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Did you know that most regular rucksacks are made from materials such as nylon or polyester? These are two of the worst plastics that cause massive environmental damage during production, and which don't biodegrade.
But in 2026, there are brands that are producing eco-friendly backpacks made from sustainable materials.
Eco-friendly backpacks are just as stylish and durable as any others, but made ethically from sustainable materials.
As regular hikers, my family and I know exactly what features to look out for, so we set about testing the best bags for all occasions.
Later in this guide, I'll go into more details about just what makes a backpack eco-friendly, and how we reviewed them.
First I’d like to run down the top sustainable backpacks that impressed the entire Miller family...
✔ GOTS Organic Cotton
✔ Fairtrade Certified
✔ Vegan
We Say: Terra Thread organic cotton canvas backpacks have been the go-to school bags for our daughters for many years.
They are incredibly durable backpacks, and even after lots of daily use, they still look like they have plenty of years of life left in them.
We have four of these bags (in four different colors) that act as sustainable hiking backpacks as well as school bags.
The beauty of this system is that when the girls get bored with one color as their school bag, they can start using one of the others. It’s our way of keeping a bit of variety that school kids like, without needlessly replacing perfectly good bags.
One slight downside about this product is that the zipper tape and thread are polyester.
This is not ideal. However, Terra Thread maintains that this only makes up a tiny percentage of the overall material content and is essential for the item’s longevity.
I agree. I’m also encouraged that they’re currently researching alternative options that will be just as strong but with improved sustainability.
Putting this one minor issue aside, this is an ethical backpack brand that does terrific work supporting charities and those in need.
They’re currently actively supporting Feeding America. Every bag purchased donates 20 meals to help alleviate the hunger problems faced by over 46 million people in the U.S.
I also have a TerraThread Gym Bag that has served me faithfully for years. It’s big enough and strong enough to hold all my kit and washes well when it gets too whiffy.
Overall, I feel these are the best sustainable backpacks around in 2026 and have no hesitation in recommending them.
Valid on full-priced Terra Thread branded products - Minimum order $100
✔ PVC-Free
✔ Cruelty-Free
✔ Sweatshop-Free
They Say: The versatile Agnes bag from LaBante London, is the perfect vegan leather backpack for your everyday needs, whether for work or traveling, you will find the double inner compartments spacious. For comfort, it comes with two fastening belts, so it’s easy to adjust to fit. An attached chain from the center zip puller adds a touch of style and femininity to this gorgeous bag.
We Say: LaBante London sells a range of ethically sourced and manufactured fashion goods at a very reasonable price point.
Mrs. M was delighted when I received an Agnes Black Vegan Backpack for testing (most items I receive get donated to worthy causes after testing, but this one has gone straight into Mrs. M’s closet!).
The LaBante London Agnes Black Vegan Backpack is a stylish, versatile bag that gives you ample room to store all your belongings.
The double inner compartments make it easy to keep things organized, while the two fastening belts allow for easy adjustment and comfort, and the attached chain from the center zip puller adds an elegant touch to what is already a top backpack.
It’s made from some of the highest-quality vegan leather I’ve seen (with no PVC or other nasties). It’s incredibly realistic to the touch, and the only thing that gives away its vegan credentials is the lack of a leather smell.
The LaBante London production site is located in Guangzhou, China (a comparatively wealthy province). To ensure its workers are well taken care of and to prevent sweatshops, wages in Guangzhou are significantly higher than in other parts of the country.
The LaBante London company has a strong connection with its production facilities and only works with factories that possess Sedex certification. In addition to third-party verification, Vanita (the founder of the business) and her design team frequently visit the facilities for spot checks to ensure the employees are safe and happy.
A well-designed and practical backpack. Made in ethical factories using sustainable faux leather. That's why I'm rating it as one of my top picks.
The perfect everyday bag should have style, sustainability, and quality. With LaBante London Agnes Black Vegan Backpack, you definitely get all three…and so much more!
✔ Made Using Recycled Materials
✔ 30-Liter Capacity
✔ Lightweight
They Say: The water-resistant and customizable 30-liter Stealth Pack is built for multiple hatches, changing conditions and extra gear needs encountered on long floats, explorations and multi-day trips. Engineered to be ergonomic, quiet, lightweight and body-conforming, the Stealth Pack features a large main compartment, a quick-access exterior pocket and a top stash pocket. Fair Trade Certified™ sewn.
We Say: As a kid and at college, I loved rock climbing. Proper rock climbing with harnesses, belays, carabiners, meters and meters of rope, etc.
Kids came along. Middle-aged spread started spreading. My love for climbing dwindled. Too much kit, too much hassle.
However, I’ve recently rekindled my rocky love and got into bouldering. Not too much kit needed, but you still get a good buzz and a decent workout.
I’ve recently joined a like-minded group, and we now do overnight hikes and bouldering trips. So I needed a backpack bigger and more technical than the family school/hiking bags.
This Patagonia backpack performs incredibly well. It holds all my gear, keeps it dry, and feels comfortable on long hikes.
It contains recycled nylon and polyester. But it does also contain small amounts of nylon, polyurethane, and spandex to enhance performance.
The levels are acceptable for me, and I love that Patagonia is open and transparent about exactly what goes into their bags and what they’re doing to improve.
✔ 100% Recycled Materials
✔ Fluorine-Free
✔ Great for Overnight Stays
They Say: A travel-friendly bag that's also made for everyday use. The ReNew Transit Weekender is fully featured—padded laptop sleeve, two water bottle holders, exterior zip pocket, luggage handle pass-through (that's also a pocket), and multiple ways to carry: crossbody, shoulder, or in-hand. Oh, and it’s made from 100% recycled polyester.
We Say: My lovely daughters bought this weekend bag for me as a fathers day gift.
Ok. It’s not a backpack. But it is a top-quality overnight weekend bag made from recycled materials.
It’s surprisingly big and can easily take enough clothes, laptops, etc., for a three or four-day business trip away.
It’s also reassuring to know that the waterproof coating used on the bag is fluorine-free.
I love it. Thanks, girls!
✔ Multiple Compartments and Pockets
✔ Weatherproof
✔ Comfortable to Carry
Why It's Best for Laptops: The ALPAKA Elements Travel Backpack is well padded, durable and weatherproof which keeps laptops safe and dry. It has many intuitively placed compartments and pockets which make it easy to find everything I needed on busy work days.
Personal Experience: I loved how the ALPAKA backpack has a spacious main compartment that easily accommodates bulkier tech items. Its front admin-style pocket is perfect for smaller tech essentials like chargers, cables, and a mouse. This arrangement made it simple to locate and retrieve items I needed without too much rummaging around.
The laptop compartment felt exceptionally secure with its padded lining. This was a welcome reassurance for someone like me who relies on tech while traveling.
The comfort level also impressed me. The ALPAKA backpack's ergonomic design and well-cushioned shoulder straps meant I could carry it all day without discomfort. The weatherproof exterior did a great job of everything inside dry, including all that precious tech!
✔ Made from Recycled Bottles
✔ Natural Foam
✔ Ten Trees Planted for Every Order
They Say: Commuting just got more sustainable. The Daily Backpack uses ALGIX® Bloom foam made from algae for padding and recycled plastic water bottles for exterior material. Stow your phone, laptop, and daily essentials while protecting the planet.
We Say: If anything sums up the difference between me and Mrs. M, it’s our small commuting backpacks.
Hers is warm, fluffy, and playful. Mine is plain and functional…and I’m ok with that!
Tentree bags are made from recycled plastic bottles, which is obviously great for the environment and also makes them incredibly lightweight. Mine feels cloud-light on my back and easily holds my laptop, phone, and all my paperwork, files, etc.
The padding is made from foam derived from algae, and the outer material is made from recycled water bottles.
Tentree is a company that is aptly named - they will also plant ten trees for every order they receive.
With its functional, easy-to-access pockets, this 100 percent recycled backpack is perfect in terms of size and style for everyday and general leisure use.
✔ Offsets Carbon Emissions
✔ Organic Cotton
✔ Etsy Design Awards Finalist
They Say: It’s a laptop bag, a comfortable backpack that keep your hands free, and a versatile travel bag. To transform the bag into a tote, simply tuck the backpack straps into a back panel. An Etsy Design Finalist, the Greenpoint is our most popular gift item!
We Say: This convertible backpack is made using organic cotton and eco-friendly dyes certified by Global Organic Textile Standard and PVC-free vegan leather.
The design is also pretty special. It was a finalist in the Etsy Design Awards, and I can see why.
It looks stylish and it's incredibly versatile. Being able to change from a regular daysack to a laptop bag to a travel backpack to a tote bag means you can get multiple uses out of just one purchase. Saving resources and saving you money. NICE!
The bag measures 17” H (14” when folded over) x 14.5” W x 4.5” D and has a 9” strap drop.
Style meets eco again when it comes to color. There are seven to choose from (all dyed using the natural dyes I mentioned earlier):
Shipping is free to U.S. addresses, and Etsy will offset the carbon emissions generated by the delivery and packaging of your order.
✔ Vegan
✔ Natural Cork
✔ Biodegradable
They Say: This backpack is sleek, simply beautiful and comfortable to wear. Timeless design that it will never go out of style. Handmade very well and super sturdy, with plenty of room inside.
We Say: I've been very impressed with the TiradiaCork Cork Leather Backpack I ordered from Etsy.
The cork material performs better than expected in humid conditions. I got caught in a sudden downpour during one trail walk, and the water beaded on the surface without getting my gear wet.
This TiradiaCork backpack is very comfortable to wear. I like how the adjustable straps let me customize the fit for different activities.
My TiradiaCork Cork Leather Backpack has developed a patina over time. If you like products that change into something unique with use, you will appreciate this.
✔ Hardwearing
✔ Recycled Polyester
✔ Naturally Dirt-Resistant
They Say: Fjällräven’s iconic Kanken backpacks have come a long way since they were first launched in 1978. Over those decades, we’ve been busy adapting Kanken bags to every situation and releasing all sorts of functional and durable accessories. Now, there are Fjällräven Kanken bags and accessories for every situation. Our classic Kanken bags work well for everything from hiking to urban adventures, and everything in between.
We Say: Fjallraven’s Kanken backpacks are currently incredibly popular. Drive past any high school and you’ll see packs of kids carrying these daysacks.
It’s this popularity that makes me hesitant to recommend the brand entirely.
If you’re buying this bag because it’s cool and trendy, then what will you do with it if/when it’s no longer cool and trendy?
This is an incredibly well-made backpack that, with proper care, will last a lifetime. It doesn’t deserve to be thrown in the back of a closet once it’s no longer loved.
The hardwearing nature of the Kanken is thanks to Vinylon F.
Vinylon F is made from polyvinyl alcohol, and it has specific properties that are otherwise mostly found in sustainable materials.
The key selling point for me is that it’s naturally dirt-resistant and water-resistant, without the need to add additional chemicals such as polyurethane (PU) or silicone.
However, if I were going to buy a Fjallraven bag, I would go for one made from G-1000 Eco (an incredibly durable recycled polyester and cotton blend) and waterproof it with Greenland Wax.
My family and I spent six months putting these bags through their paces in real-world conditions. We used them for school, gym visits, hiking trips, business commutes, weekend getaways, and everything in between.
Here are the key criteria we considered when rating each backpack.
We rejected more than 14 bags and backpacks that failed to meet our standards.
All products were purchased independently online using the links provided above. We maintain editorial independence at all times. No brand is permitted to pay for inclusion in our roundups.
All recommendations you see in this guide are the bags that genuinely impressed us and that we'd happily use (and in many cases, continue to use) ourselves.
In this context, the term sustainable means backpacks that are made with environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes. They are designed to reduce the negative impact of traditional backpack production on the environment.
In order to be classed as sustainable, a bag may be made from 100 percent sustainable materials like recycled canvas, cork, or organically grown cotton. It also needs to be non-toxic and free from harmful chemicals, meaning it should be made using eco-friendly dyes and printing methods.
Finally, they need to be tough and durable, so that they last a long time before they need to be replaced. At the end of life, they should be either recyclable or biodegradable.
Regular backpacks are often made from virgin polyester.
This petroleum-based plastic fabric is incredibly pollutive to manufacture and leaks microplastic pollution into rivers and seas when washed or tossed in the trash.
These bags are often made in countries with nonexistent labor laws and hazardous working conditions to drive costs down.
The global backpack market was estimated to be $13.90 billion in 2020.
This was a drop from $17.30 billion in 2019. This drop was mainly caused by the reduction in travel and school time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the market is expected to recover and be around $19.80 billion in 2025.
The bad news is that the overwhelming majority of products sold are not sustainable, and can be harmful to the environment.
With so much money sloshing around the market, some disreputable manufacturers might try to trick you into thinking their product is more sustainable than it is. Beware of greenwashing tactics.
The best sustainable backpack brands use materials and processes that don't harm the environment, and ethical business practices that ensure fair treatment and a decent wage for everyone in the supply chain.
Here's what to look for in eco-friendly backpacks.
Environmentally friendly backpacks are made of recycled and sustainably sourced materials, such as:
For more information on sustainable materials and fabric, you might want to check out my sustainable fabrics article.
A sure-fire way to help ensure that your bag is truly sustainable is to look out for respected eco-labels and certifications such as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Global Organic Textile Standard.
A sustainable backpack is usually very well-built. High-quality items last longer (sometimes a lifetime).
For example, buying one school bag for your child’s entire education is much more sustainable (and cheaper) than buying a new one every year.
Steer clear of trends. This season’s ‘must have’ accessory will be next season’s landfill. Textbook fast fashion marketing.
Also, look for eco-friendly backpack brands that have fair trade certification, ethical labor practices, or those that give back to charity or help clean plastic from the ocean, for example.
Canvas backpacks aren't necessarily bad for the environment, but it depends on how the canvas was made. Canvas is a sturdy and durable material that can last for a long time, which means that it can reduce the need for people to constantly buy new backpacks.
Some canvas bags are made from natural fibers like cotton or hemp, which are renewable resources and can be biodegradable if they are not treated with synthetic chemicals. But others are made from nylon, which is bad for the environment and should be avoided. The exception is recycled nylon, which is generally fine.
Osprey makes some nice sustainable backpacks made from recycled materials and uses ethical supply chain practices. They didn’t quite make the final cut in this article because I feel their average price point is a bit high for what you get.
VF Corporation owns JanSport and, according to Shop Ethical, there is room for improvement when it comes to ethics. They were particularly critical of their use of forced labor in China and limited worker rights in Bangladesh.
Buying a good-quality eco-friendly backpack for school, travel, business or outdoor use will cost more than the standard mass-produced alternative. But it really is money well spent.
Spending an extra few bucks on a backpack from this list means that it will last you decades rather than months/years is a no-brainer for me.
It saves you money in the long run and saves the planet for future generations to enjoy.
Buying new items unnecessarily is not a sustainable practice.
If you already have a perfectly good rucksack in the back of your closet or in the garage, then please consider fishing it out and using it rather than buying a new one.
Where do you buy your rucksacks? Have I missed your favorite brand? Drop me a line and let me know.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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