In this article we outline our Top 18 Favorite Vegan Leather Backpacks in 2021.
Why vegan leather? We wrote an in-depth article about the benefits of being vegan, I highly recommend you to read this post if you would like to learn more about veganism and its potential to change the world.
For those interested, some of our favorite high fashion brands that use vegan leather in their products include Nanushka, A.W.A.K.E mode, Stella McCartney and Low Classic.
And now, without further ado, here are out favorite backpacks that are made from 100% animal cruelty free materials!
Let’s get started!
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Table of Contents
Top 18 Vegan Leather Backpacks in 2020
MAHI Vegan Cork Leather Backpack
Say hello to our all time favorite: MAHIs vegan cork leather backpack.
We use it daily to carry around books, laptops and our eco-friendly travel essentials. The backpack has several compartments and zip pockets to keep stuff organized. It comes with two external side pockets for water bottles with waterproof lining and has ample space for a 15 inch laptop. It has THE PERFECT SIZE for whatever adventure you are planning next (not too big and not too small: W37cm x H45cm x D14cm) and the material is super robust and durable.
MAHI donates $1.50 from every sale to FRANK Water.
Doshi Vegan Leather Backpack
This vegan leather sports and travel backpack has multiple pockets on the inside and out, a removable chest strap and a separate laptop sleeve. Use it for work, on short trips (it fits perfectly under your airplane seat!) or on urban adventures.
Doshi has committed to giving back 5% of revenue to charities that benefit animals, people and the environment.
Labante Vegan Laptop Backpack
The black gender neutral vegan leather laptop backpack from Labante London is manufactured with recycled materials.
Labante also ships using recycled and recyclable packaging. On average, they reuse 7-25 plastic bottles (PET) for the interiors of each of their bags. The outers are made with vegetable by-products and Polyurethane (PU), which makes their vegan leather backpacks biodegradable.
This one has a 15 inch laptop compartment and padded adjustable straps, which makes it the perfect companion for the whole day – take it straight from the office to a hike, or use it for your travels!
Canopy Verde Vegan Leather Backpack/ Tote
This Etsy Design Award Finalist can fit a 15 inch laptop, your reusable water bottle, and much more. Plus, it has plenty of integrated pockets for your phone, keys, sunglasses and whatever else you need to get through your day.
The backpack can be converted into a tote and is made with certified organic cotton canvas and eco friendly dyes, as well as cruelty-free vegan leather with no PVC.
Pixie Mood Vegan Leather Backpack
The convertible backpack Kim by Pixie Mood is made from durable high quality vegan leather and fully lined with recycled bottle interior.
It has multiple departments to keep your essentials organized and converts into a crossbody bag by a simple pull of the handle.
Svala Vegan Leather Backpack/ Handbag
Svala’s Gemma backpack purse is designed for the ‘modern woman on the go’. Hand crafted with high-quality, luxurious Italian vegan leather, this elegant backpack can be converted into a handbag, by adjusting the removable straps.
The interior is lined with recycled polyester made with plastic bottles and organic cotton.
Pixie Mood Vegan Croc Leather
Made from advanced non-pollution synthetic vegan leather, this multipurpose mini backpack is super soft and durable.
By sourcing the most innovative and eco-friendly materials for their products, Pixie Mood’s vegan leather backpacks allow you to be trendy, functional and socially responsible at the same time!
Matt & Nat Vegan Leather Backpack
This stylish backpack with adjustable shoulder straps can fit a 13 inch laptop and comes with 100% recycled nylon lining. Approximately 21 plastic bottles are recycled for every bag Matt & Nat produces.
Functional, resistant and fashionable – definitely one of our favorite vegan leather backpacks for everyone in 2021!
Matt & Nat Dean Vegan Leather Backpack
Matt & Nat’s vegan leather backpacks are 100% vegan and cruelty free, and come with a full 1-year Matt & Nat warranty.
One of our favorites is this one, a high end bag for every day, featuring a laptop department, slit pockets on the sides and 100% recycled nylon lining.
Doshi Paper Backpack
The Debut Paper Backpack 1.5 uses printed Kraft paper, which makes it Doshi’s first partially biodegradable backpack.
While being between 60% and 90% biodegradable, Kraft papers do not break down when wet. The high quality construction comes with a highly water resistant layer and beautiful flower design.
Melie Bianco Vegan Leather Backpack
This small vegan leather daypack with two compartments and multiple pockets is a cute accessory that helps you keep your stuff organized at the same time.
Melie Bianco believes in offering affordable luxury to the everyday woman, while following cruelty free and fair trade principles.
Labante Sycamore Backpack
This little vegan leather backpack is the ultimate minimalist. It is lightweight and features a hidden department for your wallet, with interiors made from recycled plastic bottles.
Labante is not only a PETA approved vegan brand, it also produces all bags in a safe ethical environment, and workers are paid a fair wage.
Matt & Nat Olly Backpack
A simple but stylish backpack with adjustable straps and zip pocket compartment on the back wall of the interior that fits everything you need throughout your day.
Like all M&N backpacks, it is 100% vegan with linings made out of recycled plastic bottles.
Olly is available in several different colors.
Paperclip Diaper Backpack
The Jojo Plus backpack with vegan leather exterior flap and zipper pulls is built for work, travel, and pretty much anything else that comes to mind, with or without a diaper change.
Its integrated changing station folds out within seconds, so that you are ready whenever your baby is. Conveniently, it is also detachable and machine washable.
Plus, the exterior polyester is made from 100% recycled plastics!
Miomojo Vegan Leather Handbag
Made from certified, high-qualitative, cruelty-free vegan leather, this versatile crossbody bag can be worn over the shoulder or across the body.
Miomojo donates 10% of every sale to projects helping animals, such as Animals Asia, PETA, Mercy for Animals and other smaller projects.
Lulu Dharma Vegan Leather Weekender
The weekender every responsible traveler needs: Lulu Dharma’s black embossed vegan leather bag is part of their Eco Plus collection, which features water-based, recycled vegan leather and natural materials.
The timeless design is consciously created and handmade.
Corkor Vegan Backpack
Stylish, unique, 100% vegan, eco-friendly, and Peta approved – say hello to your new favorite backpack! Cork is undoubtedly one of our favorite leather alternatives. Cork fabric is the natural vegetable leather – and thus, the future.
This high quality product made from cork is durable and spacious enough for all your essentials. Corkor’s backpacks are water repellent, scratch and stain resistant.
Kindly & Free Backpack
Ethically harvested from regenerative cork tree bark, the materials used for this stylish backpack are 100% cruelty free.
The practical and user-friendly design features a drawstring closure and adjustable shoulder straps.
What is vegan leather?
Vegan leather, sometimes known as faux leather, can be produced from a number of different materials.
The most common materials used to create vegan backpacks are cork, glazed cotton, waxed cotton, bark-cloth, and paper.
Some companies create a synthetic version of leather which uses materials such as polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane.
Some vegans may consider these materials as non-vegan.
What is the best vegan leather material?
- Cork
- Paper
- Recycled rubber
Are Vegan leather backpacks good quality?
Genuine leather tends to be more hard wearing that vegan leather alternatives. However, the price tag generally reflects this, with faux leather backpacks usually being much cheaper.
Vegan leather backpacks tend to have slightly thinner material than real leather bags, therefore they tend to fade and break sooner.
However, if you look after your backpack, it’s likely to last you many years.
Is vegan leather better for the environment?
Real animal leather is the most environmentally toxic material of all!
However, with this being said some synthetic vegan leather materials may still be harmful to the environment, although they are animal friendly.
My recommendation is to ALWAYS recycle your backpack, especially if you have opted for a synthetic vegan leather backpack.
You can recycle items at Earth 911.
Further Reading: