag, and spacious tote all in one.
If you’re looking for the ultimate in modern functionality, you can’t go wrong with the Lite Sling. Its Ripstop recycled exterior is incredibly durable while its 7L capacity strikes the perfect happy-medium among their Sling line, large enough to hold an extra layer and water bottle, but not so large as to feel bulky.
Bellroy’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Many Bellroy bags utilize recycled polyester made from 100% recycled water bottles or recycled nylon made from 100% recycled industrial nylon offcuts.
You will, however, find some others made of TENCEL™ X REFIBRA™ and MIRUM® (a mushroom-based leather), and real leather from LWG Gold-rated tanneries or ECCO Leather. The latter’s DriTan™ technique uses moisture already present in the hide to reduce water and chemical usage.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Product prototypes are made in Australia and final products are made in China, India, and the Philippines in factories that comply with their Supplier Code of Conduct.
Leather is sourced from the Netherlands, though we’re uncertain of further ethical details.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Bellroy’s decision-making is guided by goals to minimize the use of toxins, utilize eco-friendly materials where possible, design products to last, reduce waste and energy, and understand their impact so they can further reduce it.
Matt & Nat
Matt & Nat is yet to be rated.
About Matt & Nat
Price Range: $40—$350
Canada-based Matt & Nat is a PETA-approved vegan brand that offers ethical handbags and accessories in a variety of styles ranging from classic to modern and edgy. With an array of rainbow colors to choose from, including lilac, seaglass, and chartreuse, you’ll probably spend a bit of time trying to decide which one suits you best.
Belt bags, briefcases, or a diaper bag to stash your little one’s eco-friendly diapers, Matt & Natt covers your carrying needs.
The Annie Vegan Clutch features a unique strap design that can be doubled over to carry in hand, or pulled to one side and slung on a shoulder, in doing so changing the whole look of the bag!
Matt & Nat’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Matt & Nat doesn’t use leather—ever. They do, however, use PVC leather, but are transitioning away in favor of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) made from 100% recycled windshield glass resin and PU or fruit skin fibers like apple leather.
Linings are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles—about 21 plastic bottles for each.
Supply chain & labor practices:
In addition to employing local ethical managers, Matt & Nat’s CEO audits each factory twice yearly and visits each factory 2-3 times per year to inspect conditions. One operates by the SA800 standard, and the brand hopes to make the standard a bigger part of future production.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Matt & Nat strives “to become fully sustainable by 2023.” There are no details on how they plan to achieve that goal (especially as they’re still using PVC), but recycled materials are a start.
Community & charitable giving:
The main office in Montreal is dubbed a “cruelty-free zone” and hosts monthly vegetarian potlucks and vegan cupcakes to celebrate birthdays.
Nisolo
Nisolo is yet to be rated.
About Nisolo
Price Range: $80—$350
Sustainable leather bags are few and far between. Between all the animals killed for their skins and the 250+ chemicals (arsenic, chromium, cyanide, etc.) conventionally used to tan it, normally we’d say bag this material, but Nashville-based Nisolo is changing the industry.
In fact, they’re ranked #1 among leather product-certified B Corps and #3 among B-Corp shoe brands.
In addition to ethical shoes, they offer big and small bags—messenger bags, totes, shoulder bags, and crossbody bags—made of ethically sourced byproduct leather.
Nisolo’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Nisolo uses nubuck and suede leathers, sourced as a by-product of the meat industry. They’ve personally visited and vetted all leather tanneries, most of which are certified by the LWG.
Others feature a cotton canvas body, vegetable-tanned leather straps, and copper rivets.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Nisolo’s website includes detailed wage and condition information about each of their four factories and each product includes a Sustainability Facts Label. All factories must adhere to their Code of Conduct and they enforce these rules with the help of the Good Ops supply chain consulting group ACCOUNTABLE, which provides them with social impact assessments.
Nisolo is committed to providing a living wage to all and co-founded the Lowest Wage Challenge for brands to publish their lowest wages.
They also provide in-house yoga and fitness classes, and training on topics like finances, health, nutrition, and English.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Nisolo is Climate Neutral Certified and the top-ranking fashion brand on Remake’s Accountability Report. They measure, reduce, and offset 100% of their carbon emissions with Ecosphere+by protecting trees from deforestation in the Cordillera Azul and Ucayali regions of the Peruvian Amazon.
Community & charitable giving:
Nisolo launched a Shoe Reclamation Program and has collected and donated over 7,000 shoes to Soles4Souls.
My Personal Review of Nisolo’s Simone Convertible Shopper:
“I carried (get it?) out a test of the Simone Convertible Shopper, which they dub “The Perfect Bag,” and I have to agree, thanks to its practically indestructible build and heirloom-quality craftsmanship, convenient everyday size, and classic look that pairs with practically anything.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
O My Bag
O My Bag is yet to be rated.
About O My Bag
Price Range: €30—€389
OM…B(?) have we got sustainable leather handbags for you? Based in Amsterdam, O My Bag knows the value of doing things the green way—even when it comes to tanning leather.
This Certified B Corp’s ethical purses boast a classic, minimalist look that will pair well with most capsule wardrobes.
We love the #girlboss vibes we get from the mini briefcase-esque Audrey Crossbody Bag, with an absolutely classic leather body in three different color choices, with an organic cotton woven strap that’s interchangable if you want to switch up your style.
O My Bag’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their ethical leather bags are made of uncoated vegetable “wet white” tanned byproduct-only leather. Tanning without VOCs or harmful chemicals like chromium, heavy metals, and formaldehyde (verified by independent SGS laboratory testing), they claim it’s so clean that leftover leather can be used as fertilizer.
Some vegan options instead use Uppeal™, a blend of 21% apple waste, 14% cotton, 38% polyester, and 27% PU. Since there’s still much virgin plastic involved here, we suggest avoiding it if possible.
Each bag comes in a GOTS-organic cotton bag for storage, with linings and straps made from either GOTS-certified organic or GRS-certified recycled cotton.
Supply chain & labor practices:
O My Bag the LWG Gold-certified tannery Shee Shen in Kolkata, India, which has its own primary effluent treatment plant and provides equal pay. Their other tannery in Italy, Conceria Nuova Grenoble, is a member of the Genuine Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium, purifies production water, and recycles production substances.
For manufacturing, they use SA8000-certified ethical factories in Kolkata, India, one of which is also a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
Carbon commitments & green practices:
You can promote circular fashion by shopping their Pre-loved Library or take advantage of their repair services. They also use 100% renewable energy to power their office and stores and offer carbon-neutral global shipping.
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