Traveling is a lot of fun, but it also uses up a lot of resources, and we don’t just mean financially. We all know about how much carbon emissions come from transportation, and then there’s the water, power, etc. consumed in your accommodations. Traveling might never truly become 100% sustainable, but as consumers, we can take our own steps to make our trips as green as possible.
One thing we can do is to opt to use eco-friendly luggage. Shopping for luggage requires you to look at several considerations—it has to be sturdy, it should have a good number of useful compartments, it should be as lightweight as possible, it must look good, and it has to be within your budget. Adding sustainability and eco-friendliness to your list of must-haves for luggage would narrow down your choices significantly, but it also presents a new challenge, requiring you to look at each bag and brand’s sustainability claims more closely.
What makes luggage sustainable? The most obvious factor is that it has to be made of eco-friendly materials, whether it’s recycled fabric, recycled plastic, or natural materials from renewable resources. Another factor is that it should be durable; a sturdy, long-lasting bag reduces the need for you to discard and replace it. The manufacturer should also have taken steps to close the loop, making sure that they offer repair services (or at least making it easy for a third party to repair their products) so you don’t have to discard luggage unnecessarily in case of any damage.
Here are five luggage brands with eco-friendly products for you to look at the next time you need a new set of luggage:
It Luggage
This almost-40-year-old brand may not be exclusively selling eco-friendly luggage, but they do have an eco-friendly collection. It Luggage‘s ECO-Tough Biodegradable suitcases are made using high-grade bio composite shells that integrate natural fibers reinforced with polypropylene. They come in three sizes: cabin, medium, and large, and you can get a set of three for £168.
Monarc
Check out their 40L duffel backpack ($199.99). Made from 50 recycled plastic bottles, this bag is water resistant, and you can carry it four different ways.
Proudly declaring that their bags are trash, Monarc‘s bags are made using recycled plastic bottles. They’re also plastic negative, which means that, through their cleanup projects, they remove twice the amount of plastic used in the production of their bags from the environment.
Monos
The first North American luggage company to achieve B Corp status, Monos promotes mindful traveling, partners with organizations such as veritree to support reforestation efforts in Kenya, and seeks to make products that last.
Their hard shell suitcases are made from partially recycled materials, and the insides are lined with antimicrobial fabric made from 100% recycled polyester.
Solgaard
Solgaard boasts not only a good selection of stylish suitcases but also numerous partnerships throughout the world, through which the company helps reduce plastic waste on the planet. Solgaard, which is a B Corporation, also takes pride in their use of its proprietary materials for its suitcases, such as Shore-Tex, which is made from recycled plastic. They also use up to 60% recycled polycarbonate in their suitcase shells.
Their most iconic suitcase is the award-winning Carry-On Closet ($325), which features a built-in closet system and a USB charging port.
TropicFeel
Starting out as a shoe company and then shifting to travel gear, Tropicfeel states that they use low-impact and ethically sourced materials for their products. The company is also a B Corporation, which means that it is certified for its social impact, meeting environmental performance and accountability standards.
The Lift Rollerbag is just one of their offerings. This bag’s dimensions are 72 cm x 24 cm x 17 cm, and it weighs 2.9 kg. How green is it? It’s made with 68% recycled materials, including 58.4% recycled polyester.
As you can see, there really are a lot of choices for eco-friendly luggage nowadays. We didn’t even include some of the greats here, such as Samsonite and Patagonia.
Just remember: If you still have your old luggage and it’s still in great shape, keep using it! There’s no reason to get rid of it if it’s working just fine and to spend extra if you don’t need to yet. Reusing is the most eco-friendly option you can go for, after all.
Main image from the official Solgaard website
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