U.S. Ethical Shopping Guide

Ethically-Made Backpacks

Some backpack companies have been the subject of protests on college campuses because of their use of sweatshops. But below find sweatshop-free backpacks and fair trade backpacks, which are not only made in safe conditions for a livable wage, but are also bringing blessing to the lives of those who make them!

(NOTES: This is a shopping guide so prices and availability can change without notice. If you buy through some of these links, a small amount may come back to help support the mission of Change the World by How You Shop.)

The Sparrow Studio

Their "primary goal is to create a fair trade marketplace for handmade home decor and jewelry." They sell incredible ethically-made backpacks, handwoven in Nepal, in multiple color choices!

Prices: $145

Market Haiti

"A market place designed to empower & market Haitian artisans in their work.” they sell eco-friendly backpacks made from recycled water bottles!

Prices: $25

Ten Thousand Villages

"The original fair trader," started in 1946! They sell high-quality, fair trade backpacks. (To also find their products in a retail location near you, click here.)

Prices: $35 - $150

Amani Ya Juu

"A social economic enterprise committed to peace and reconciliation for African women." They sew cute fair trade backpacks for preschool age boys and girls.

Price: $26 - $36

Education and More

"Strives to reduce poverty in Guatemala by providing educational opportunities for students of all ages." They offer eco-friendly, fair trade drawstring backpacks, made from re-purposed fabric.

Prices: $14

Amma's Umma

"An ethical boutique that gives back to adoptions." They offer ethically made leather backpacks in black and brown.

Price: $85

Hope Outfitters

Ethically-made Christian apparel. 100% of the profits give back to charity. They also offer ethically-made back packs.

Prices: $49 - $59

The Honest Consumer

To find more ethically-made backpacks, check out

The Ethical Backpack Guide

from one of my favorite ethical bloggers.

College Students

To find more ethically-made products for college students, check out our:

Graduation Gift Guide

Office Pen and Pencils free PIxabay grap

Work and School

For more office and school supplies, go to our page:

Ethical Office and School Products

2nd Story Goods

Works in a small town in Haiti to provide much needed jobs and hope to their community. They sell eco-friendly backpacks, incredibly upcycled from recycled plastic water bottles, billboards and worn-out clothes!

Prices: $30 - $75

Sari Bari

"Recycled saris are re-imagined and hand-stitched in the kantha style by a woman impacted by human trafficking and the commercial sex trade." They offer colorful overnighter backpacks.

Prices: $70

Vineworks

50% of their profits is given back to the country where their fair trade products are produced! They offer ethically-made safari backpacks and sports bags.

Price: $18 - $48

WorldCrafts

WorldCrafts "develops sustainable, fair-trade businesses among impoverished people around the world." They sell an adorable fair trade butterfly backpack for girls.

Price: $40

The Village Country Store

Fair trade and fairly made goods from around the globe. They sell rucksacks made from sustainable fabrics.

(Save 15% on Victorian Heart Decor backpacks with the code: ShopVictorianHeartDecorWithLeeAnne.)

Price: $69 - $75

Give a Damn Goods

“Focuses on affordable goods that make a difference.” They offer an ethically-made leather backpack, crafted with intention in Haiti.

Price: $190

Vi Bella Jewelry

Their mission is "providing a path out of poverty" for their artisans. They offer beautiful backpacks, for adults and kids, handmade in Haiti.

Prices: $29 - $36

Still Looking?

For more places to find ethically-made backpacks making a difference in the world, keep scrolling down to the bottom of the page.

Tote Bag Groceries Free Pixabay Graphic.

Totes and Bags

For more products to help you lug your stuff around, also check out our guide to:

World Changing Totes and Duffels

Bags

Return to our

Bags Shopping Guide

for more types of bags.

Shop With a Mission

On a mission “to equip and assist people in developing countries to break the cycle of poverty through their handiwork and creativity." They sell beautiful fair trade back packs.

Prices: $25 - $180

Partners for Just Trade

“Building global partnerships through a just marketplace.” They sell unique fair trade backpack purses.

Prices: $22 - $44

Serrv

"A nonprofit, fair trade organization dedicated to lifting disadvantaged artisans, farmers, and their families out of poverty." They sell high-quality fair trade backpacks.

Prices: $120 - $168

Trades of Hope

Sells products made by women whose "story has changed from pain and struggle to a story of hope!" They offer an adorable turtle backpack for kids and a wayfarer backpack for adults.

Price: $26 - $68

Bought Beautifully

“Purchase a product--transform a life.” They sell waxed canvas roll backpacks.

Price: $76

Beza Threads

Works to rescue and provide a new life for boys and girls in slavery in Ethiopia. They offer an ethically-made leather backpack.

Price: $125

Karama Collection

"Karama alleviates poverty by restoring dignity through creative, purposeful work for artisans, beginning in Africa." They sell high-quality Ethiopian leather backpacks.

Price: $285

Electronics Bags

If you need electronic bags and sleeves, go to:

Ethical Electronic Accessories

to find laptop sleeves, messenger bags, phone cases, tablet holders and more.

Key Chains

For something to clip onto your backpack, also check out our guide to:

World Changing Key Chains and Bag Clips!

Shopping Guide

Return to our

Ethical Shopping Guide

for lots more shopping categories.

STILL LOOKING?

(Fair trade, organic cotton backpacks with padded laptop sleeves which also give back.)

South Mountain Market

(Outdoor adventure backpacks, made in the USA.)

Pachamama Market

(Fair trade backpacks.)

Ona

(High quality, water resistant backpacks, designed to hold both camera and laptop.)

United by Blue

(Eco-friendly outdoor/travel backpacks)

Rareform

(Backpacks made from repurposed billboards.)

Bixbee

(Children's backpacks that give back.)

State Bags

(Backpacks that give back for men, women and children.)

Smateria

(Ethically-made backpacks for adults and kids.)

Parker Clay