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Someone walking on a beach with a more sustainable tote bag by Naz.
20 May
Someone walking on a beach with a more sustainable tote bag by Naz.

27 More Climate-Friendly Sustainable Tote Bags to Fit Your Life

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Tote bags can be so much more than alternatives to single-use plastic bags. We went on the hunt to find 27 sustainable tote bags to fit your life.

Why the tote is the perfect everyday bag

Tote bags are the ultimate versatile accessory. They’ll take you to work in the morning, yoga in the evening, and the beach or farmer’s market on the weekend.

These days, you can find every style of tote imaginable, from the traditional cotton tote to the more modern leather tote (or their vegan alternatives) and even straw totes.

But not all tote bags are created equal. So we looked high and low to find 27 more climate-friendly, sustainable tote bags that’ll fit all your essentials and match your values.

Some of our faves include Culthread’s (UK) vegan puffer tote, the raw denim tote by A.BCH (AU), and the artisan crafted leather tote in hot pink by Raven + Lily (US).

Parker Clay

Rated: Good
interior view and front view of Merkato Signature Zip Tote by Parker Clay

Merkato Signature Zip Tote Bag – Ships internationally from the US

A bag that saves people’s lives? You got it. Parker Clay is an American-based brand looking to create a future without exploitation by bettering lives and communities in Ethiopia. The brand has partnered with Ellilta Women at Risk program, fighting to bring women out of prostitution by providing a more stable income and safe working environment. Parker Clay also helps preserve traditional Ethiopian techniques, materials, and styles, ensuring that this fast-growing country can remain close to its beautiful roots.

See the rating.

Shop Parker Clay.

Sans Beast

Rated: Good
image of library tote bag and person holding tote bag by Sans Beast

Library Tote – Ships internationally from Australia

Constructed from recycled Eco PU, the Library Tote is a perfectly petite tote with plenty of pockets and enough space for a kindle or tablet. It comes in colours noir and mahogany giving you effortless style that meets all your needs.

Sans Beast is an Australian accessories brand creating luxury vegan bags and accessories cruelty-free.

See the rating.

Shop Sans Beast.

BEEN London

Rated: Good
A blue leather tote bag by BEEN London.

Fields Tote – Ships internationally from the UK

Big and beautiful, BEEN London’s oversized tote fits everything. With pockets galore and a padded laptop compartment, it puts Mary Poppins’ bag to shame.

BEEN London is a London-based brand turning waste into timeless accessories you’ll want to use every day. All its products are made of materials that have been something else in a previous life, including recycled leather offcuts and plastic bottles, diverting waste from landfills to help our environment heal.

See the rating.

Shop BEEN London.

Shop BEEN London @ Cerqular.

Culthread

Rated: Great
A black puffer tote bag by Culthread.

Blenheim Vegan Leather Tote – Ships internationally from the UK

The Blenheim tote is amazing: it’s made from the softest vegan leather, with gorgeous zebra faux fur inside. It is a work bag, gym bag, baby bag, travel bag, overnight bag, weekend bag—anything you want it to be.

Culthread is a UK-based clothing label that offers stylish, practical, and everlasting jackets and accessories from vegan and deadstock materials. Culthread’s goal is to make quality coats and lifestyle products that you will want to wear and treasure forever. Find most items in sizes XS to XL.

See the rating.

Shop Culthread.

Shop Culthread @ Immaculate Vegan.

WE-AR4

Rated: Good
Someone stylishly posed with tote by WE-AR4.

The Excess – Ships within the US

More sustainably crafted from a careful selection of luxury quilted nylon, the Excess tote makes a statement. This bold, modern piece with expandable sides is the perfect oversized companion for all your essentials and then some.

WE-AR4 is a US based design-to-wear essentials brand for an effortless style. Founded by fashion industry veterans, it merges intelligent design and uncompromising style. Rather than developing new materials, it rescues existing ones, choosing to “thrift” high-quality leathers and luxury textiles left over from other brands, giving them new life, and uses certified lower-impact materials.

See the rating.

Shop WE-AR4.

GROUNDTRUTH

Rated: Good
A black tote bag by Groundtruth.

Shopping Tote Bag – Ships internationally from the UK

GROUNDTRUTH’s durable and sustainable tote bags directly remove plastic waste from our planet’s ecosystem and are perfect for any shopping trip.

UK-based GROUNDTRUTH grew from three sisters’ shared belief in the power of collaboration and their drive to protect people and nurture the planet. Together, they saw the opportunity to design problem-solving travel goods that drive positive change: reducing plastic pollution and improving people’s lives.

See the rating.

Shop GROUNDTRUTH.

BEDI

Rated: Good
person with Mile End Tote Bag on shoulder, front view of person holding tote by BEDI

Mile End Tote Bag – Ships internationally from Canada

No fuss. Contemporary. Cool. The Mile-End Tote embodies BEDI’s precision design and detailing. Made from deadstock quilted nylon featuring extra straps and interior zippered pockets, it holds everything you need from textbooks to baguettes.

Canadian-brand BEDI creates handmade bags, knits and outerwear from upcycled and sustainable materials. Promoting circularity driven by a slow fashion ethos, its pieces are grounded in utility and constructed for life, intended for you and beyond.

See the rating.

Shop BEDI.

KOHR

Rated: Great
signature waffle fabric tote by Kohr

Waffle Tote Bag – Ships internationally from the UK

With a handy front pocket, its versatile tote bag is 100% organic, vegan and features its unique waffle fabric. And, it plants a tree with every order, bonus!

KOHR is a UK-based slow fashion brand that designs and manufactures in house. On a mission to be a credible alternative to fast-paced fashion industry, it leads the way refusing to compromise on quality, price, sustainability and ethics.

See the rating.

Shop KOHR.

A.BCH

Rated: Great
A dark navy tote bag by A.BCH.

Raw Denim Tote Bag – Ships internationally from Australia

The A.06 was made in A.BCH’s local factory in Coburg, a suburb in Melbourne’s inner north. They digitised the patterns, cut the raw organic cotton denim fabric with minimal waste, constructed the piece, pressed it, and trimmed it for excess threads.

A.BCH is a Melbourne-based, Australian-made fashion label for individuals who care about garment provenance. It utilises renewable, organic, and recycled materials.

See the rating.

Shop A.BCH.

Théla

Rated: Great
person sitting next to tote bag and bottles next to tote bag by thela

Loria Tote – Ships internationally from India

Handwoven in India, using 50 discarded plastic bags, the Loria tote is modern, everyday tote. With bright teal and yellow colour blocking, it is lined in organic cotton canvas and features a handy, inner pocket.

From waste to yarn to you, Greek brand Théla creates handcrafted fashion and lifestyle accessories with plastic waste. It crafts pieces using more responsible materials working with partners from disadvantaged communities, and is entirely vegan!

See the rating.

Shop Théla.

Neococo

Rated: Good
front and interior view of tote bag by Neococo

Recycled Cotton Canvas Tote – Ships internationally from the US

In a timeless box design, this classic tote from NEOCOCO is a functional, everyday companion fitting all your essentials and more, made from 100% recycled canvas cotton finished with chic tan faux leather handles.

NEOCOCO is a mission-based apparel company founded for the sole purpose of creating jobs for women refugees through the art of hand embroidery.

See the rating.

Shop NEOCOCO.

Citizen Wolf

Rated: Good
A black, orange and red zero waste tote bag by Citizen Wolf.

Zero Waste Tote – Ships internationally from Australia

Ditch your plastic “eco” bag and be truly kind to the planet with Citizen Wolf’s famous Zero Waste Tote (2nd Edition). Each bag is a unique patchwork of fabric offcuts from the brand’s t-shirt production, paired with a lining cut from upcycled City of Sydney banners saved from landfill.

Citizen Wolf uses revolutionary technology to give you high-quality custom-fit t-shirts (and totes). After capturing your customisations, the brand hand makes each tee in Sydney from certified sustainable fabrics like cotton, hemp, and Merino wool milled in Melbourne.

See the rating.

Shop Citizen Wolf.

Näz

Rated: Good
A beige canvas tote back

Tote Bags – Ships internationally from Portugal

This cotton printed tote is perfect for grocery shopping or even to replace your regular bag.

Näz is a Portuguese fashion brand that aims to make fashion look good, not only on you but on the planet too. It uses a high proportion of lower-impact materials, including GOTS certified organic cotton, and traces most of its supply chain.

See the rating.

Shop Näz.

HYER GOODS

Rated: Good
A green tie dye tote bag by Hyer Goods.

7 R’s Upcycled Canvas Tote – Ships internationally from the US

The 7 R’s Upcycled Tote is not your average tote. It was created to reduce waste using thick canvas dust bags from Rent the Runway, hand tie-dyed by The Defiant Optimists. It features a hand-illustrated patch by Olivia Sawai, printed by For Days, and sewn by HYER GOODS’ founder, Dana. This bag was created by a community on a mission to keep quality materials in circulation.

HYER GOODS is a NY-based leather goods label that curates handmade products, including handbags, wallets, and accessories. By upcycling “trash”, HYER GOODS eliminates the massive energy footprint needed in traditional leather production while simultaneously reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

See the rating.

Shop HYER GOODS.

KAYU

Rated: Good
A person holding a straw tote bag by KAYU.

Radicchio Scarf Tote – Ships internationally from the US

A classic straw tote featuring removable scarf wrapped handles with a charming radicchio print. It’s the perfect tote to carry your weekly farmer’s market haul.

Kayu is an American brand that creates gorgeous, handcrafted boho sustainable bags for the modern free spirit. Each bag is crafted by women in the Philippines, who weave and embroider the bags by hand. Aside from looking out for its people, Kayu is also dedicated to preserving our planet. Its bags and hats are made from natural straw that has been harvested, stripped, and dyed by hand. This kind of straw fades with time, eventually biodegrading and returning to the earth. Note that the brand does use leather in some designs.

See the rating.

Shop Kayu.

Shop KAYU Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Vitamin A

Rated: Good
A straw tote bag by Vitamin A.

Tash Woven Tote – Ships internationally from the US

For a classic woven tote roomy enough for beach days or flights, Vitamin A’s Tash Woven Tote is the way to go.

Made locally in California, Vitamin A’s collections of swimwear and loungewear use a high proportion of lower-impact materials, including recycled nylon. The brand also uses a waterless process to print its designs, reducing its chemical and water usage. Find the pieces in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Vitamin A.

Mashu

Rated: Good
A tan leather tote bag with wooden handles by Mashu.

Penelope Bag – Ships internationally from the UK

Penelope is Mashu’s XL, do-it-all sustainable tote bag. Featuring the brand’s signature wavy cut and framed by structured, square handles, this tote bag will stand out in the crowd for all the right reasons.

Mashu is a British sustainable and vegan accessories label specialising in handbags. Mashu’s environmental rating is “Good”, crafting its exterior with vegan leather alternatives while its interiors feature vegan suede made from recycled polyester, ensuring you never have to sacrifice your morals for style again.

See the rating.

Shop Mashu.

ABLE

Rated: Good
image of tote and person holding tote by ABLE

Lomi Tote – Ships internationally from the US

The roomy Lomi Tote is a sleek refresh on a classic tote with signature knotted straps and slip pockets, made of upcycled leather.

ABLE is a US-based clothing and accessories brands, that works with communities all over the world to make a meaningful impact, producing slow fashion that pays a living wage to women who have faced extraordinary circumstances.

See the rating.

Shop ABLE.

 

O My Bag

Rated: Good
A brown leather tote bag by O My Bag.

Georgie Shopper Bag – Ships internationally from the Netherlands

Ready to ditch the dirty? O My Bag is the brand for you. The Dutch label merges style and a responsible approach, creating vintage-inspired, rugged-chic sustainable tote bags made from sustainable materials, including high-quality, lower-impact leather. Although some with animal welfare top of mind may favour a vegan leather approach, O My Bag believes that lower-impact leather is the way to go.

See the rating.

Shop O My Bag.

The Common Good Company

Rated: Great
Dark blue and green canvas tote bags by the Common Good Company.

Recycled Cotton Everyday Tote – Ships internationally from Australia

Made from 100% recycled cotton canvas, The Common Good Company made the Everyday tote big enough to fit everything you might need during your day.

The Common Good Company produces clothing using recycled materials, proving that there is a better way to produce and a better way to consume.

See the rating.

Shop The Common Good Company.

HarperSage

Rated: Good
printed canvas tote by HarperSage.

Signature Canvas Tote – Ships within the US

A contemporary classic, this playful canvas tote bag delights with its adorable custom print and sturdy canvas material.

HarperSage is a responsible lifestyle brand on a mission to create clothes responsibly. It empowers women by partnering with a woman-owned SEDEX certified factory in India and using lower-impact materials that are completely vegan.

See the rating.

Shop HarperSage.

Raven + Lily

Rated: Good
A bright pink leather tote bag by Raven + Lily.

Mulu Magazine Tote – Ships internationally from the US

Simple yet sleek, give your canvas book bag an upgrade with Raven + Lily’s Mulu Magazine Tote. With clean lines and minimal embellishment, this tote is beautifully understated.

Raven + Lily supports local female artisans to create handmade jewellery, bags, and homewares. This US brand’s lower-impact products empower communities through fair wages, healthcare, and education.

See the rating.

Shop Raven + Lily.

Shop Raven + Lily @ Cerqular.

Svala

Rated: Good
A brown cork tote bag by Svala.

Simma Tote – Ships internationally from the US

Svala creates luxury designer vegan handbags, purses, bags, and totes. Each bag is handcrafted sustainably and ethically in LA with high-quality, premium vegan leather PU, cork, and Piñatex. We love that the Simma Tote is large enough to hold your daily essentials, including a 13” Macbook.

See the rating.

Shop Svala.

Dedicated

Rated: Great
A black canvas tote bag by Dedicated.

Tote Bag Torekov Local Planet Black – Ships internationally from Sweden

If you love a great graphic print, Swedish label Dedicated has you covered. Dedicated is an ethical streetwear brand for men, women, and children. All cotton used in its pieces, including this sustainable tote bag, is 100% organic and primarily Fairtrade-certified, which means that you don’t have to sacrifice your ethics to dress in style.

See the rating.

Shop Dedicated.

Shop Dedicated @ Earthkind.

Kampos

Rated: Good
A grey tote bag by rope handles by KAMPOS.

Tote Bag Stone Beige Large – Ships internationally from KAMPOS

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Sturdy, organic, rugged, and durable, KAMPOS’s Stone Beige sustainable tote bag is the perfect complementary accessory for a day at the beach or on the ocean.

Kampos is an Italian luxury brand that believes in creating a world with integrity and conscience now and for future generations. The brand aims to raise awareness of overfishing and marine pollution and offers consumers unique pieces made of recycled plastic bottles, fishing nets and sustainable and organic fabrics.

See the rating.

Shop Kampos.

Elk

Rated: Good
A grey leather bucket tote bag by ELK.

Hede Large Bag – Ships internationally from Australia

A pioneer of independent Australian design, Elk was founded in Melbourne in 2004. The brand creates bi-annual collections informed by a design ethos where simplicity and sustainability meet innovation.

The ideal size for everyday use, the Orsa Bag is crafted from soft cow leather, designed to look neat and clean. Like the one used in this deep tote bag, all leather at Elk is sourced from LWG tanneries. This association sets high industry standards and audits tanneries for environmental performance. Additionally, all products are passed by REACH standard regulations, meaning they are made with restricted levels of specific chemical substances in their goods.

See the rating.

Shop Elk.

WAWWA

Rated: Good
interior of tote and person wearing recycled tote bag by WAWWA

Recycled Denim Tote – Ships internationally from the UK

Made in-house from bits of recycled clothes and denim, the recycled tote features a small, handy pocket inside and straps to carry by hand for your laptop and all your extras.

WAWWA aims to make clothing that puts the Earth and its inhabitants first by creating organic, fairtrade, and vegan friendly clothing with a positive social impact. It uses better materials including recycled materials, low impact non-toxic dyes and reuses its offcuts to minimise textile waste.

See the rating.

Shop WAWWA.

Find more ‘Good’ and ‘Great’ brands making sustainable bags and handbags

Editor's note

Feature image via Naz, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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