9 Sustainable Luggage Brands To Pack For The Planet
From carbon emissions to the enormous amount of plastic waste generated on flights, travel is tough on the planet.
But if you prioritize sustainable travel you can mitigate the impact of that overdue-vacation—and it starts with choosing sustainable luggage to be your trusted travel companion.
Puts a whole new meaning on packing lightly!
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Get Ready, (Jet) Set, & Go With The Best Eco-Friendly Luggage
Solgaard’s recycled plastic luggage takes the old and turns it into new, modern luggage that’s climate and plastic neutral for the adventure-seeking.
If you’re looking for durable luggage to check, a 70% recycled polycarbonate carbon-offset suitcase from Db protects your stuff and the planet.
Horizn Studios offers a line of luxurious eco-friendly luggage that’s 100% plant-based and biodegradable.
Before you head over to baggage claim, jet down to the bottom to learn about our criteria for the best sustainable carry-on luggage.
The Full List Of Eco-Friendly Luggage Brands
- Db | Visit Store
- Solgaard | Visit Store
- Paravel | Visit Store
- Lo & Sons | Visit Store
- Horizn Studios | Visit Store
- Parker Clay | Visit Store
- Patagonia | Visit Store
- Anchal | Visit Store
- Samsonite | Visit Store
1. Db
About Db
Price Range: $29–$899
Based in Oslo, Norway, Db is a multiple ISPO design award winner of sophisticated and functional sustainable travel bags that cater to the diverse needs of globetrotters, professionals, and weekend explorers alike.
From cameras to surfboards, there’s luggage for everyone.
Their design philosophy?
“Capable, yet elegant. Built to last. Less, but better.”
This is encapsulated in everything from their sleek appearance to their innovative features, like integrated TSA-approved locks and a Patented Length Adjustment System™.
We were able to try out both the Ramverk Check-in and Ramverk Carry-on pieces. Both eco-friendly TSA-approved lock luggage, these really are a sustainable traveler’s dream come true.
We found both designs lightweight and easy to maneuver, especially with the four wheel system that prevents tipping when making a mad dash to catch your connecting flight.
The quality is top-notch, and feels like a premium piece of luggage should, so we feel confident these will last us for many trips to come, making it an excellent investment for those who want to travel in style and with sustainability in mind.
Because they have fulfillment centers in both the US and Europe, they’re perfect for sustainable luggage UK shoppers, too.
Db’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
While a handful of styles still feature virgin polyester fabric, Db’s eco-friendly materials make for mostly recycled luggage.
Their hard-shelled luggage features a whopping 70% recycled polycarbonate shell and 100% GRS-certified recycled polyester lining.
Their many soft-sided options feature other recycled materials like recycled nylon, dope-dyed polypropylene, and polyethylene foams and hardboards.
Weatherproof coatings are PU-based and PFC-free, and most fabrics (and soon all) have bluesign® and/or OEKO-TEX certification, so we know it’s truly non-toxic luggage.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Each recycled suitcase or accessory is made in one of six factories in either Vietnam, China, Sweden, Bangladesh, and Tunisia where workers are protected by their ILO and UN-based Code of Conduct.
Tier 1 factories must have a third-party CSR audit or verified assessment in the Higg Facility Social & Labour Module (FSLM) as well as the Facility Environmental Module (FEM).
They hope to audit all tier 2 suppliers by 2025.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Because their luggage is designed to last for decades, you can resell or buy used Db products with their Db Renewed service.
They’ve been measuring and publishing their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions for several years now with the goal of reducing them year by year to reach targets set in the Paris Agreement.
And while they know it’s not the whole answer, they offset through gold-standard verified carbon offset projects with CHOOOSE.
Their Roadmap to Net Zero includes some impressive and precise goals, like launching circular products and a rental program by 2025 and using 90% recycled materials and 100% renewable energy at the tier-1 supplier level by 2030.
2. Solgaard
About Solgaard
Price Range: $245–$295
Solgaard provides “gear for global citizens” that are just as adventurous as their globally based team.
They specialize in eco-friendly recycled luggage equipped with cutting-edge features like zipper-less designs, 360⁰ rotating wheels, built-in locks, TSA-approved locks, and an integrated solar USB charger.
Named one of the best inventions by Time magazine, the Carry-On Closet is a rolling suitcase built to last you a lifetime AND won’t make you hate every time you need to find an outfit.
If you prefer to travel light, the Shore-Tex™ Lifepack backpack is our absolute favorite piece of eco-friendly carry-on luggage.
We’ve been using ours (for daily commuting and travel alike) for years, and it has durably held and reliably held all our goodies amidst its many pockets.
Solgaard’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Shore-Tex™ and Shore-Plast™ sustainable travel bags are made entirely of recycled materials (namely ocean bound plastic).
Any of their hard shell sustainable suitcases, like the Carry On Closet, pair a recyclable aluminum frame with “unbreakable” 60% recycled polycarbonate.
Supply chain & labor practices:
85% of Solgaard’s partners are ICAS and/or WRAP-certified and the sustainable luggage brand is itself a newly minted Certified B Corp.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
As a NextWave Plastic member, Solgaard is currently plastic negative and carbon-neutral, with hopes to become climate positive.
Each suitcase made from recycled plastic is backed with a 10-year warranty, and they further lengthen their lifecycle by repairing and donating returned inventory.
Community & charitable giving:
Solgaard partners with Sungai Watch, a plastic reclamation effort in Indonesia that provides them with recycled materials.
They also fund Greeneration’s eco-brick project, which turns plastic waste into building materials also in Indonesia where the plastic comes from.
3. Paravel
About Paravel
Price Range: $75–$1205
With luggage, handbags, duffel bags, totes, packing cubes, and pet carriers, Paravel promises to ease your packing pain.
Pieces are available in singles or in eco-friendly luggage sets, but the winner is their Aviator Carry-On -TSA approved lock luggage.
Equipped with “impossibly smooth” carbon steel bearing wheels and tons of efficient, space-saving features, this recycled hardshell luggage option is not just sustainable, but durable enough to handle the most careless of baggage loaders.
Paravel’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Aviator features a fully recycled polycarbonate exterior shell, recycled PET lining made from 15 recycled plastic water bottles, a recycled aluminum telescoping handle, recycled vegan leather details/haul handle, and recycled zippers.
For soft-sided men’s and women’s sustainable weekend bags, check out their GRS and OEKO-TEX Negative Nylon collection made of 10-20 plastic water bottles.
They also make circular cotton canvas (a blend of upcycled and organic cotton) sustainable duffle bags and jute totes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
While we don’t know where Paravel manufactures, we do know their supply chain is held to their Code of Social Responsibility, which includes rules ensuring no child or forced labor, dignity at work, non-discrimination, fair wages, healthy and safe work environments, and more.
All entities must keep records to prove all of the above.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Paravel backs each recycled material suitcase with a 5-year warranty and ships using carbon-neutral shipping, contributing to their full Carbon Neutral certification.
Community & charitable giving:
They’ve planted 257,000+ trees through Eden Reforestation Projects and donate to NGOs like the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program.
4. Lo & Sons
About Lo & Sons
Price Range: $215—$275
Family-run and Asian-American-owned Lo & Sons’ most sustainable offerings are their Catalina Deluxe, Catalina Deluxe Tote, and the Catalina Day Tote.
They also happen to offer some of the best carry on sustainable luggage for weekend getaways and short business trips
These bags feature a functional top-loading design, a back slot to secure them on rolling bags, and a rigid base that opens into its own compartment for hardier items like shoes.
Lo & Sons’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Most bags include several choices between different sustainable materials: organic cotton , plant-based vegan leather, or recycled materials (canvas, nylon, polyester), and LWG Silver and Gold-rated Nappa leather.
All come with the same signature hummingbird lining made of partially recycled materials.
Supply chain & labor practices:
As members of the Future Fit Changemaker Community, Lo & Sons is working to ensure fair labor practices in the making of their ethical luggage.
They’re partnering with a small solar-powered domestic workshop for a capsule collection of made-in-the USA sustainable travel bags.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Production occurs in a solar-powered facility with a Water-Reclamation-System, which converts wastewater to drinkable clean water.
Ever on a mission to lessen the impact of packaging, they’re eliminating plastic coverings for zipper pulls and some eco luggage comes mailed in specialty shipping boxes that eliminate the need for foam.
For circularity, they partner with The Renewal Workshop to repair damaged bags and helped pilot the Kept SKU program, which sees returned inventory resold as part of curated surprise boxes rather than sent to landfill.
Community & charitable giving:
This sustainable luggage brand gives back to the environment through partnerships with their local Brooklyn Bridge Park and EcoHealth Alliance.
5. Horizn Studios
About Horizn Studios
Price Range: $380–$950
You don’t need to look beyond the horizon for the best sustainable suitcases.
From backpacks and weekenders to rolling bags and packing cubes, Horizn Studios has everything you need to make packing eco-easy—down to the quality recycled zippers.
Circle Ones are the world’s first fully biodegradable hardshell eco-friendly suitcases that are lighter and stronger than polycarbonate.
All items in the H-series sustainable luggage set provide plenty of storage in a protective, hard shell with integrated mesh luggage dividers.
Smart Models also feature a removable power bank.
Horizn Studios’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Circle One is made from BioX. Using flax suspended in resin paired with seed and nutshell-infused handles, all parts are fully biodegradable except for the removable magnesium telescope handle.
You’ll find a variety of other recycled materials across their line, including recycled nylon, recycled PET, recycled tarpaulin, aerospace-grade partially recycled polycarbonate, and waxed cotton canvas.
All eco-friendly suitcases feature recycled polyester linings, mesh pockets, and dividers.
Their whole line of vegan sustainable luggage is PETA-approved.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The Circle One suitcases are made in Europe and the polycarbonate is German-made, but Paravel hasn’t confirmed with us where the rest of their line is manufactured.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
All water and additives used in manufacturing are continuously recycled in a closed loop system.
In addition to offsetting emissions, Horizn’s office and store are powered by green energy and they subsidize staff bike rentals and public transportation.
Your eco luggage comes mailed in reusable cotton dust bags and plant-based, compostable PLA bags, and recycled boxes.
Community & charitable giving:
The Horizn Art Programme funds emerging artists, while Horizn Together partners with Kiron, an online learning platform providing refugees and disadvantaged youth with free education.
They also partner with like-minded organizations—like Soho House and POC artist Emeka Ogboh—to design signature products.
6. Parker Clay
About Parker Clay
Price Range: $98–$398
Parker Clay creates sustainable handbags and luggage for men and women that are “built for adventure and styled for the city”.
You’ll find a complete selection of minimalist weekender duffel bags, messenger bags, backpacks, briefcases, and totes.
We especially like the looks of their Montecito men’s sustainable weekend bag, that holds everything you need, without being so spacious as to encourage overpacking.
Parker Clay’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Parker Clay’s sustainable travel bags are made from premium Ethiopian full-grain sustainable leather, bestowing them with multigenerational durability.
Their ethical leather is consciously sourced from local Ethiopian farmers “who treat their animals with care and respect” and are raised for food.
Part of the Green Tannin Initiative, Parker Clay uses chrome and sulfide-free tanning practices, opting for organic vegetable dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Ethically made in their own factory in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this Certified B Corp provides pensions, health care, paid time off, transportation, laundry services, and daily team coffee breaks.
Many team members are at-risk women found through their sister non-profit Ellilta-Women At Risk, or those who began at the Parker Clay Center of Excellence.
This skill training initiative graduates employees as experts in artisan practices certified by the Ethiopian Leather Industries Development Institute (LIDI) to give employees job prospects beyond Parker Clay.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
They require tanneries to recycle all the water used in the tanning process.
Community & charitable giving:
Parker Clay planted 5,000 trees in Ethiopia via the Green Legacy Challenge.
7. Patagonia
About Patagonia
Price Range: $65–$419
What’s the toughest sustainable duffle bag?
That award has to go to the sustainable outdoor clothing brand Patagonia’s Black Hole® duffel bags, the “workhorse” of all their already work-ready outdoor packs.
With tons of colors, 40L, 55L, 70L, and 100L size options, you can find exactly what you need. The high capacities feature wheels for easier transport.
Each recycled plastic suitcase features a padded base, exterior daisy chains for lashing extra gear to the outside, reinforced haul handles, the ability to stow away into its own internal pocket, and hidden convertible backpack straps.
Round out your eco-friendly luggage set with a Black Hole® backpack, fanny pack, tote, and packing cubes.
Patagonia’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
All Black Hole® 100% recycled luggage feature recycled polyester ripstop coated with TPU-film laminate making these bags super weather and damage resistant.
The interior lining is also 100% recycled polyester with a polyurethane coating and the straps and webbings are made of (you guessed it) recycled poly.
Their phthalate and PVC-free luggage is bluesign® approved.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Patagonia is one of the most transparent sustainable luggage brands, which manifests in The Footprint Chronicles that tells consumers exactly what factory makes each product.
The Black Hole® line is made in Vietnam.
Patagonia is a Fair Trade-certified brand, so all manufacturing partners abide by fair labor laws and are subject to regular third parties audits.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The Black Hole® sustainable travel bags are made using a Zero-Wastewater Discharging System that treats all water used in the process until it’s completely non-toxic.
When it comes to shipping, they use partially recycled poly bags that are recyclable in any of their stores to be turned into decking.
A sign of true quality luggage, their IronClad guarantee provides a lifetime guarantee of repair or replacement for all eco-friendly travel bags and products.
They’ll also buy back certain products to be recycled or resold on Worn Wear.
Community & charitable giving:
Aside from co-founding 1% for the Planet, Patagonia gives back on many levels, from encouraging others to get involved with Patagonia Action Works to fighting for the planet politically.
Recently, founder Yvon Chouinard released his stake in the company, reinvesting all profits moving forward in environmental efforts. In his words: “Earth is now our only shareholder.”
8. Anchal
About Anchal
Price Range: $48–$140
Social enterprise Anchal offers gorgeous sustainable travel luggage in the form of unique, quilted weekender bags with statement-making colorblock designs.
Add in some of their toiletry cubes and zippered pouches to keep everything from your sustainable scarves to your outfits organized in your eco-friendly travel bags.
Now if only they turned one of their eco-friendly pillows into a travel neck pillow…
Anchal’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Anchal’s sustainable weekender bags feature a GOTS-certified organic cotton quilted cover atop a durable canvas lining.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Their organic luggage is made in Ajmer, India by a fair trade holistic artisan employment program.
Anchal itself is Fair Trade Federation certified and ensures all team members are awarded above-living wages, skills training, life-improving workshops, health camps, and more.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
As a Made Trade partner, you’ll receive your chemical-free luggage via carbon-neutral shipping.
Community & charitable giving:
A registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, all Anchal’s profits go directly toward their social impact programs.
This means both providing gainful employment to marginalized women in Ajmer, India who make their products through Stitch x Stitch, and training folks in the art of making fabric dyes from plants through the Kentucky-based organization, dyeScape.
9. Samsonite
About Samsonite
Price Range: $169–$650
Samsonite has been in the luggage industry for over 100 years and while not all of its many offerings fall into the eco-friendly luggage category, some are worthy of mention.
Book your ticket to their Theorym, Maxsum ECO, Ascentra, and Advance™ Eco Samsonite recycled luggage lines.
If you’re looking for the best eco-friendly carry-on suitcase made from recycled plastic, we have a theory you’ll love the conveniently-sized Theorym Underseater Spinner.
Samsonite’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Samsonite’s best sustainable luggage, the Maxsum ECO collection features a hard shell outer made of post-consumer recycled content like yogurt cups.
The soft-sided Theorym, Ascentra, and Advance™ Eco lines utilize a Recyclex™ interior and exterior, made of 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Each Samsonite recycled suitcase is made under a Code of Conduct and Social Compliance Program. They perform unannounced, on-site audits (both personally and by independent third parties).
They strive to provide their 14,400 employees with equal employment and meaningful development opportunities through training and professional development.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Samsonite eco-friendly luggage is rigorously tested to withstand airplane underbellies and baggage belts—and comes with long warranties and a company repair promise.
They’ve reduced carbon emissions by installing rooftop solar voltaic panels on two manufacturing sites, replacing structural components to increase thermal efficiency of another, and switching to low energy LED lighting in stores and offices.
Packaging is mostly recycled and recyclable.
Community & charitable giving:
Through their CITYPAK program, Samsonite donates backpacks to orphaned children in Indonesia, teachers in rural South Africa, and the homeless in America.
They also support mental health organizations such as Crisis Text Line, and plant hundreds of thousands of trees yearly.
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How We Chose The Most Sustainable Luggage Brands
What is the most sustainable luggage?
While sustainable luggage is more function than fashion, we can use the same criteria we refer to for assessing sustainable fashion as we do for each eco-friendly weekend bag.
Materials:
First, what is sustainable luggage made of?
It needs to strike a tricky balance utilizing sustainable materials and being durable luggage. Eco-friendly materials like organic cotton just won’t stand up to being tossed around in baggage claim.
That means we primarily resort to eco-friendly recycled luggage.
Ideally, we like a 100% recycled plastic suitcase, but we still considered some virgin synthetics and plastic polymers if the brand demonstrated dedication to ensure durability.
Chemical-free luggage is best but durability demands that some bags have coatings to give them weather and stain resistance. Here we looked for non-toxic suitcases with polyurethane and PFC-free coatings.
- Certifications: OEKO TEX, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Recycle Standard (GRS), Leather Working Group (LWG), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), bluesign®
Supply chain & labor practices:
We also sought out ethical luggage brands, or those that responsibly manage their entire supply chain, ensuring fair wages and safe, non-abusive working conditions throughout.
To prevent greenwashing, we look for companies that are transparent or bear third-party manufacturing certifications.
- Certifications: Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), B Corporation (B Corp), Fair Trade, Fair Trade Federation, International Labor Organization (ILO), Higg Facility Social & Labour Module (FSLM)
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Aside from sustainable materials, there are lots of things sustainable luggage brands can do to make that green travel bag even greener.
These things include being carbon-neutral through carbon offset programs, using renewable energy, employing ways to reduce and reuse production waste, offering product recycling and repair services, and using plastic-free packaging.
Community & charitable giving:
A little bit of selfless do-gooding can travel a long way in our passport book.
Eco-friendly luggage brands that give back might do so by donating money, planting trees, volunteering, or even organizing events like a beach cleanup.
Final Thoughts On Eco-Friendly Luggage & Suitcases
By choosing to buy environmentally friendly luggage, we’re taking the first step of a less impactful trip of a lifetime.
But hold the plane for a second—you should only upgrade to first-class luggage when you really need it.
After all, the best sustainable carry-on luggage is the one that’s still under your bed or sourced secondhand through online thrift stores.
Now, you can plan that dream vacation. Zero waste travel tips…check. Sustainable luggage…check. Carbon offsets…check.
You’re jet set for sustainability!
Since vacations are always more fun with friends, be sure to share this list of eco-friendly suitcases so we can all pack a little lighter.
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Just noting that Solgaard has terrible
customer service. You can see comments all over social about it. I ordered a backpack and battery pack to have it say delivered but never received. Reached out to customer service several times to no response. I left comments on their social posts to ask someone to DM me only to have them deleted. I only heard back after I got my credit company involved. It’s a shame because I love the idea of their bag, wish I could have gotten one.
That’s disappointing to hear Nelly! Sorry you had that experience. We will review when we next refresh this article, thanks for letting us know!