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You’ve got an eco friendly suitcase, why not pair it with a personal item that’s also eco friendly?
In continuing with our eco friendly travel gear series, I’ve put together a list of eco friendly tote bags, laptop bags and other personal items that you can take with you for everyday use, on the plane and while you travel, all while knowing that its been made by a company that takes sustainability seriously and produced using eco friendly materials.
Read More: Eco Friendly Luggage for the Sustainable Traveler
Contents
- What is considered a personal item?
- What are eco friendly bags?
- Eco Friendly Tote Bags
- Eco Friendly Laptop Bags
- Eco Friendly Canvas Tote Bags
- Eco Friendly Vegan Handbags
What is considered a personal item?
A personal item is a handbag, tote bag or laptop bag that must be able to fit under the seat in front of you on a plane. So think of it as a bag that’s small but can fit what you may need for a few hours out of your house that you’d use on a daily basis.
The exact dimensions of a personal item may vary by airline, so check with the airline before you travel. For example, American Airlines says your personal item dimensions should not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches. Meanwhile, British Airways says a handbag/laptop bag can be up to 16 x 12 x 6 inches. And Delta says approved personal items are one purse, briefcase, camera bag, or diaper bag that can fit under the seat in front of you.
So again, check with the airline you are flying with to confirm.
What are eco friendly bags?
When New York City (where we’re based) started implementing the no plastic bags policy, I along with other New Yorkers were already ready with our tote bags. You can easily accumulate several of those thin canvas tote bags that are given out freely by companies at events. They’re great to reuse and to replace plastic bags.
But I’ve thought, are these tote bags actually eco friendly? I have no idea how the bags are made and what materials are used. Reusing those bags and replacing them with plastic is sustainable. But if you’re looking for a bag that suits more than just replacing plastic bags, these tote bags, handbags and other personal items are made by companies that take pride in where they get their materials from, the type of packaging they use, manufacturing process and care of the workers in the factories their products are made in.
If you’re looking for a bag that’s made of eco friendly materials and sustainably made, these are a few that you can take around for everyday use, into the plane and for use while you travel:
Eco Friendly Tote Bags
1. Corkor Satchel Bag
While in Portugal, I was lucky enough to witness cork harvesting, which at that particular farm only happened every 7 years. I also noticed stores selling various products made of cork, including bags, but not one that I particularly liked. So I was delighted to find a company that makes all sorts of fashionable cork handbags, wallets and accessories ethically including the Corkor Satchel Bag. This company, Corkor makes their products made to order to avoid overproduction, uses FSC certified cork (harvested sustainably and protects the forest) and is a Peta approved vegan brand.
Get the Corkor Satchel Bag here.
2. Solo New York Restore Tote
Solo New York bags were created in and inspired by New York. Their stylish selection of backpacks, messenger bags, duffels and more are now joined by the Re:Cycled collection, a line of bags made from 100% recycled and biodegradable materials. The Restore Tote is made from 5 recycled PET bottles and has a padded compartment for up to 15 inch laptops.
Read our full review of the Solo New York Restore Tote here.
Get the Solo New York bag here.
3. Everlane The ReNew Traveler Tote
Everlane is all about radical transparency. They share exactly how they price their items, where they source their materials from and share about the factories that their products are made in. Their ReNew Traveler Tote is a bag that you can toss in everything you need for the plane ride with its spacious interior and two zip pockets. Plus, it’s made of 100% Recycled nylon.
Get the Everlane ReNew Traveler tote here.
Eco Friendly Laptop Bags
4. Bellroy Classic Tote
Take your up to 15 inch laptop with you in this Bellroy Classic Tote. The Classic Tote in charcoal is part of their recycled collection. This range of bags are created from used plastic bottles that are woven into a durable fabric. Note that only the charcoal color of the Classic Tote is made out of the fabric. If you don’t want a grey bag, you can also check out a dark green tote bag, the Tokyo Tote, which is a different model but is made from the same material as the charcoal Classic Tote.
Get the Bellroy Classic Tote here.
5. United by Blue Deuhl Laptop Bag
United by Blue Deuhl Laptop Bag for 13 inch laptops features lots of pockets for organization, including a water bottle sleeve. It’s a crossbody bag that not only keeps you organized, but can keep your things dry with its water-resistant recycled polyester material. You can also feel good about the purchase. For each product purchased, United by Blue removes trash from oceans.
Get the United by Blue Deuhl Laptop Bag here.
Eco Friendly Canvas Tote Bags
6. Simple Ecology Organic Cotton Tote Bag
As mentioned above, though the use of canvas bags are eco friendly, the canvas bag itself might not be. But you can be assured the Simple Ecology Organic Cotton tote bag is. Their tote bags are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards) Certified, meaning the entire process for making the bag, including growing the cotton, manufacturing and packaging meet the highest environmental standards. This is a no frills tote bag that you can probably stick a book and small essentials like your wallet and other small pouches in.
Get the Simple Ecology Organic Cotton Tote here.
7. Baggu Duck Bag
Baggu is known for their colorful bags shaped like a plastic shopping bag and made with recycled nylon. They’ve since ventured into other bags, including the Baggu Duck Bag, an essential everyday canvas tote bag that can hold a 15 inch laptop with an adjustable strap so you can either put it over your shoulder or carry it by hand. It’s made of 65% recycled cotton.
Get the Baggu Duck Bag here.
Eco Friendly Vegan Handbags
8. Pixie Mood Alicia Tote
Pixie Mood is a Peta approved vegan brand that makes all of their various bag styles with 100% vegan materials. They have several sustainability initiatives including making their bag linings from recycled bottles, using biodegradable packaging and ensures a safe environment for their workers. The Alicia tote is a stylish tote bag that you can throw in all the essentials you’ll need for the plane, plus the tote comes with a removable pouch with a crossbody strap. So it’s like getting two bags for the price of one.
Get the Pixie Mood Alicia Tote here.
9. MATT & NAT HYDE Tote Bag
From another Peta approved vegan brand, MATT & NAT comes the HYDE tote bag. It comes in five colors and its dimensions allows for a 13 inch laptop to fit inside. There’s also a removable zipper compartment that you can use separately as a clutch or pouch, so it’s like getting two bags for the price of one.
Get the MATT & NAT HYDE Tote bag here.
10. Melie Bianco Diana Bag
Another Peta approved brand, Melie Bianco is all about quality and affordable luxury. Not only do they use vegan leather but also make their products under a profit sharing model and know the people that create their bags. The Diana shoulder bag can hold a 13 inch laptop and can be converted into a crossbody bag with its removable strap. There’s also a small and mini zipper pouch included for additional organization in the bag or to use separately.
Get the Melie Bianco Diana bag here.
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