Rucksacks are better than handbags for those who prefer a more active lifestyle. Good ones are also washable without microplastics in the washing machine (unlike bags made from polyester or recycled plastic bottles). Here are some nice choices:
Willow Earth (Sussex) is a delightful company that makes beautiful rucksacks and totes with natural cork logos from strong cotton canvas. But even better, it uses the offcuts to make tote bags, wallets and purses, so there’s no waste.
recycled urban bags (with 10-year guarantees)
GROUNDTRUTH is a unique brand that offers rugged bags for urban and wild environments, all made from recycled materials (even the stormproof zips). These are really tough and have been tested on wild expeditions to the North and South Poles, and therefore everything carries a whopping 10-year guarantee.
The ripstop weave fabrics are water-resistant and made from plastic bottles sourced from an Indonesian recycling plant, just 20 minutes drive from where the bags are made (in a family-run ethical factory).
The range includes a wide range of backpacks and laptop bags, along with technical totes to hold your phones and chargers, and there are also bags to hold cameras (we like Paper Shoot Camera) and even wallets and card-holders.
Each bag has clever features, from interior pockets and pockets for water bottles to detachable straps and airport-friendly trolley sleeves. Each bag removes plastic bottles from our environment, and is sent in biodegradable packaging.
a messenger bag made from recycled seatbelts
This messenger bag is made from a blend of recycled plastic and seatbelts, to help reduce the huge plastic waste problem in India. Made by local artisans, this vegan-friendly bag features an adjustable recycled seat belt as the strap, with the bag made from colourful recycled dark green and yellow plastic.
With plenty of space inside, the open flap is secured by two magnetic popper compartments to reveal a roomy main compartment. There’s also a padded compartment for a laptop, and plenty of room for A4 folders, along with two small pockets to keep your valuables safe.
India ranks third in the world for single-use plastic waste, with presently just 8% of plastic waste recycled. So supporting companies like this that use it up, is a step in the right direction, also providing local well-paid jobs.
This clutch purse made from recycled plastic is fun & colourful, and made by artisans in India, to use up the huge mountain of plastic waste in the country, which often clogs rivers and local areas. Plastic is made from oil so never biodegrades, so is a wonderful material for a made-to-last purse, and features naturally bright rainbow colours.
The purse features a magnetic closure, with lots of room for cash and cards, and makes a great zero waste gift. The inside reveals red fabric lining with 3 compartments to keep essentials organised, plus an inside zipped compartment for coins, and an outside compartment. The plastic is washed before use, and turned into a durable waterproof fabric, there may be slight imperfections due to the handmade nature of the product.
India ranks third in the world for single-use plastic waste, with presently just 8% of plastic waste recycled. So supporting companies like this that use it up, is a step in the right direction, also providing local well-paid jobs.
