These cork leather rucksacks from Sussex are made from a blend of cotton canvas and cork, an eco-friendly alternative to leather, which requires no trees to be chopped down. Cork is mostly grown in the Mediterranean. And in a sea of plastic wine corks, keeping the cork industry alive, helps also to preserve the forests (if not used for cork, some developer would likely come and chop down them). So this preserves homes for native wildlife too like the Iberian lynx and various rare eagles.
Unlike most tree harvesting (there are concerns in Australia over loggers killing koalas to tear down eucalyptus trees), cork is a manual process. A skilled person with an axe simply strips blanks and then this is continued every 9 years or so, until the tree is 200 years old.
The rucksacks are made from natural cotton canvas, and have a nice cork trim. These rucksacks can also be waterproofed with the company’s own homemade organic soy wax. What’s great about this little company is that all the offcuts from both the canvas and the cork, are then made into other products like coin purses and card holders.
Glynde Cork Backpack is in an earthy rust or indigo. The inside has two patches for iPads or tablets, and a zipped pocket. It features a cork flap which is double-packed with two pieces of material to make it durable, and waterproof for rainier months (the canvas water-repellent).
Hastings Canvas Backpack is comfortable and practical. The cotton straps are padded, so there is no digging into your shoulders. Ideal for nature walks or picnics,
Fair Trade Raffia Rucksack from India
This raffia rucksack is handmade by skilled artisans in India, with rolled paper raffia. It has a cotton lining with an internal compartment to hold your devices in place, and is completely plastic-free and easy to recycle.
