21 Stylish, Sustainable Backpacks For Daily Adventures

 Sustainably made backpacks are increasingly sleek, stylish, and well-suited to the rigors of everyday life. They enable you to make the best of your situation and arrive prepared for whatever life throws your way without compromising the planet in the process.

The best sustainable backpacks are big on performance and functionality. They have pockets where you expect them, sleeves for stowing water bottles, and padded protection for shoulders, backs, and laptops. They complete their environmental mission while upping your style quotient and never skimping on quality or durability.

The brands building them move the innovation needle. For example, Swiss bag brand QWSTION spent several years developing a technical and renewable fabric made from all-natural banana plants. It’s an inspiring tale of ingenuity and cross-cultural partnership. Check it out in the video below:

Some say the best sustainable backpacks look, well, normal — like how we simply expect backpacks to look. They’re right.

The difference is that eco-friendly backpacks are made with materials that evince deep respect for the planet. You’ll find backpacks listed here made of organic cotton, vegetable-tanned leather, bio-based plastic, deadstock fabrics, and a  suite of recycled materials, including recycled ocean plastic.

And that’s really the point; sustainable backpacks match your purchase decision criteria. They look and perform exactly how you expect them to. Which means they’re easy to fit into your life.

Carry on.

Also explore:

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• 16 Sustainable Clothing Brands For Men of Style

21 Eco-Friendly And Sustainable Backpacks

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THE BACKPACK BY DAY OWL

Well-designed, richly detailed, and made with an outstanding sustainability ethos. Day Owl’s backpack features a waxed canvas made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, plus 100% recycled polyester trim. Carry all of your gear in a stylish sustainable backpack that comes with free repairs for life. Includes a padded laptop compartment, side water bottle pocket, luggage strap, and more.

PRICE: $99

EXPLORE: The Backpack by Day Owl

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Mobius Backpack by Tentree

Everything about the Mobius Backpack declares its capability as a sleek and sustainable choice for urban and wilderness adventure. This large, extremely capable pack is made of 100% Repreve recycled polyester. Recycled post-industrial waste is used to make the buckles, zippers, and trim.

Perhaps most eco-innovative of all, the backpack’s protective padding is grown from algae blooms! There are too many features to list in this 4-in-1 backpack that can expand or shrink in size depending upon your needs. It’s definitely a winner.

PRICE: $128

EXPLORE: Mobius Backpack

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ROLLTOP BACKPACK BY GOT BAG

Got Bag makes its modern eco-friendly backpacks from recycled ocean plastic. Help stop plastic from circulating in the ocean simply by opting for a great-looking, earth-friendly backpack that holds your laptop and your gear and features all the convenience and flexibility that a rolltop pack provides.

PRICE: $149

EXPLORE: Rolltop Backpack

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Alex 24h Backpack Recycled by property of

A stunning everyday backpack with vintage good looks. This sustainable waterproof backpack is made from 35 recycled, single-use plastic bottles. This highly capable backpack lets you conveniently access your goods from the top, or pack it like an open suitcase by accessing it from the back. Holds a laptop and all your daily essentials.

PRICE: $249

EXPLORE: Alex 24H Backpack

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westward rolltop backpack by united by blue

Tons of space and loads of pockets make this water-repellent top-loader backpack a versatile option for daily commutes, trips to school, and outdoor adventures. Made from recycled polyester ripstop, this large, well-constructed backpack fits up to a 17″ laptop and is guaranteed for life.

PRICE: $84

EXPLORE: Westward Rolltop Backpack

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blok by pinqponq

The eco-friendly everyday backpack for design fans with OCD; it’s an organization lover’s dream come true. Everything will be neatly in its place with a multitude of compartments and interior pockets. Made of high-performance recycled polyester (the equivalent of 43 disposable plastic water bottles). Carry it like a backpack, messenger, or duffel.

PRICE: $199.95

EXPLORE: Blok

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Black Hole Pack 25L by Patagonia

Ultra-durable and weather-resistant, Black Hole recycled backpacks are in a word, burly. It’s made of recycled polyester ripstop that is both lightweight and strong. Features an air-mesh padded back panel for smart ventilation, plus padded shoulder straps for greater comfort. Carry your water bottle, laptop, and the rest of your gear in a backpack that measures up to the quality you expect from Patagonia.

PRICE: $129

EXPLORE: Black Hole Pack 25L

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Explorer Apex Rucksack by Troubador

Elegance and sophistication combine in this ergonomic backpack that’s easy on the eyes and easy on the back. Troubador’s sustainable backpacks complement your office wear and are the backpack of choice for more formal occasions. Yet, the Explorer Apex Rucksack is equally at ease handling bike commutes, daily errands, and gym runs. Made of waterproof, recycled fabric with loads of high-end features.

PRICE: $245

EXPLORE: Explorer Apex Rucksack

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Flight Pack by Atelier de L’Armee

Go for that old-world, mountaineering aesthetic with this backpack made from deadstock vegetable tanned full-grain leather and water-repellent dead stock Washed Canvas. Handcrafted in Italy, this bag features three interior pockets, two accessible side pockets, and a padded back panel for comfort and laptop protection.

PRICE: 349 Euro (approx. $414)

EXPLORE: Flight Pack

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Jasper Backpack by Ucon Acrobatics

A minimalist backpack that easily transitions from the daily commute to nighttime forays. Made of ecologically sound, recycled PET fabric. Holds your laptop and essentials in a spaciously yet elegantly simple design.

PRICE: $99.99

EXPLORE: Jasper Backpack

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Cordoba Backpack by Nisolo

Enjoy the timeless style of this well-crafted, vegetable tanned leather backpack. It’s handmade in an ethically managed factory in León, Mexico. Features an interior laptop compartment and an exterior zip compartment for your accessories.

PRICE: $270

EXPLORE: Cordoba Backpack

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Lifepack Backpack by solgaard

Grab this solar-powered, anti-theft backpack, and you’ll be prepared for whatever life throws at you. Constructed from Shore-Tex™️, Solgaard’s proprietary fabric that’s made from upcycled ocean plastic. Two main compartments separate work and play. Four secret pockets hide your valuables. Shore-Tex™️ fabric was recognized by Fast Company in 2020 as a “World Changing Idea.”

PRICE: $189

EXPLORE: Lifepack Backpack

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The Renew 13″ Transit Backpack by Everlane

It’s easy to make this streamlined, well-priced, and minimalist backpack your daily companion. Made of 100% recycled polyester, it’s capable of holding a 13″ laptop and two water bottles and still provides plenty of additional room for stashing your necessities. A pass-through strap lets you attached it to rolling luggage. Well-placed zippers let you quickly access the main compartment. 

PRICE: $68

EXPLORE: The Renew 13″ Transit Backpack

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Bionic Commuter Backpack by incase

A commuter backpack with all the key features: savvy internal organization, including a protected laptop compartment (for up to 16″ Macbooks), an expandable water bottle sleeve, and a large main compartment. But this is no ordinary backpack, it’s constructed with a durable ripstop material made from recycled coastal plastics.

PRICE: $99.95

EXPLORE: Commuter Daypack

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Metrosafe x antitheft backpack by pacsafe

The stylish sustainable backpack that protects your gear and the planet. Made of high-grade recycled polyester, the Metrosafe backpack features numerous antitheft features, including hidden stainless steel wire mesh to prevent slashing, zippers that overlap for easy locking, RFID blocking material, and wire reinforced straps. Carry-on compliant and ready to go wherever danger lurks and/or your journey takes you.

PRICE: $149.95

EXPLORE: Metro Backpack

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Roll Pack / Bananatex by Qwstion

The Roll Pack is made from the world’s first technical fabric sourced from banana plants (they’re organically grown in the Philippine highlands). Zurich-based Qwstion spent three years developing this durable, beautiful, and sustainable material. Coupled with Qwstion’s versatile design philosophy, the Roll Pack features multiple interior pockets and a modular handle for additional carrying options.

PRICE: $340

EXPLORE: Roll Top / Bananatex

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River Bank Backpack by fishpond

Rugged yet sophisticated, this unique backpack is built from tough, durable, 10 oz. certified organic cotton waxed canvas. Padded and adjustable in all the right places. Gear straps and a laptop sleeve make this the perfect companion for the gym, work, and out on the trail.

PRICE: $159.95

EXPLORE: River Bank Backpack

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Recycled Backpack by Giesswein

From Germany comes this well-styled, gorgeously textured backpack made of 100% recycled PET water bottles. Adjustable straps and padded back make this backpack comfortable for men and women. Five thoughtfully laid out internal compartments enable you to easily stow and organize all your essentials.

PRICE: $149

EXPLORE: Recycled Backpack

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top loader daypack by the north face

A simple backpack with a stylish throwback design. This backpack pairs the spaciousness and flexibility of top-loading functionality with a more diminutive size. Laptop-capable for smaller units (up to 11″), this attractive and comfortably padded daypack is made of 600-dernier recycled polyester twill. The heritage woven label and leather patch enhance its old-school cred.

PRICE: $59

EXPLORE: Top Loader Daypack

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re:cover backpack by solo new york

Built for the urban landscape, the Re:Cover backpack is made of a heathered grey recycled polyester sourced entirely from recycled plastic bottles. Features quick access pockets, a mesh water bottle holder, and a fully padded laptop compartment capable of stowing your 15″ MacBook.

PRICE: $59.99

EXPLORE: Re:Cover Backpack

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pickwick backpack by brooks

Brooks has been handcrafting exquisite products in England since 1866. The British brand is renowned for its bags designed for journeys both on and off the bicycle. The Pickwick laptop backpack is one such example. It’s beautifully constructed using a premium vegetable-tanned leather distinguished for its beauty, durability, and strength.

PRICE: $450

EXPLORE: Pickwick Backpack

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