Some travel goods manufacturers go beyond eco-friendly materials, reimagining their supply chain from the ground up. That may mean working towards a goal of carbon neutral luggage, revamping packaging, designing around reduced shipping costs, or developing brand-new sustainable materials.

In 2020 Pacsafe switched to producing packaging, swing tags, and display materials from FSC Certified recycled paper, and took the pledge to remove all virgin plastic from their supply chain by 2025. Every new Pacsafe design is being made of recycled materials, and existing products are switching to 100% recycled materials. By 2022, 75% of Pacsafe’s bag line in 2022 will be made from recycled polyester or recycled nylon (on their way to 100% by 2025). Pacsafe’s two key materials are rPET, made from recycled plastic water bottles, and ECONYL, made from discarded fishing nets and other plastic waste. The new Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP45 ECONYL® Anti-Theft Carry-on Travel Pack and the Vibe 325 ECONYL® Anti-Theft Sling Pack are two new 100% recycled Pacsafe bags. Both feature planet-saving ECONYL regenerated nylon fiber, as well as all the anti-theft technology you’d expect from Pacsafe.

LiteGear was conceived as an eco-friendly, lightweight brand, designed around recycled polyester fabric. In addition to its material choices, LiteGear works to address one of the most environmentally (and financially) impactful issues in the travel goods industry: freight. In order to reduce the carbon — and  dollar — cost of shipping products across country, LiteGear specializes in products that smoosh, collapse, fold and compress to maximize the contents of a carton or container. The LiteGear Hybrid Carry-on is a great example. Hi-density molded foam technology coupled with soft-side recycled-fabric front pocket panels make these bags super light and super durable, and allow them to compress for shipping.

During the pandemic lockdown VoyagerBlue took a deep-dive into their business and production practices, and decided they could no longer support the chromium tanning industry. Chemicals from chromium-tanned leather are poured into the rivers of India, causing extensive and irreversible damage. Instead, VoyagerBlue redesigned their business around ocean recycled plastic and newly developed bacterial protein “leather,” grown on agricultural waste from the coconut industry. VoyagerBlue continues to use some real leather, although they now source it from Leather Working Group-accredited factories, which produce vegetable-tanned leather in a non-toxic process that has passed an environmental audit to ensure responsible water, chemical and energy usage. VoyagerBlue is currently developing the Regata (Patented: US RE 47 189E – EU2556468 – GB 2479 443), a feature-packed RFID card holder with a dedicated pouch for the Apple Air Tag/Chipolo One, using all three of their new flagship materials. Contact VoyagerBlue to receive production and shipping updates for the Regata.

Since its birth in 2016, Paravel has worked to fight climate change by reducing and offsetting carbon emissions, incorporating upcycled and eco-certified materials throughout every product, and planting trees in depleted ecosystems. In 2021, Paravel received the Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award, recognizing sustainable sourcing and ethical manufacturing practices. Paravel’s Weekender is manufactured using their signature Ecocraft Canvas, made from 12 recycled plastic water bottles. The Aviator Carry-on is all about sustainability with a durable recycled polycarbonate exterior; recycled zippers, a lining made from 15 upcycled plastic water bottles; vegan leather details and wrapped steel handles; and an aircraft-grade recycled aluminum handle. On top of the sustainable materials, Paraval offsets all of the carbon emissions generated from creating and shipping an Aviator Carry-on, and offsets the estimated emissions of its first journey in use.

Solo sets ambitious environmental goals and achieves them. Last year, Solo hit its goal of eliminating all plastic from its packaging by the end of 2020. Solo packaging is now 100% Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC)-certified recycled, recyclable and biodegradable, including hang-tag strings and clips. Solo’s next goal is to recycle 40 million plastic bottles by 2024, removing ocean-bound PET bottles from landfills and waterways to make the fabric for their Re:cover Backpack and Re:treat Carry-on, part of their new Re:cycled Collection of bags.