First thing’s first: Unfortunately, air travel is not environmentally friendly. It is, however, unavoidable for those who wish (or need) to take trips overseas and across continents. What’s more, the boom of package holidays and low-cost airlines means that the number of us travelling is increasing too. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimated that there were 3.7 billion global air passengers in 2016, but this number is steadily rising and is forecast to reach 7.2 billion by 2035.
While there is some irony to be found in a round-up of eco-friendly suitcases, much like many positive habits one may adopt, small, incremental changes on a regular basis eventually lead to a positive impact. Avoiding single use plastic and aerosol sprays are great places to start, but have you thought beyond what you pack, to what you pack your things into?
The process of packing a suitcase, for many of us, can be one of the most exciting aspects of travelling – brand new bikinis, toiletries and the like. Much like fast-fashion, though, most luggage is made from unsustainable materials which are non-biodegradable, harmful to the environment and manufactured in unsafe or unethical working conditions. Even the most appealing, stylist, hard-shelled cases are often made from plastics which will eventually end up in landfill sites.
It can certainly be tempting to go for a cheap and cheerful suitcase, but the longevity alone of a good-quality one will promote sustainability. Think of this considered purchase as an investment which will last you for a good couple of years (and trips!).
It’s proved tricky to find a suitcase that ticks all the green boxes, but while we wait for the luggage industry to catch up with fashion, here are some brands which have eco-friendly ranges that are making those all-important, positive steps towards more sustainable products…