Travel season is upon us! And by that, we mean every season can be travel season if you’ve got the right luggage. If you’re looking to upgrade your travel gear (or gift an upgrade to a loved one!) consider choosing sustainable luggage from these eco-friendly, fair trade collections from the best luggage brands we could find.

Coming in an array of styles, colors, personalizations, and sizes, these sustainable suitcases are made by conscious brands, many of which are committed to ethical practices and environmental conservation efforts. Most importantly, these eco-friendly luggage lines are built to last; this means less waste and a bag you can travel with for years to come.

For that “one personal item” on planes and trains, see our guides to sustainable backpacks and eco-friendly purses and handbags for stowing your travel essentials!


Best Overall | Most Affordable | Best Weekender


1. Paravel

Best For | Carry-on luggage, packing cubes
Price Range | $$–$$$

Paravel is reimagining travel, and not just with its collection of chic suitcases. This NY-based brand has a forward-thinking sustainability model; to date, the company has recycled 5 million plastic water bottles (and counting!) into what’s called negative nylon. This material is used for Paravel’s packing cubes, totes, backpacks, and the interior lining of the Aviator suitcase. The luggage shells are made with recycled polycarbon exterior, an aircraft-grade recycled aluminum handle, vegan leather details, and recycled zippers.

All of this plus the timeless designs, beautiful color schemes, and Paravel’s five-year warranty? We know precisely what suitcase we’re rolling into our next adventure. Weekenders starting at $285 make this the kind of investment you won’t regret. Read our Paravel review for an in-depth look.

 


2. Quince

Best For | Hard-shell cases
Price Range | $$

For a classic hard-shell suitcase that will hold up to the wear and tear of years of work trips and family vacations, we love Quince. Choose from five beautiful but practical hues including dark green or a clear, bright blue in case you want to easily find your piece in a sea of black (although black is classic for a reason, and they have that too!). With Japanese-crafted Hinomoto 360-degree wheels, a removable laundry bag, and a TSA-approved lock, these two pieces also nest easily for storage. Crafted ethically with BCSI-certified production and at a combined price of just over $300, this could be the last travel set you need for a long, long time.

 


3. Nisolo

Best For | Artisan-made totes, weekenders, and carry ons
Price Range | $–$$$

For a beautifully handmade bag, you can’t go wrong with Nisolo. The certified B Corp works hard to create ethical and sustainable leather goods in partnership with Peruvian artisans. Each climate-neutral purchase comes with a transparent “Sustainability Facts” label that holds the brand accountable for materials, ethical working conditions, and their environmental impact. We love their commitment to planet and people, and their products are the highest quality, crafted with skill and care. Choose from their shoppers, backpacks, weekenders, and more, all handcrafted from responsibly sourced leather and canvas in a gorgeous array of rich whiskey-browns and earthy neutrals. We love the waxed canvas messenger bag, perfect for carrying on or taking to the office, starting at $180!

 


4. Patagonia

Best For | Heavy duty wheeled duffels
Price Range | $$–$$$

Known for its expansive line of outdoor clothing and accessories as well as its sustainability efforts, it comes as no surprise that Patagonia’s collection of bags and gear includes a truly heavy duty wheeled duffel that could withstand a lifetime’s worth of trips around the world. Sold in 40L, 70L, and 100L sizes and starting at just $159, this weather-resistant, waxed bag is designed to haul your gear on sturdy wheels and with a telescoping handle. Made from 100 percent recycled body fabric, lining, and webbing, this duffel is perfect for long-term trips and outdoor travel.

The brand is so committed to sustainability and reducing waste that they not only back every product with an ironclad guarantee that it will last, but they also offer repairs and include DIY repair & care instructions on their site. We are also big fans of their secondhand shop Worn Wear, for trade-ins, buying used, or recycling their items to reduce consumption and extend product life.

 


5. Lo & Sons

Best For | Weekenders, totes, & backpacks
Price Range | $$–$$$

Imagine a bag that’s as stylish and eco-friendly as it is functional: Say hello to Lo & Sons’ Catalina Deluxe tote, starting at $185. Made with organic canvas or recycled polyester, this sustainable luggage is ideal for anyone and everyone you know! With a roomy shoe compartment, a padded messenger strap, suitcase handle, and plenty of pockets, it’s spacious and durable. No wonder it’s one of the brand’s best-selling bags.

When Helen Lo saw a need for better backpacks and luggage, she worked with her two sons to make it possible. Today, this small Asian American, family-owned business uses organic and recycled materials whenever possible, strives to be fully sustainable, and donates five percent of proceeds to community action organizations and nonprofits local to their NY base.

 


6. Roam

Best For | Customizable luggage
Price Range | $$–$$$$

From former TUMI employees comes Roam, one of the world’s most customizable luggage brands. From monograms to selecting the color of your bag’s stitching, this collection is fun, unique, and created to reflect each traveler’s personality. (Or you can choose from its existing gallery!) Even the totes are customizable (and starting at just $95!).

Roam is also passionate about local business and job creation in the USA. Every one of these suitcases is designed, made to order, and handcrafted at a workshop in Georgia. Each bag comes with a lifetime guarantee to cover non-cosmetic damage.

 


7. Monos

Best For | Functional, timeless matching sets
Price Range | $$$

If you are a frequent flyer looking for the perfect timeless luggage set that is equally as functional as it is stylish, look no further than Monos. Named after the Japanese concept of “mono no aware,” or the appreciation of beauty in fleeting moments, the brand is committed to creating travel products that will help you do just that. Their mindfully designed luggage line offers TSA-approved carry-ons to check-in sized premium travel cases that all nest neatly together between trips.

We love the attention to functionality in their designs, like the sleek front compartment on the Carry-On Pro Plus for easy access to laptops, books, and more. Mix and match starting with their versatile (and beautiful) backpacks that start at $200. Build a set in matching hues for each person in your family over the next several gift-giving occasions to ensure a lifetime of sleek, stylish, and functional journeys to wherever life takes them!

 


8. Solgaard

Best For | Built-in Shelving
Price Range 
| $$–$$$

Overpackers rejoice! Solgaard is making it easier than ever to pack everything you want with their innovative trunks, which are both a suitcase and a closet combined! Coming in a medium or large carry-on size or a sleek, hard-shell check-in size, these unbreakable suitcases have removable built-in shelves (!!), making unpacking easier than ever. With a lifetime warranty and the knowledge that these babies help to recycle up to 6 lbs of ocean-bound plastic from coastal communities, what’s not to love? Their circular backpacks, starting at $165, are also the perfect personal item. Made from post-consumer recycled plastic, these bags can also be recycled when you’re finished with them!

 


9. Orvis

Best For | Luggage to last
Price Range | $$–$$$$

A bag by Orvis is a bag inspired by nature, and we’re all about investing in quality luggage with the Battenkill Expandable Roller. Perfect for extended trips and touting a lifetime warranty, the Battenkill is one we know will be passed down through generations. We also love their adventure tote, which is built with the same attention to detail for a lifetime of use, starting at just under $100.

Orvis dates back to 1856 when the company was founded in the hills of Vermont. Dedicated to protecting the wild, these products will survive and outlast all your adventures. They even offer a repair program. Orvis gives five percent of pre-tax profits to environmental protection efforts and works with numerous conservation partners and initiatives.

 


Featured Image from Monos