From Pineapple Leather to Plastic Bottles: 20 Sustainable Bag Brands in the UK To Fall in Love With
Hello conscious bag lovers! If you’re in the market for a new ethical bag then this article’s for you. Whether you’re looking for a statement handbag, a versatile crossbody bag or a colourful tote, we’ve got you covered. Our list of 20 sustainable bag brands available in the UK includes some first-class sustainable fashion innovators and some very unique fabrics!
What Makes a Bag Sustainable?
Just like clothing, there are several factors to weigh up when determining if a bag is a sustainable buy. What materials is it made from? Who made it? And where was it made?
A sustainable bag is also one that’s going to last. Look for well-made, durable items and consider whether the bag can be repaired if needed. And when it’s no longer useable or repairable, can it be recycled?
In terms of design, many sustainable bag brands are offering minimalist, timeless designs. Choose a bag you love and can see being a staple part of your ethical wardrobe for years to come.
Reclaimed and Upcycled Materials
It’s exciting to see so many brands giving new life to materials that would otherwise be destined for landfill. From decommissioned fire-hose to car seatbelts, there are some wonderful examples of upcycled bags in our list below.
Using deadstock material (fabric that is unsold, or has been discarded by other companies) is also a great sustainable option. See our article on deadstock fabric for more info on this topic. Sourcing materials already in circulation helps to reduce waste and helps keep carbon footprints low.
Recycled Plastic Waste
Polyester is often used as a material in bag making. It’s used for exteriors (especially by outdoor brands) as well as for interior linings and zipper fabric. Due to its environmental impact, a number of the UK’s sustainable bag brands have switched to using recycled polyester. This is commonly made from plastic drink bottles and other post-consumer plastic waste. You can read more about the pros and cons of recycled polyester in our article here.
Innovative Vegan Bio-Leathers
Vegan alternatives to leather have traditionally been made from problematic PVC. Considered to be one of the most environmentally damaging plastics, PVC takes thousands of years to break down in landfill. It also has a much higher toxicity level (both in production and wear) compared to other plastics such as polyurethane.
The innovative materials being used by brands in our list include pineapple leaf fibre, apple skins, cactus and even fallen leaves!
Ethical Manufacturing: Who Made My Bag?
Look for brands that are transparent about their manufacturing. Responsible brands use independent social auditing companies who ensure that the manufacturers they work with provide good working conditions. Many of the sustainable bag brands listed below work with local artisans using traditional techniques. This helps to boost the local economy and keep traditional crafts alive.
20 Sustainable Bag Brands in the UK for Your Next Ethical Purchase
Here’s our round-up of pioneering ethical labels. With some great affordable options as well as luxury pieces you’re sure to find that perfect, timeless bag you’ll want to keep forever.
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1.
3Quarters
Based: Athens Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Athens
Price: £30-£140
Range: Backpacks, messenger bags, shoulder bags, accessories
Sustainability creds: Reclaimed materials, vegan options, ethical manufacturing, repairs and recycling, gives back
3Quarters creates a range of colourful, upcycled bags made from leftover balcony awning fabric. The fabric is waterproof and strong and each one-of-a-kind bag is individually cut and sewn by hand. So far they’ve reclaimed and processed more than 3 tonnes of leftover fabrics. Their central Athens workshop has an open house policy so visitors can go and check out the repurposing in action.
2.
Been london
Based: London Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: London
Price: £65-£295
Range: Backpacks, clutches, crossbody bags, totes, wallets
Sustainability creds: Global Recycling Standard (GRS) certified sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing, repairs service, gives back
BEEN London turns recycled materials into timeless, classic designs that work for all seasons. They take a zero-waste design approach. Their recycled leather comes from tannery offcuts and the polyester zips are made from plastic bottle waste. In addition to offering repairs, they aim for every part of their bags to be recyclable. All bags are handcrafted by artisans in East London making them an obvious choice for our list of sustainable bag brands in the UK.
3.
Belo
Based: UK Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Brazil
Price: £170-£250
Range: Backpacks, bucket bags, clutches, crossbody bags accessories
Sustainability creds: Recycled materials, ethical manufacturing, sustainable packaging, gives back
British-Brazilian accessories brand Belo considers each of their bags to be a piece of wearable art. Their creations are designed to make us stop and think about how we view waste and how our fashion is made. Stylish and durable, the bags are crafted from decommissioned seatbelts and lined with fabric created from recycled plastic bottles. The brand works with Brazilian artisans. They provide a higher than living wage and ongoing support for the community via their partner charity, Casa de Maria.
4.
corkor
Based: Portugal Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Portugal
Price: £54-£153
Range: Backpacks, bucket bags, clutches, cross body bags, shoulder bags
Sustainability creds: Sustainable and natural materials, certified cork, PETA-approved vegan, ethical manufacturing, sustainable packaging
All of Corkor’s products are crafted out of a high-quality cork fabric that looks and feels similar to leather. The classic, versatile designs are 100% vegan and made in-house by a small team of local Portuguese artisans. Cork leather production is chemical-free and due to the simple, natural processing the cork retains all of its unique qualities. It is soft, lightweight and water-resistant.
5.
Ellyla
Based: London Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: India
Price: £22-40
Range: Clutches, cross-over bags, shoulder bags, totes
Sustainability creds: Sustainable and natural materials, ethical manufacturing
Ellyla is a fantastic sustainable bag brand based in the UK. They aim to make sustainable, ethical, cruelty-free and eco-friendly fashion affordable. Their bags are designed in the UK and handcrafted in India. All of their bags are made from natural plant fibres including jute, raffia and cotton.
6.
Ecoalf
Based: Spain Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Worldwide
Price: £90-140
Range: Backpacks, handbags, weekend bags, accessories
Sustainability creds: B-corp, GOTS certified cotton, Global Recycling Scheme (GRS) certified recycled materials, vegan options, ethical manufacturing, sustainable packaging, gives back
Founded in 2009, Spanish clothing brand Ecoalf uses innovative technologies to create high-quality recycled fabrics. Their bags are made from certified recycled polyester and recycled nylon and are also PFC-free. PFCs are chemicals commonly used in durable water repellent coatings for outdoor clothing and accessories. Due to their negative environmental impact, ecologically-minded brands have been eliminating PFC’s from their lines and seeking alternatives instead.
7.
Elvis and Kresse
Based: Kent, UK Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: UK and Turkey
Price: £160-£350
Range: Briefcases, clutches, crossbody bags, shoulder bags, weekend bags, totes
Sustainability creds: B corp, Global Recycling Standard (GRS) certified sustainable materials, vegan options, ethical manufacturing, sustainable packaging, gives back.
Elvis and Kresse is one of our favourite sustainable bag brands based in the UK as what they do is so unusual. They rescue the London Fire Brigade’s decommissioned fire-hose and turn it into beautiful, luxury bags. Thanks to them, since 2005 no London fire hose has gone to landfill. The bags are lined with recycled parachute silk. Recently, they have partnered with Burberry to produce a range of fire-hose and upcycled leather bags using Burberry’s leather offcuts. 50% of their profits go to charity.
8.
Groundtruth
Based: London Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Indonesia
Price: £35-£290
Range: Accessories, backpacks, totes
Sustainability creds: GRS certified sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing, bluesign®-certified manufacturers, sustainable packaging
Groundtruth is on a mission to innovate and use new technologies to create a range of 100% recycled travel bags. Working with a specialist textile mill in Taiwan they have created a bespoke recycled fabric made from post-consumer plastic waste. Each of their RIKR backpacks removes 120 plastic bottles from the environment. Their bags come with a 15-year guarantee.
9.
Kula
Based: UK Ships to: UK
Made in: China
Price: £25-40
Range: Backpacks, bags, accessories
Sustainability creds: Sustainable and natural materials, vegan (registered with the Vegan Society and PETA)
Founded in 2019, Kula’s vegan-friendly collection of backpacks are made out of FSC-certified, reinforced paper material. Paper might sound like an odd choice of material for a bag but it’s a practical and durable leather alternative. It can even be washed in a normal washing machine! The lining for the bags is made out of 100% recycled polyester from plastic bottle waste. We think they’re a very cool addition to our list of sustainable bag brands in the UK.
10.
LaBante London
Based: London Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: China
Price: £35-£200
Range: Accessories, backpacks, crossbody bags, shoulder bags, totes
Sustainability creds: Sustainable materials, certified vegan, ethical manufacturing, gives back.
LaBante London was founded in 2005 out of a combined love of animals, fashion and the wider planet. They offer a stylish range of vegan bags made from recycled materials. For the exterior of their bags, LaBante currently uses vegetable-based Polyurethane (PU). This is made with a by-product of plant oils, reducing many of the chemical hazards normally associated with making PU. It’s also more biodegradable than pure PU and much safer to produce and wear than other types of plastics.
LaBante is transitioning to more environmentally-friendly vegan leathers. Their upcoming handbags and shoe collection is made entirely from apple leather.
11.
Labienhecha
Based: Spain Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Málaga, Spain
Price: £42-£205
Range: Clutches, crossbody bags, shoulder bag, accessories
Sustainability creds: GRS certified sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing
Labienhecha (“the well-made” in Spanish) combines recycled materials and traditional techniques to make a range of beautiful, minimalist style bags. All of their products are made by a team of female artisans in a small workshop in Málaga. The recycled ‘eco-leather’ that they use is made of waste from the tanning industry combined with natural latex. This new leather material is Oeko Tex Leather Standard certified.
12.
Luxtra
Based: London Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Italy
Price: £45-£300
Range: Backpacks, bucket bags, clutches, crossbody bags, shoulder bags, totes, accessories
Sustainability creds: B corp, sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing, PETA-approved vegan, sustainable packaging, gives back
Luxtra is a conscious luxury brand creating beautiful, timeless classics from innovative plant-based materials. The bio-based leather alternatives they work with include Piñatex®, a material made from waste pineapple leaf fibre; AppleSkin™, a material crafted from waste recovered from the fruit juice industry; and “Desserto”, a cruelty-free textile made in Mexico from organic cactus leaves.
13.
Mashu
Based: London Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Greece
Price: £220-£460
Range: Crossbody bags, mini bags, shoulder bags, totes, accessories
Sustainability creds: Sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing, PETA-approved vegan, sustainable packaging, gives back
Based in the UK, sustainable bag brand Mashu’s bold and contemporary designs are made out of vegan bio leathers as well as hemp, recycled cotton and Bioveg. Bioveg is a recycled polyester material made from plastic bottles and non-GMO corn. Their stylish wooden handles are made from offcuts from a furniture company that would otherwise be discarded. Handmade in Greece, the production supports local artisans and helps to keep traditional crafts alive.
14.
Matt and Nat
Based: Canada Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: China
Price: £40-£270
Range: Backpacks, clutches, crossbody bags, totes, wallets, weekend bags, accessories
Sustainability creds: Recycled materials, vegan
Fully vegan brand Matt and Nat have been developing their use of sustainable materials. For bags and accessories, have a look at their Purity collection and APPLESKIN™ collection. The outer body of bags in the Purity collection are made with a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) made from 100% recycled windshield glass resin. Bags in the APPLESKIN™ collection have outers made with a high content of apple waste. The interior linings of all of their bags are made from 100% recycled water bottles. For more on vegan fashion see our articles on vegan shoes and vegan fashion brands.
15.
Millican
Based: UK Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Vietnam
Price: £70-£155
Range: Backpacks, daypacks, overnight bags, shoulder bags, accessories
Sustainability creds: GRS certified recycled materials, PETA-certified vegan options, Bluesign approved
If you’re looking for a new backpack, Millican makes sustainable bags made from 100% recycled plastic waste with a PFC-free finish. Their minimalist, fuss-free design makes them equally suitable for commuting across town or heading for the hills. They come in a great range of single colours.
16.
Nodo
Based: London Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: London
Price: £75
Range: Jewellery and textile accessories
Sustainability creds: Sustainable materials, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, ethical manufacturing, sustainable packaging
Nodo, which means “knot” in Italian, is a London handmade accessories brand with Italian roots. All of their pieces are made by hand using exclusively natural materials. Their simple and elegant rope bags are crocheted from a soft and durable recycled cotton. Perfect for carrying shopping or packing in your suitcase to take on holiday.
17.
Patagonia
Based: London Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Worldwide
Price: £25-£180
Range: Backpacks, travel bags, totes
Sustainability creds: B-corp, recycled materials, bluesign® approved, fairtrade, gives back, trade-in programme
Patagonia is an old hand at pioneering sustainable materials for their outdoor clothing and gear. 87% of their line this season is made with recycled materials. Their backpacks and travel accessories are made from recycled polyester and recycled nylon with a PFC-free finish.
18.
Terracotta Row
Based: UK Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: UK
Price: £69-£89
Range: Backpacks, bumbags, shoppers, totes
Sustainability creds: deadstock materials, vegan options, ethical manufacturing
Terracotta Row is a sustainable bag brand that is not only based in the UK but makes its bags there too. Their recycled tarpaulin bags have a playful and bright aesthetic. They source discarded industrial fabrics that would otherwise end up in landfill and turn them into functional, stylish bags. The material is strong and waterproof, perfect for brightening up a rainy day.
19.
Thamon
Based: Thailand Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Thailand
Price: £45-95
Range:
Sustainability creds: sustainable materials, vegan, ethical manufacturing
Thamon’s stylish collection of contemporary bags are handmade from fallen leaves and vegan leather. The leaves are treated with an environmentally-friendly polymer to create a unique ‘leaf leather’ with limitless textures and pattern variations. Each one-of-a-kind bag is dyed by hand.
20.
Ulsto
Based: Germany Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Germany
Price: £50-£167
Range: Backpacks, clutches, cross body bags, shoulder bags
Sustainability creds: Natural and recycled materials, vegan, ethical manufacturing, sustainable packaging
German brand Ulsto makes minimalist-style vegan handbags made from natural cork and a felt made from recycled bottles. The two materials work beautifully together. The bags are locally made under fair conditions and the cords and zippers are also produced in Germany.
Have you fallen in love yet? Let us know your favourite sustainable bag brand in the comments below.
