Eco Friendly Purses Ethically Made to Carry Around in Style

Eco and ethical fashion also mean stylish fashion! At Puratium, we are convinced that living a more sustainable, low waste lifestyle is about choices, not sacrifices.

This article will detail each of the ten brands in terms of packaging and materials, social and environmental practices, as well as style and price range. We will also clearly flag the vegan-friendly purses in our summary graph.

It is essential to recommend purses and bag brands committed to ethically made products, including transparent business practices and charitable work.

The below list of brands comprises some of our personal favorites, mainly due to their originality. And, style (guilty here!).

Let’s now look at each brand per location: as usually encouraged on Puratium, try to order from the one closer to home.

Elvis & Kresse
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Elvis & Kresse
  • Best recycled material
  • Sustainable packaging
Corkor
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Corkor
  • Best raw natural material
  • Local sourcing & manufacturing
Nisolo
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Nisolo
  • Best Non Vegan
  • Transparency on supply chain

Gunas - New York, USA

Materials & Packaging

The brand is committed to being 100% cruelty-free, advocating that animals have no place in the fashion industry.

No use of leather, fur, wool, silk, or any other animal-derived products and adhesives.

We recommend this brand for its innovative approach.

Namely, their 100% PVC and plastic-free Mulbtex developed in 2018. As strong as silk, it is an authentic Korean material made from the Mulberry plant leaf pulp.

We particularly like that their lining fabrics are made from recycled plastic bottles or cotton twills that were up-cycled.

And their 24-carat Gold plated custom logo hardware is made from recycled materials.

Unfortunately, we could not retrieve any information on the type of packaging used.

Social & Environmental Practices

GUNAS clearly indicates the place of manufacture for each item they sell. They work with small-scale manufacturers mainly from India, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, and Hong Kong using non-toxic methods for the environment (neither PVC nor Vinyl).

And, they are sweatshop-free guaranteed. This means that they advocate against unacceptable working conditions and trade oppression often associated with cheap fashion goods.

Lastly, they regularly donate a part of their profits to animal charities and other organizations striving for ecological welfare.

In 2012, GUNAS was awarded the Ethical Fashion Award in London. The first award of many!

Style & Price

Probably one of the most famous vegan purse brands with fair trade standards in the US, and for a good reason. We are huge fans of their Meghan collection’s shoulder bags.

While 300 USD for a purse may seem like a significant investment, you will be assured to wear an ethically made purse with superior vegan materials, inspired by the Duchess of Sussex herself! In terms of vegan brand purses, this is a great endorsement.

Additionally, it is good to mention that a Gunas’ vegan handbag will cost you between 125 and 295 USD.

Additionally, they offer functional, durable men’s bags that are 100% plastic-free and silicone-based Mulbtex vegan leather.

eco friendly purses brands: Gunas NY Canva
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Nisolo - Nashville, USA

Nisolo Lori Tote Eco Friendly Purse
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Image by Nisolo

Materials & Packaging 

Each of their products is handcrafted. They offer vegetable tanned leather bags, i.e., natural oils from bark or plant tannins, and therefore free of harmful chemicals. And they are committed to high-quality sourcing materials.

Most of the tanneries they use are certified through the Leather Working Group.

We particularly like this eco friendly brand as well for its Shoe Reclamation Program: Nisolo is committed to a circular fashion model, and therefore, you can return old shoes that will be repaired and recycled appropriately, in collaboration with Soles4Souls.

Bear in mind that the Nashville based fair trade brand does not ship internationally.

And in all honesty (and in an ideal low carbon footprint world – granted), this should be the standard!

Never lose sight of how you can help protect the planet: the 5Rs of Zero Waste, but also an eco-approach to life so close to our heart at Puratium.

Unfortunately, we could not retrieve any information on the type of packaging used.

Rosewood Eco friendly purse
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Image by Nisolo

Social & Environmental Practices

We appreciate Nisolo’s transparency regarding its supply chain. For in-depth analysis lovers, their impact report is available here.

70% of the manufacturing process occurs in Peru, while the rest is produced in Mexico or Kenya.

All factories must comply with their Code of Conduct and are regularly visited by the Nisolo crew to ensure standards are met (artisans are above 18, receive healthcare benefits, among other things, to name a few).

It is important to mention that they have been a Certified B Corporation since 2017 and scored 94 out of 100: “B Corp certification is similar to fair trade, but determines environmental and social impact beyond product attributes or production processes’.

Nisolo acknowledges the issues around wages in the fashion industry and how we, as customers, can help make things right by demanding fair living wages and decent working conditions.

As a matter of fact, they have strived to pay a LIVING wage to their workers by determining such countries’ minimum pay requirements.

On average, their producers in Peru earn 33% above fair trade wages.

We commend Nisolo for their vision and humility in learning what went wrong in the first place.

On the donation side, their major contribution goes to help protect forests in the Amazon Basin. Concretely, an offset of 1,221 metrics tons of CO2! In other words, similar to taking 264 cars off the road for a year.

Lastly, another great best practice from Nisolo is their Ethical Marketplace.

Why? By handpicking a few of their favorite eco friendly products from other like-minded brands, they want to make sustainable shopping – even – easier.

Style & Price 

This review focuses on eco friendly purses responsibly made by fashion brands worldwide. However, we could not recommend Nisolo only for their accessories!

Their shoes and boots are stylish, easy to wear, and come in easily ‘matchable’ colors.

Their waterproof leather Dari Boots are our favorite thanks to their refined shape with a snug fit.

As for their bags, Totes start at 80 USD, while their elegant cotton Canvas weekender is at 200 USD.

All in all, we appreciate Nisolo for their variety of simple yet beautiful and ethically made accessories, shoes, bags, jewelry, and the like, for both men and women.

And, starting at a reasonable price range (90 USD for sneakers, 15 USD for socks, etc.)

eco friendly purses nisolo
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Cuyana - San Francisco, USA

Materials & Packaging 

Cuyana undoubtedly favors quality over quantity by selecting the finest materials that will last longer and thus crafted to stand the test of time. To name just a few:

  • Silk from China: each part of the process is closely monitored, allowing a significant reduction of harmful waste creation.
  • Recycled cashmere(if you want to find out more information about cashmere read this article) from Italy: this regenerative process is handled by a family-run mill founded in 1890 in Bologna.
  • Responsibly made leather from Italy and Argentina: their tanneries are Gold Certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG). Moreover, resource optimization and waste production in the design process are of core importance.

Unfortunately, we could not retrieve any information on the type of packaging used.

Social & Environmental Practices

When it comes to environmental practices and certifications, Cuyana is at the top! They currently manage to use 95% of product sustainability and are ethically made and intend to reach 100% by 2022.

This includes several environmental certifications, such as GOTS (organic cotton, free of harmful chemicals) or GRS (Global Recycling Standard). Plus, their LWG certification gives us further peace of mind.

It promotes sustainable business practices in the leather industry regarding traceability, energy and water consumption, waste management, and the like.

Reducing their carbon footprint is at the heart of this eco friendly brand’s business model.

Even though they produce and manufacture in various countries, they endeavor to select factories close to their source material, such as their Pima Cotton, grown and made in Peru.

All their factories are independently audited for social compliance.

We also believe that their commitment to producing in line with market demands shows their long term engagement against fast fashion. Unlike conventional brands selling about 60 to 70% of their production, Cuyana reached 90% in 2019.

Plus, the ‘afterlife’ of your purse is secure: they offer an excellent repair service beyond the 2-year warranty and partner with thredUP for their Resale program.

On the donation side, this eco friendly brand has a takeback program so that their customers may pass along their used yet high-quality items to women who suffered from abusive situations (HEART, i.e., Helping Ease Abuse Related Trauma).

Style & Price 

Beautifully elegant is what first comes to mind when looking at Cuyana’s purses. We appreciate the variety of this reliable sustainable brand: bags, jewelry, and accessories such as hats and scarves.

Design-wise, the fact that these purses are timeless, functional, and versatile handbags make them a lifelong item in your wardrobe (let’s keep you inspired!).

Our preferred (and super classy!) choice and LWG Silver certified go to the Carryall Tote. Large enough to carry a 15-inch laptop, the Argentinian leather made purse costs 245 USD.

We also appreciate the price range; from 95 USD for a travel case to 395 USD for a Trapeze Satchel.

eco friendly purses CUYANA
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Angela Roi - New York, USA

Materials & Packaging 

Angela Roi handbags are exquisitely designed and carefully crafted by artisans using EPUL (Exquisite Polyurethane Leather), a durable thread and quality fabric.

Each of their products is hand-constructed using high quality and animal-free materials. They are PETA certified.

Moreover, in 2020, Angela Roi launched an AR home collection using the wasted materials from their beloved bag collections.

This has enabled them to craft everyday home products such as coaster sets.

Unfortunately, we could not retrieve any information on the type of packaging Angela Roi uses.

And, we found it a pity that they do not opt for recycled materials, even for smaller pieces like metal items. These reasons explain the lower rating for Angela Roi.

Social & Environmental Practices

We like this eco friendly brand’s educational videos detailing each step of the manufacturing process.

Each Angela Roi handbag is designed in NY and manufactured in reliable factories in South Korea.

Angela Roi committed to providing fair wages and working conditions and avoiding the traditional pitfalls of sweatshop partnership.

Thanks to quarterly on-site visits, they ensure a fair manufacturing process.

We could not find any information on an Angela Roi giving back program or charitable causes support.

Style & Price 

A timeless look is what best defined one of the most renowned vegan bag designers in New York. We also recommend this eco friendly brand for its affordability.

On the budget side, it starts at 55 USD for the Zuri Card Pouch and can go up to 255 USD.

Lastly, if you are looking for a stylish 100% organic hemp made tote, Angela Roi is the place to look for. Please note that they do not offer shipping outside of the US for the moment.

eco friendly purses angela roi
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Elvis & Kresse - Kent, UK

Materials & Packaging 

Rescue, transform, and donate have been Elvis & Kresse’s three pillars since their beginning in 2005.

Starting with the idea that they wanted to save London’s fire hoses from ending in landfills, this eco friendly brand has developed an obsession for waste reduction!

We recommend this brand for its attention to detail and its willingness to opt for sustainable/recycled materials for each part of their products. To name a few:

  • Decommissioned fire-hoses turned into an alternative robust (and mainly red!) textile.
  • Unwanted shoe boxes that they repurpose for their packaging and labels.
  • Tea sacks: typically not recyclable, Elvis & Kresse have managed to reuse these layers for packaging or printing their brochures.
  • Reclaimed printing blanket that they re-engineer to create a new vintage material.

Bear in mind that their collections are not entirely vegan. They have partnered with the Burberry Foundation to decrease the amount of leather waste produced yearly (35,000 tons!) by the European luxury industry (2). Hopefully, that will lead to more vegan handbag availability.

Social & Environmental Practices

They are part of the Certified B Corporations. All their products are manufactured in their workshop in Kent or in Istanbul, Turkey. Fairness in pay and respect in the workplace is part of their DNA.

A strict quality control along the entire supply chain process allows the best chance for the longest possible life. Thus, they offer lifetime repairs for any of their products.

Moreover, we particularly appreciate their commitment regarding their pricing: it is based strictly on the labor costs involved in producing their goods. They refuse to do sales or discounts in the same vein as they are not ‘a fast-moving consumer goods brand.’

Also worth mentioning, they are fully powered by renewable energy!

Lastly, for their charitable work, this eco friendly brand is again excelling: they donate 50% of their profits to projects and charities directly related to their unique materials that they reclaim.

Style & Price 

If you are looking for a super original and unique eco friendly bag, this is the shop to check out!

We particularly like their classic Tote Bag available in red hose, yellow hose, or black printing blanket that are ideal shoulder bags.

Made from genuine decommissioned fire-hose, we recommend it for its size, easy cleaning, and robustness.

They offer a variety of reliable, eco friendly bags, wallets, belts, or even pencil cases that will be appreciated by both men and women.

Price-wise, you can get a Fire & Hide Cosmetics case for 100 GBP and go up to 375 GBP for their weekend bag collection.

eco friendly purses elvis & kresse
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Mashu - London, UK

Materials & Packaging 

Mashu’s bags feature vegan, recyclable, and sustainable materials. Their criteria for sourcing these materials are not random: organic and plant-based, but also allowing enhanced conservation of natural resources.

Typically, they opt for materials like Pinatex, hemp, and Dinamica; no harmful chemical substances are used in any of these options.

They also strive for better reuse of wooden offcuts. Additionally, their vegan leather is made from water-based PU (Polyurethane Surface).

Lastly, their FSC certified packaging is made from post-consumer recycled materials. They use vegan glue and biodegradable tape.

We give Mashu the maximum score for this category and invite you to read further on this topic.

As a matter of fact, transparency and constant improvement are only a few of their core eco-values.

Social & Environmental Practices

We commend Mashu for producing and sourcing their entire collections in Europe! Local manufacture not only helps to reduce your carbon footprint but also helps build a healthier economy while supporting traditional craftsmanship.

They closely collaborate with their artisans in Athens, Greece, to continuously innovate and minimize waste in parallel.

They regularly review everyone involved in the supply chain’s production methods, ensuring fair and ethical business practices.

We particularly appreciate their willingness to share their sustainability strategy openly.

It is important to note that zero waste and using 100% of circular or recycled materials are among their first goals for the future.

Lastly, we hope their giving back program to animal and environmental causes will soon be up and running.

Style & Price 

A day-to-night style is what distinguishes this eco friendly handbag brand. We are fond of their Amaryllis collection for its simple yet perfectly sized dimensions.

High five as well to the vegan leather Sophia Sage bags made of Pinatex and their 106cm Nickel Free chains.

Mashu is an exclusive, luxurious cruelty-free brand. Budget-wise, expect a range from 200 to 355 GBP.

eco friendly purses MASHU
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BEEN - London, UK

Ridley Gold Purse
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Materials & Packaging 

We like BEEN for their motto: “Imagination can dream up a second life for used materials.” They source their materials destined for landfills and turn them into fashionable items.

Hence, they are committed to using sustainable materials like recycled leather, sourcing it from tannery offcuts, and trimmings that are otherwise thrown away.

Moreover, they use recycled cotton, recycled felt, and Piñatex (a natural leather alternative from pineapple leaves and PETA certified).

Their zips are made from recycled plastic bottles.

Lastly, we are fans of this brand for their approach to recycling and repairing. Whenever a part of the bag is no longer repairable, they constantly innovate to find recycling solutions.

Unfortunately, we could not retrieve any information on the type of packaging used.

BEEN LONDON-GOLD-01_V2
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Social & Environmental Practices

Design-wise, BEEN has a zero-waste approach that is quite remarkable: by using mainly square and rectangular panels, waste is close to none.

With functionality and durability in mind, the brand strives to reach a timeless trend.

Regarding the supply chain, they manufacture all their bags and accessories in house in East London. In an effort to minimize carbon footprint in terms of transportations, they ship out materials by sea.

We wish we could have more information on where and how they recuperate their leather.

Regarding their charitable work, they are supporting the reforestation of the Amazon forest to help with carbon capture thanks to their partnership with the NGO Tree-Nation. 

Lastly, felt linings are made by people with a long-term history of unemployment, while the packaging process is handled by Londoners with learning difficulties.

Style & Price 

We fell in love at first with their Ridley Crossbody! Shiny, playful, entirely made from recycled materials, and includes adjustable straps. Sold at 179 GBP, it is waterproof and easily washable with a damp cloth.

Bear in mind that most of BEEN’s collection is not vegan(hence no vegan handbag available).

However, they offer few options free of any animal products and derivatives in their supply chain, such as their unisex and cruelty-free Cassland Laptop Case.

Moreover, made from 100% vegan leather (Piñatex), these laptop bags can fit most of 13 inches devices.

Their vegan leather belt bags made entirely from pineapple leaves are worth having a look as well (keep your valuables close and your hands free!).

Even though the brand has a limited offer in terms of collection, we like its focus on quality, with bright and straightforward designs.

Lastly, the price range starts at 95 GBP for a colorful laptop case and goes up to 259 GBP for one of their oversized tote bags with 4 pockets (two internal, two externals).

eco friendly purses been
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Ahimsa Collective - Australia

Materials & Packaging

A_C is dedicated to not only create environmentally friendly products at an affordable price range; they also intend for each to be ecologically beneficial.

To achieve this, they opt for plant-based, organic, and recycled textiles.

Namely, the famous viable, sustainable alternative to leather, i.e., Pinatex, and FSC Certified washable paper made in Europe.

Moreover, they closely work with a waste management company that enables them to intercept discarded and leftover materials.

All their handbags contain recycled-polyester, either to help with the structure or in the lining itself.

Ahimsa is very concerned with their purses’ end of life: they offer an excellent repair service. And, they have a buy-back program allowing you to send back your preloved handbag.

For vegans, be on the lookout. They use both vegan (Pinatex and washable paper) and non-vegan materials (Deadstock) so make sure to apply correct filtering in the Shop area to get your vegan handbag.

Lastly, an excellent note on their 100% Recycled cardboard boxes and using soy-based inks for printing.

Even for the wrapping part, they use NoIssue tissue paper, which is acid-free and FSC certified. In terms of handbag brands, they are one of the best.

Social & Environmental Practices

They diligently visit their factories in China twice a year and make sure each part of the manufacturing process follows the Modern Slavery Act: no child labor, no forced labor, no harassment, to cite just a few principles.

We mainly appreciate A_C’s strategy regarding their shipping practices: they select less carbon-intensive modes of transport whenever possible.

Did you know, for example, that transporting by sea uses 26 times less carbon than Air Freight? (3)

As for the delivery service within Australia, they partnered with Sendle, a certified BCorp who operates on 100% Carbon neutral service for deliveries. And they operate on green electricity in their HQ. Small changes matter!

Besides, be aware that 5 AUD is donated to develop Sea Forests off the coast of Tasmania for each sold item.

Style & Price

We love their eco friendly vegan handbags, and in particular, the Halfmoon Maxi Bag sold at 199 AUD. You can wear it as a shoulder bag (added strap) or as a giant feature Clutch with an upper handle.

Budget-wise, we are sure you will appreciate the starting number: only 59 USD for a coin purse. It can go up to 289 AUD for a mini bucket bag that can double as a backpack.

eco friendly purses Ahimsa Coll
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Ms. Bay - Belgium

Materials & Packaging 

In the fishing industry, salmons skins are currently considered ‘waste,’ with only 1% of fish skin being recycled.

Ms. Bay decided to take an active role; their source material for their collection is mainly salmon leather. 

This rescued material is similar to conventional leather in terms of quality but is superior when it comes to environmental standards.

It requires minimum efforts to transform into leather compared to mammals skins and remains very strong over the years.

Plus, they use vegetable tanning; “No toxins hurting our craftsmen, no toxins released into nature.”

Moreover, they also opt for recycled materials for their linings, their packaging, and all presentation materials!

Lastly, bravo for their commitment to using only biodegradable or reusable fabrics for their entire collection. 

Social & Environmental Practices

Strong ethical and social values define the Antwerp-based company. While acknowledging the issues traditionally linked with third world countries factories, Ms. Bay envisages trade as a labor opportunity for improving the living conditions of the local communities in Calcutta (India), where their factories are based.

All their three workshops are SA8000 standard or WFTO certified.

In other words, they are externally audited and qualify for fair trade standards regarding child labor, health, and safety, discrimination, wages, etc.

Also worth mentioning is their geothermal tanned fish leather. While conventional leather tanning requires significant amounts of warm water, their tannery uses geothermal water, i.e., naturally heated by the earth’s energy.

The fish leather comes from sustainable fisheries in northern Europe.

As for their charitable contribution, they donate 5% of their profits to Ocean Cleanup, an organization aiming at cleaning our oceans of plastic pollution.

Style & Price 

Ms. Bay is a slow, luxury accessories brand. We like it for its sophisticated and luxurious design, but without the guilt you feel with other not so eco focus brands.

Prices can go up to 480 EUR for their Honest Hobo handbag, which is quite the investment. Rest assured, you can acquire a Mini Moon for an entry-level item at 155 EUR.

Still, we had hoped for more affordable prices for the smaller handbags.

Our personal choice goes to the gorgeous blue and brown Full Moon bag with an adjustable strap. If you want to go a bit “outside the box” in terms of handbag brands this is the one.

eco friendly purses ms bay
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Corkor - Portugal

Eco Friendly Corkor purse
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Image by Corkor

Materials & Packaging 

As you would have guessed, Corkor was born from the idea that the vegan fashion industry could use another sustainably sourced material, i.e., cork. Based in Portugal, the family-owned business is 100% PETA certified.

Cork is not only a fabulous natural fiber, but it is also extremely light, water-resistant, and abrasion-resistant.

But also, feels and behaves like leather, without the animal cruelty often associated with it.

Rest assured, their cork leather is accredited to ensure adequate protection and harvesting of the cork oak forest. 

In a nutshell, ‘the cork is obtained by removing the outer bark of the tree, without cutting or harming it. As the bark replenishes, cork can be harvested again and again’.

On the packaging side, they reduce their impact and carbon emissions by keeping packages simple and shipping in bulk to logistics warehouses.

Sourcing and manufacturing locally are of utmost importance for Corkor.

And also making an effort on environmental standards such as minimizing polyester use, using non-toxic water-based inks(something all handbag brands should be doing). 

Corkor Eco Friendly Purse
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Image by Corkor

Social & Environmental Practices

This eco friendly brand is proud to say that they manage to oversee the entire end to end process: from design to dispatching products to your door.

Traditional craftsmanship is the core of their business model: by partnering with a few local Portuguese artisans, they produce small batches. As a result, premium quality is ensured for any vegan handbag. Smaller sets are indeed part of the solution to avoid mass/overproduction and thus waste.

All their products are machined by hand, a technique that takes years of training to master.

Lastly, they donate a portion of their profits to supporting animal welfare, such as Animal Equality or the Humane League.

Style & Price 

We like Corkor, for its direct-to-consumer approach, with an online presence only. Authentic and built to last best describe this eco-conscious European brand.

We also recommend them for the variety of their affordable accessories: belts, key chains, messenger bags, slippers, office supplies, to name just a few.

They offer both men and women vegan bags of all sizes, yet only in the same brown/yellow colors due to the source material’s nature.

For women’s fashion handbags, we are fans of the Satchel Bag at 126 EUR: modern, with plenty of pockets, which makes it an ideal commuting companion. In terms of budget, expect a – very pleasant – range between 61 EUR and 153 EUR.

eco friendly purses corkor
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What is Wrong With Conventionally Made Leather purses?

We are not saying that leather is terrible and that you should only buy vegan friendly fashion handbag brands. What we are saying is KNOW your brand and product before purchasing.

And, be what you could call ‘eco-pragmatic‘: what purses do I want to be wearing for the next 10, 20 years, and why not your whole life?

In the same vein, we are not recommending you stop buying leather goods, but that you opt for vegetable tanning items which would be a fantastic start if done at a larger scale.

Similarly to this review, find out about the sourced materials and where they were produced. Does the brand have ethical standards, trustworthy certifications like B Corp and PETA?

If a product is cheap, there is a 99% chance it was not entirely made in safe and ethical conditions, allowing both the workers and/or distributors a fair wage.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the pitfalls related to conventionally made leather.

  • Harming animals: it is one thing to wear derived animal products, but another to be cruel to animals in the process. Make sure your brand is, if not PETA certified, using recycled materials or other natural fibers like cork ethically.
  • Harming our environment: leather tanning usually implies enormous amounts of well, food, but also water, fuel, and harmful chemicals. Chemicals cause pollution and threats to human health. Indeed, leather traditionally receives “multiple applications of chemical preservatives, colorants, stiffeners, and modifiers to give it its desired finish.”
  • Harming people: Fast fashion, and in this case, leather goods produced massively in cheap third world factories, unfortunately, comes as at ‘human’ price: poor working conditions, serious health risks for the workers. But also, lower pays and modern slavery – the unfortunately famous sweatshops. These are only a few of the problems the industry (and our generation!) is dealing with today.

Whether you choose vegan or non-vegan leather, recycled or non-recycled materials, ask yourself whether this product is sustainable for both the planet and the people involved in the process.

There are, unfortunately, vegan brands not necessarily following ethical and environmental standards. So, stay alert and keep your critical glasses on!

If you would like to find out more about fast fashion and how you, as customers, can make a difference, look at our analysis here.

Why Social & Environmental Practices Matter

For all our articles on the matter, we would like to clarify the second criteria called ‘Social & Environmental Practices.’

By this, we hope to understand the efforts made by a brand regarding:

  • The workers and their place of work: fair wages, decent work hours, safe environment, no child labor, transparency on the supply chain.
  • Charitable work that goes beyond ‘doing good’ and community growth that enhances local economies.
  • Sustainable environmental practices: reduce carbon footprint, transparency on the manufacturing process.

Some companies have used words like green practices, eco-friendly, natural materials, or (Corporate Social Responsibility) as fancy sustainably-like words to greenwash us.

However, be careful that ticking of these ‘green’ boxes does not necessarily mean that a brand is truly committed to sustainability with a BIG S.

Hence, before choosing a brand, consider its business practices from a wider angle: donations are crucial, so are proper waste management and fair manufacturing.

Final Thoughts

Except for Style and Price that are quite subjective topics to rate, we hope this review has helped you identify your preferred eco friendly and/or vegan handbag.

Most of these brands are doing a fantastic job, ensuring fair trade conditions and transparent business ‘green’ practices.

However, we found it a pity that very few of them put sustainable packaging as part of their day to day practices: i.e., either FSC certified, made from recycled materials, and/or compostable.

Furthermore, if in doubt regarding a brand’s fair trade practices or whether they employ workers in unfortunately famous ‘sweatshops,’ consult the Good On You app.

On a last general note, we hope that we have managed to convince you to shop all types of goods with taste and ethics and a critical eye regarding the fashion industry and the handbag brands in particular.

You should also take a look at some of our other eco friendly articles such as watches here. 

Resources

  1. https://guides.lib.uw.edu/c.php?g=344310&p=2318622
  2. https://www.elvisandkresse.com/pages/reclamation
  3. https://www.ac-official.com/pages/accountability
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