15 Best Sustainable Crossbody Bags: Stylish & Eco-Friendly

There’s tons of information about sustainable clothing but there’s so much less on sustainable bags. So I decided to dig deeper to find out this information myself. After scouring the internet for hours, here’s my list of the best sustainable crossbody bags.
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Best Sustainable Crossbody Bags
1. Best Minimalist Sustainable Crossbody Bag: ABLE Lomi Mini Crossbody

For a classic and minimal crossbody bag, I like this one by the sustainable brand ABLE. On the design side, this mini bag is simple yet classy looking. It pairs well with simple and dressier looks.
On the sustainability side, it’s 100% leather and they use leather which is a byproduct of the meat industry. This process uses less energy than producing sustainable vegan leather.
Their packaging boxes are 100% recyclable. This bag comes in a whiskey color and is the perfect eco-friendly purse to just put a few essentials inside.
2. Best Woven Sustainable Bag: ABLE Woven Valerie Crossbody

This Woven leather crossbag is also from ABLE and it features a nice minimal woven design. This design adds a bit of texture to your outfits which is a nice touch. The bag comes in two colors – cognac and whiskey. Choose the cognac if you want a pop of color and the whiskey if you want it to match more outfits.
This handbag is handcrafted with 100% genuine leather. It also comes with a zipper closure so you won’t lose any of your items.
3. Best Round Sustainable Crossbody Bag: Cuyana Top Handle Crossbody Bag

There’s something very aesthetically appealing about round bags. This Top Handle Crossbody Bag by Cuyana is a sustainable crossbody bag with a simple yet clean design. This sustainable bag can be worn as a crossbody or shoulder bag. There is also a zipper compartment and slip-back pocket inside. This small bag can fit a ton of stuff.
The bag is made from Italian leather in a family-owned factory in Turkey. It’s a place where artisans are very skilled in their craft.
The oval bag is also LWG certified, meaning the leather is tanned responsibly. The bag comes in 4 different neutral colors.
4. Best Phone Sustainable Bag: Cuyana Concertina Phone Bag

Sometimes, all you need is your phone, a credit card, and your keys. This phone bag by Cuyana is perfect for that purpose. It contains 3 compartments as well as a back pocket so you can fit all of the essentials.
The crossbody bag is made in Turkey by skilled artisans. It’s also LWG certified, a leading environmental certification in the leather industry.
5. Best Bucket Eco Friendly Cross body Bag: Sezane Farrow Bag

A bucket bag is perfect if you’re going for a more feminine look. This Farrow Bag by Sezane is a beautifully designed sustainable bucket bag made in their Italian atelier. It’s made with a cotton lining, a smooth 100% vegetable-tanned smooth cowhide leather exterior, and an adjustable handle. The tie at the top closes the whole bag together. Inside, there is a zipped pocket and a patch pocket.
You can even add a personalized word to this piece which is such a nice touch.
All of Sezane’s pieces are certified by many leading certifications including GOTS, Oeko-Tex, FSC, Ecovero, and more. Sezane is one of the most popular sustainable brands.
6. Best Classic Leather Cross body: Sezane Milo Bag

If you want a classy bag that looks expensive, this Milo Bag by Sezane is the perfect choice. This bag comes in two lengths – one that sits at your hips and another that wraps tight around your chest. It’s made with a cotton lining, a smooth 100% vegetable-tanned smooth cowhide leather exterior, and an adjustable handle.
Sezane is a fair trade brand and they frequently conduct audit checks at their factories to guarantee good working conditions.
This leather bag comes in quite a few colors from neutral colors to brighter ones.
7. Best Designer Bag: Stella McCartney Logo Shoulder Bag

Many designer bags, despite their expensive price tag, are not made with sustainable materials. Stella McCartney is one of the few designer brands that put sustainability at the core of its brand.
This sustainable shoulder bag by Stella McCartney is a beautiful bag that can be carried on the shoulder or across the body. This bag is also made from Alter Mat which is a vegan alternative to animal leather.
Some features of the vegan bag include one internal slip pocket, a magnetic snap fastening, and altered suede lining.
8. Best Sustainable Sling Bag: Bellroy Venture Ready Eco Friendly Sling Bag 2.5L

If you want a sling bag to travel with or to just carry day-to-day, this sling bag by Bellroy is great. It has a front pocket with an internal divider, a main compartment with a soft-lined phone sleeve, and adjustable straps with a magnetic clasp.
It’s one of the best recycled crossbody bags since it’s made with water-resistant fabric and recycled materials which includes recycled polyester or nylon.
9. Best Quilted Sustainable Crossbody Bag: Quince Italian Leather Quilted Crossbody Bag

Quince is a sustainable brand known to offer very high-quality items at lower-than-average prices. Like this Italian Leather Quilted Cross body Bag that would usually retail for 50% more than its listed price.
This leather crossbody is made with 100% top-grain Italian leather and has an adjustable strap and zip-top closure. It also has a unique quilted design and is handmade in Florence, Italy.
Quince is GOTS, OEKO-Tex, RDS, and RWS certified.
10. Best Versatile Crossbody Bag: Nisolo Cleo Convertible Crossbody

This Nisolo sustainable crossbody bag is the most versatile bag on this list. It can be a clutch, a belt bag, a crossbody, a half cross, and an over the shoulder bag.
It comes with a long and short adjustable leather strap so you can adjust it for different purposes.
Nisolo is a Certified B Corporation and they lay out all their sustainability facts and scores. They’re very transparent about the aspects of sustainability they rank high on and also the areas they can improve on. They’re one of the most transparent sustainable bag brands.
11. Best Unique Shape Bag: Melie Bianco Jennie Ivory Recycled Vegan Crossbody Bag

For a unique bag that can be both a crossbody and shoulder bag, this one by Melie Bianco is a great choice. It has a very structured shape and a marbled pearl accent which stands out.
It’s small but also spacious enough to fit your phone, keys, wallet, and more.
It’s made with recycled vegan leather and OEKO-Tex Certified Lining. The bag comes in 8 different colors.
12. Best Large Crossbody Bag: ABLE Rachel Crossbody

Many crossbody bags are small and can’t fit more than a few items, but this large crossbody by ABLE is great for those who need some more space. It’s the perfect size for an everyday bag.
It’s handmade in Ethiopia and has a removable and adjustable crossbody strap. The bag is also lined with zipper and slip pockets.
The bag comes in 2 different colors – whiskey and cognac. ABLE is a sustainable brand dedicated to using less energy in its leather production.
13. Best Colorful Crossbody Bag: Elvis & Kresse Fire & Hide Crossbody Bag

Elvis & Kresse is a sustainable fashion brand that is known for using reclaimed materials and charity initiatives. They vow to donate 50% of the profits to the Fire Fighters Charity.
This Fire & Hide Crossbody Bag uses rescued leather, decommissioned fire-hose, and reclaimed parachute silk.
This eco-friendly crossbody bag has an adjustable shoulder strap and an internal zip pocket so you can keep your valuables in there.
It comes in several different leather colors and fire-hose trims to choose from. The front flap snaps shut and holds plenty of items.
If you want stylish sustainable bags while also supporting their initiatives, this is the bag to get.
14. Best Travel Crossbody Bag: Patagonia 8L Atom Sling

For traveling, especially the kind of traveling that requires lots of walking and being out the entire day, you want a crossbody bag that is comfortable to wear and can hold a ton of stuff. This bag is great for hiking as well.
This Patagonia crossbody bag has an asymmetrical harness that carries close to the body so it’s very comfortable. This also has a highly breathable mesh on the back panel and harness.
This Patagonia bag is fair trade certified and is made with recycled polyester and recycled nylon. The lining is made with 100% recycled polyester.
15. Best Cactus Leather Bag: Everlane The Cactus Leather Sling Bag

Everlane is a sustainable fashion brand known to make its clothing and accessories out of sustainable materials at a lower price than similar retailers.
This Cactus Leather Sling bag is made with organic prickly pear cactus which makes this a bio-based leather.
Cactus is an amazing material to use because it is great at sequestering CO2 and uses zero irrigation as well as naturally regenerating soil.
It’s also non-toxic, cruelty-free, sustainable, and made with phthalates and PVC. It comes in 4 different colors.
FAQs For Sustainable Crossbody Bags
What is the most sustainable material for handbags?
- Cork: Cork is a great sustainable material for handbags because it’s renewable and biodegradable. The material comes from the bark of cork oak trees. The process of harvesting does not harm the tree because the cork oak tree regenerates over time. Cork is a good material for bags that are lightweight.
- Organic Cotton: Organic cotton is a much more sustainable alternative to conventional cotton because it’s made without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. It’s biodegradable and uses much less water than conventional cotton. Organic cotton can often be found in tote bags.
- Recycled Materials: The majority of sustainable crossbody bags on this list are made with recycled materials like recycled polyester or recycled nylon. These materials are sourced from post-consumer plastic bottles or fishing nets so it tremendously helps reduce waste.
- Recycled Leather: Recycled leather is a material made from leather scraps that were produced during the manufacturing process. Repurposing these materials allows less leather waste and is a much better alternative to traditional leather.
- Upcycled Materials: Upcycled materials are similar to recycled materials where you’re reusing items. However, upcycling is repurposing materials in their original form whereas recycling is manufacturing the original material into something else. There are nice sustainable crossbody bags made with upcycled materials and it’s a very eco friendly option.
- Hemp: Hemp is a sustainable material because it comes from a renewable plant that requires less water and pesticides to grow. It’s also incredibly strong and durable.
What is the difference between cross bag and sling bag?
A cross bag is typically a small to medium-sized bag that is worn diagonally across the body. It usually has a long strap that allows the bag to rest on one side of the body and hang at the opposite hip. Cross bags are great as an everyday bag.
A sling bag, on the other hand, is a small bag that is worn over one shoulder with the strap crossing the chest and the bag resting on the lower back or on the chest. Sling bags are designed for easy access to belongings while keeping the hands and arms free. Sling bags are often used for outdoor activities like hiking or traveling.
What is the difference between a bum bag and crossbody bag?
A bum bag is a small pouch that is worn around the waist. Most people use bum bags for outdoor activities and it’s even becoming a fashion statement. It’s also known as a fanny pack.
A crossbody bag is a small to medium-sized bag with a long strap. It’s worn diagonally across the body and it’s commonly used as an everyday bag.
What is the average length of a crossbody bag?
Most crossbody bags have straps ranging between 48 inches to 60 inches long. It’s designed to reach the hip to the lower torso. Some straps are also adjustable.
How do I choose a crossbody bag?
Choose a crossbody bag based on the style, size, and materials it’s made out of. If you want a crossbody bag that can hold only the essentials like your phone, small wallet, and keys, a minimal, small-sized crossbody bag is the best choice.
Is shoulder bag or crossbody better?
It depends on personal preference. If you like to carry bags around your shoulder, you’ll enjoy a shoulder bag. If you like to move more freely and want a more casual look, you’ll like sustainable cross body bags more.
Can leather bags be sustainable?
Yes, it’s possible for leather bags to be sustainable. If you only want cruelty-free alternatives, you can explore vegan bags made with vegan leather and other bio-based leather alternatives. But for 100% genuine leather, these are the things to look out for.
Sustainable leather starts with responsible sourcing. This includes using hides from animals raised in organic farming systems. Sourcing from these places ensures that animal welfare is a priority.
In terms of tanning methods, look for eco-friendly tanning methods including vegetable tanning. This reduces the environmental impact.
Choose high-quality leather bags that can last for years. These kinds of sustainable leather bags help minimize waste and reduces the need to frequently purchase a new bag.
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