Your bag carries your essentials — it should carry good values too. Here you’ll find sustainable handbags, purses, and wallets designed with recycled fibers, organic fabrics, or ethically sourced leather. These pieces are built to last and made with materials that respect both people and the planet.

Find the best sustainable products to fill your purse with Eco-Friendly On-The-Go Essentials.

Sustainable & ethical leather

Cattle ranching drives deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, but leather itself is mostly a byproduct of the beef and dairy industries. Discarded hides can even harm the environment, so using them can reduce waste.

The real sustainability issue is how hides are sourced and processed. Leather from deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) cattle, especially when certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), avoids supporting destructive land practices.

Tanning is the biggest concern. Conventional chrome tanning relies on toxic chemicals that pollute air and water and render leather non-biodegradable. Safer options include chrome-free, aldehyde, synthetic, and especially vegetable tanning, which uses plant-based tannins and produces biodegradable leather, though it’s rare and costly.

How to choose responsibly:

• Look for LWG-certified or DCF leather.
• Opt for vegetable-tanned or OEKO-TEX certified non-toxic products when possible.
• Choose recycled leather, which extends material life and reduces waste.
• Avoid exotic leathers (crocodile, snake, kangaroo). These animals are frequently farmed or hunted solely for their skins.
• If avoiding animal leather, choose plant-based vegan alternatives over petrochemical ones. Plant-based leathers (pineapple, apple, cactus, mushroom) are emerging but not yet mainstream. Nearly all vegan leathers are plastic-based (PU or PVC), may contain harfmul chemicals, and come with their own serious environmental costs.

Other natural materials for bags and purses

• Organic cotton canvas – Sturdy, washable, biodegradable. Often waxed with plant oils for water resistance.
• Hemp – Incredibly strong, naturally anti-microbial, and low-impact crop.
• Jute – Common in totes and market bags; strong, compostable, but rougher texture.
• Linen (flax) – Lightweight and breathable, good for summer styles.
• Cork – Naturally water-resistant, lightweight, flexible, and fully biodegradable. Harvested without cutting down cork oak trees.
• Piñatex (pineapple leaves) – Made from agricultural waste fibers; strong and textured like leather.
• Cactus leather – Uses nopal cactus; durable, flexible, and more breathable than most synthetics.
• Apple leather – Made from apple pomace and peels left from juice production.
• Mushroom mycelium (Mylo, Reishi, etc.) – Soft, leather-like, and compostable (though some brands add binders, so check details).

Sustainable bag suggestions

• Handmade bags from Novica
• Fossil

Sustainable wallet suggestions

Stainless steel

Fossil works with LWG suppliers for their leather wallets. Some even have cotton interiors rather than polyester.

Where to donate purses and wallets

Some great charities will take your used purses for great causes.

• Julie’s Purse Project takes purse donations that you fill with items you feel are important for a woman experiencing homelessness, escaping abuse, or being rescued from sex trafficking might need.
• One Purse will resell your designer bags to help victims of sex trafficking.