Our Top Sustainable Luggage Brands for Your Conscious Travel
Headed on a trip? You’ll need a [good] bag…
There’s much more to conscious travel than offsetting your flight. For instance, we need to consider the products we use in route and upon arrival….especially our luggage.
Horizn carry-ons | Photo credit: Horizn
Luggage is a favorite topic of ours because it has significant impacts on the environment, your experience, and if you’re a traveler, it’s an absolutely essential item. Some things to take into account when searching for your next luggage:
Environmental Impact: look for brands that use sustainable materials, including recycled, humane, low/free of toxins, fair trade, vegan, and natural materials, as well as companies that prioritize good working conditions and that, strive for (or have achieved) climate neutrality. This was near impossible to find a decade ago. Now there are many wonderful options.
Durability: Hands up if you’ve ever traveled with crappy gear that’s broken mid airport ✋✋. I personally spent two days of a trip with a backache from a luggage handle that broke as soon as I stepped out of the cab at the airport. This was me trying my best to be responsible by using an old suitcase to the very end. Noble perhaps, but I was relieved when I finally had an excuse to purchase a new piece. That said, this is one purchase you don’t want to have to make often because of price point and the resources used to make them. When you don’t have to replace luggage for decades, or even a travel lifetime, it is better for you, your wallet, and the environment.
Functionality: A good bag can make a big difference on your in-route experience––smooth sailing through security is a massive win, especially when you’re packing children :). For instance, the laptop sleeve on the outside of my carry-on is a major timesaver (bonus is that I don’t have risk undies and other personals falling onto the conveyer belt), as is the phone charger neatly hidden away under the telescopic handle of this same piece of luggage (see below for the luggage I’m packing these days).
Closet impact: Luggage pieces are bulky items that most people don’t use often enough to take up so much real estate in the house. Even more reason to make sure you need it...and that you LOVE it.
To help you find your perfect travel companion,…
…we’ve put together a few of our favorite sustainable luggage brands ranging in colors, size, style, function, and regional availability. So rest assured knowing that your next purchase will be both stylish and people/planet friendly, in true Good Trips fashion.
Horizn Studios – Berlin, Germany
Germany’s Horizn Studios brings us the latest in sleek, sustainable, and tech-forward luggage.
Horizn M5 Neon Carry-on | Image credit: Horizn Studios
Horizn Studios is a creative, dynamic, and conscious company that designs smart luggage for all occasions, from overnight trips and daily commutes to endless vacations. The brand’s sustainability journey seems to be neverending as well, as proven by the constant incorporation of new, ecologically-minded campaigns, materials, and designs. All Horizn pieces are made from long-lasting and sustainable materials, from recycled lining and zippers to reused fabrics. As an ever-evolving brand, Horizn will discontinue its use of non-recycled synthetic fibers by the end of 2021. Horizn’s other sustainability efforts include:
Nearly waste-free production.
Recycled virgin polycarbonate offcuts.
Identification as the world’s first PETA-Approved vegan luggage brand.
Additionally, customers earn €30 vouchers in exchange for donating old luggage and have a lifetime warranty on each purchase. From pledging to use 100% recycled polyester to ensuring that no polycarbonate materials ever reach a landfill, Horizn embodies the eco-friendliness that we prioritize at Good Trips.
Horizn M5 Neon carry-ons | Image credit: Horizn Studios
We don’t just love Horizn for its sustainability. Their backpacks, suitcases, and accessories are unique, stylish, and just plain genius. One of our favorite non-luggage accessories is the waterproof tech pouch. Made from incredibly durable material, it fits just about everything-- chargers, iPads, headphones, screen glasses, and whatever else you might need to throw in it. Among Horizn’s other essentials are their water-sealed canvas backpacks, the SoFo Weekender bag, and the Circle One luxury luggage collection (made with 100% plant-based hard shells).
My personal favs from Horizn are linked below. I adore and heavily use each of these products. That said, rest assured knowing that whichever Horizn product you choose will be elegant, without guilt, long-lasting, and, most importantly, Good Trips approved!
SoFo Rolltop Backpack
Made with ultra durable water-resistant waxed cotton, this bag has become my everyday purse replacement, in addition to the perfect personal item on the plane. Favorite features:
hidden, quick-access 15” laptop sleeve
second hidden pocket perfect for a phone
luggage handle strap for easy carry through the airport
water resistant
dual-toned, goes with everything
Photo credit: Horizn Studios
M5 Neon Edition
Oh how I adore this luggage. I don’t want to store it because I love the way it looks so much. Looks aside, it’s production is 99% waste free. Favorite features:
removable smart charger
exterior water resistant 15” laptop sleeve
internal compression pad
Japanese tech wheels that spin so smooth
made with the lightest weight materials
Photo credit: Horizn Studios
Tech Organizer
When I first received this pouch, I thought it was way too big. Turns out it was not only perfect to carry all of our small tech bits in travel mode, it has become my daily organizer within my Sofo Roll Top. Favorite features:
water proof for the win
UV resistant for bonus points
many small pockets and sections to store all the little things
Photo credit: Horizn Studios
Last to mention is the service Horizn provides. I have several email chains miles long with questions to the service and product departments about quality, sustainability, specific orders, etc. All responses and communication has been timely, helpful, and friendly as can be.
Paravel – New York City, USA
Another one of our favorites (from the U.S. this time) is Paravel. Paravel embodies sophistication and modernity in all aspects, from its functionality and design to sustainability and intentions.
Paravel Aviator carry-on | Photo credit: Paravel
Much like Horizn, Paravel is constantly expanding its environmental efforts and pledges to be 100% sustainable by the end of 2021, in addition to its recycled polycarbonate luggage shells, silicon-coated canvas, and vegan leather. We recognize that it’s almost impossible for brands to be completely eco-friendly, but Paravel uses materials that are about as close as it gets. Negative nylon is used in nearly every product, and what excites us most is that it’s made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles. Jute, a biodegradable, microplastic-free fabric, composes almost every Paravel tote. However, Paravel’s sustainability efforts do not stop here, and you can find a complete list of their environmental resolutions and practices here.
From a design standpoint, Paravel is definitely a frontrunner. Their pieces present a polished medley of classic and contemporary styles, boasting sleek, glossy finishes, elegantly ribbed outer coats, and aesthetically pleasing color combinations. For a classic look, we recommend anything in the Scout Tan and Ivory color combination. Some of our favorite products include the Main Line Duffle, the multi award winning Aviator Carry-On, and Always Organized collection made from 32 recycled water bottles. An added bonus: many products can be monogrammed, so whether you’re looking for a personalized travel companion or a last-minute gift for a jet-setting friend, you can find it at Paravel.
Paravel Aviator carry-on and Weekender bag | Photo Credits: Paravel
Lo & Sons – Brooklyn, USA
This Asian-American-owned family business comes out of Brooklyn, New York. Good Trips isn’t just about supporting conscious travel from an ecological standpoint, but from a social one too. Good news-- Lo & Sons is the best of both worlds.
Lo & Sons Catalina bags | Photo Credit: Lo & Sons
In 2010, Helen Lo, a 65-year-old retired Asian-American mother, joined forces with her sons to create a solution to the luggage difficulties that she faced. Frustrated by bags that were too heavy and dysfunctional, Helen, Derek, and Jan sought to solve the problems faced by 21st-century adventurers. We’re excited to promote a goal-driven, experience-guided brand, but we are equally proud to support female-founded, family-run, sustainability-minded businesses.
Not only do Lo & Sons believe in protecting and preserving the planet, but they are convinced (and rightfully so) that brands can lead the way in reversing environmental damage and promoting innovative solutions to the current climate crisis. By using materials such as organic canvas, recyclable poly bags, and plant-based, vegan fibers, Lo & Sons promotes environmental conscientiousness in all of their products. In addition, the brand partners with organizations such as The Renewal Workshop and the Yale Center for Business and the Environment to develop and implement zero-waste systems and environmentally-friendly production technologies. As a result, Lo & Sons has increased their percentage of products made with eco-friendly materials by nearly 50% within the last three years, and the brand is proud to continue improving on this front.
Helen’s son Jan leads product design at Lo & Sons, and his personal connection with the brand’s mission ensures that every decision is strategic and in line with his mother’s goals. Every pocket, sleeve, and zipper are intentionally created with the careful balance of classic, yet casual design and modernity in mind. However, design does not take away from versatile products. For example, besides the O.G. 2’s sleek design, it boasts valuable functional features such as a side shoe pocket, an external laptop compartment for easy access, and a suitcase handle sleeve so that you can take it from boardroom to boarding gate. Have a peruse of the Catalina collection, designed with thoughtful features like a bottom pocket and produced with luxury sustainable materials such as recycled poly and organic canvas. These products are the best of both worlds-- functional and elegant all at once.
PROJECTKIN – Copenhagen, Denmark
In typical Danish fashion, PROJECTKIN brings us innovation, minimalism, versatility, and sustainability all in one.
PROJECTKIN KIN Carry-on | Photo credit: PROJECTKIN
Their pieces are made to last a lifetime and are produced according to the highest standards of sustainability. Unlike most traditional luggage, PROJECTKIN products are entirely plastic-free (other than their luggage wheels). All other parts of your next travel companion are made from hemp and flax, the careful combination of which ensures both durability and eco-friendliness. Get this, their hard shells are both nearly impossible to crack and biodegradable.
Like other brands, PROJECTKIN is motivated by the idea that the most sustainable choice is to purchase and use products that last a lifetime. The brand’s lead designer for the revolutionary KIN carry on––Boris Berlin––has been featured at the MOMA for his remarkable innovation and dedication to the current climate crisis. Three years of research and experimentation certainly paid off, and we agree that this brand has perfected the use of natural materials for luggage.
PROJECTKIN’s bags are not only impressively up to par with modern sustainability standards but also uniquely chic. Earth tones like beige and moss green ensure that your next carry-on possesses a modern, innovative, and elegant look and feel. Don’t forget to check out their refreshingly plastic-free packing accessories, especially these linen packing cubes, the KIN laundry bag, and wash bag.
PROJECTKIN Linen travel organizers | Photo credit: PROJECTKIN
Freitag – Zurich, Switzerland
The latest in Swiss innovation brings us genuinely unique (and we mean, UNIQUE) travel pieces.
Photo credits: Freitag
Freitag invests in developing the best technology for sourcing, processing, and designing bags made exclusively from recycled truck tarps. Although Freitag prides itself on the innovative use of this unique material, the brand recognized that truck tarps do not provide the softness and flexibility essential to functional luggage. They discovered PET, a PFC-free fabric where production requires less water, energy, and harmful chemicals than traditionally similar materials to fill this void. If recycled PET bottles and truck tarps weren’t cool enough for Freitag’s eco-conscious consumer, they introduced airbags to their supply chain. The fabric that B-stock airbags are made from ensures durable, dependable, and--if we haven’t said it enough--awesome backpacks, suitcases, and more.
Our obsession with Freitag goes beyond sustainability to design. As a lover of street art and visual expression, we’re giddy for the way these bags radiate modernity and innovation through their bursts of color, bold zippers and straps, and unique shapes. Freitag doesn’t stop at luggage. Their products include everything from notebooks and wallets to shirts and messenger bags. We can’t list all of our favorites, so we suggest that you explore the Freitag website and enjoy fun content while you’re at it.
Patagonia – Ventura, USA
For years, I have had the writings of Patagonia’s founder––Yvon Chouinard––on my bookshelf and referenced them often (my copy of The Responsible Company is well worn from the frequent use of it to inspire the build of several small businesses). This company is one to emulate, and while I don’t wear the clothes much, if at all, I have used many items from their bag and luggage series that have traveled with me around the world.
It’s impossible to list all the reasons we love this brand, but among the frontrunners is their dedication to social and environmental action, commitment to providing opportunities for consumers to support their activist agenda, and, of course, the unbeatable quality and uniqueness of their products.
Black Hole® Duffel Bag 40L | Photo credit: Patagonia
A fundamental tenet of sustainability is transparency, and Patagonia does not fail in this aspect. The brand is impressively straightforward and candid regarding their facilities and production practices, ensuring that consumers know where and how their products are made. As a result, this brand surpasses expectations, whether it’s meeting 100% of their electricity needs in the U.S. with renewable electricity or growing all of their cotton organically.
Their products rely on recycled materials such as fishing nets and innovative regenerative organic practices. Although their successes may be too numerous to count, they publish complete lists of their sustainability progress. One of their most consumer-convenient and sustainability-committed efforts is the Ironclad Guarantee; Patagonia will repair or replace any product that does not perform to your satisfaction, thereby holding true to the idea that the most sustainable option is the longest lasting.
One of our favorite products is the Black Hole Wheeled Duffel. This bag has helped me travel with my husband and young boys countless times over land and oceans. It is out-of-this-world durable yet still versatile and 100% recycled. The entire Black Hole series stands out among others for their functional looks––glossy coats, bright colors––packability (pack up so compact for closet saving space), and their affordability for the quality.
Patagonia Wheeled Black Hole Duffel – 100L | Photo credit: Patagonia
Packing it Up
Our luggage curations embody Good Trips’ carefully deliberated balance between design, functionality, and sustainability. These brands are unique in that they strive to meet the ever-growing needs of the conscious traveler while still adhering to their aesthetic values.….and while the best thing you can do for the planet is to buy used or to borrow luggage, that’s not realistic for many of us….
…In that case, you should opt for a responsible company doing their best to mind the planet, people and creating highly durable and functional pieces to get you packing sustainably and, of course, style-y at the same time.
So whether you’re headed to Upstate New York for a quick getaway, a family vacay with all of the things, or a solo business trip, choose wisely with your baggage. It will make all the difference
Know any luggage brands that should be on our list? Leave us a comment below! We answer every message we receive, personally.
The Good Trips editors only endorse products we genuinely love. If you end up making a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission.
