At Sherpani, sustainability has always been at the core of how we design, pack, and move through the world, and we’re proud to be an industry leader in sustainable practices. Because travel is our way of life, it’s our mission to continue the conversation around small steps we can all take to travel lighter and more purposefully on our beautiful blue planet.
So, no matter if you’re planning a summer road trip, next year’s bucket-list destination, or just searching for a meaningful, eco-friendly gift, this is your Sherpani guide to smarter, sustainable travel.
Sherpani’s Sustainability Commitment: Travel Gear With Purpose
Sherpani isn’t committed to sustainability because it’s trendy. It’s etched into everything we do and stitched into every one of our products—and has been for the last 25 years. Since our earliest collections, we’ve been committed to designing travel essentials that reduce waste, lower carbon impact, and support cleaner oceans.
Today, we’re proud to say that Sherpani has helped redirect 11 million plastic water bottles from our oceans.
From sourcing to design to manufacturing, our sustainability standards guide every decision we make. Here’s what that looks like in action.
Recycled Materials
We use Repreve® and other post-consumer recycled fabrics to turn discarded plastic into durable, beautiful travel gear. Every bag gives new life to materials that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans.
Ethical and Traceable Production PracticesÂ
Our production partners follow strict environmental certifications and responsible labor practices. We believe in transparency, traceability, and continuous improvement—not performative sustainability claims for the sake of looking good rather than doing good.
Blue Verve Project: The Sherpani Initiative Keeping Our Oceans Clean
Through our Blue Verve Project, we support the health of our oceans, shed light on the pervasive problem of plastic pollution, and promote ocean plastic recovery programs. This commitment goes far beyond creating sustainable bags for environmentally-conscious travelers. It’s about pushing for real change in the travel industry. Scroll through our Blue Verve Resource Library to learn more about the powerful initiatives that mean so much to us.
Meet Sherpani’s Sustainable Travel Bags (And Eco-Friendly Gifting Options)
Beautiful, functional, and purpose-driven, these bags are leading the way in Sherpani's sustainability efforts.
1. The Getaway Travel Backpack
Made From 28 Recycled Bottles
The Getaway is ideal as an airplane personal item or lightweight weekender bag. It delivers all-day comfort, perfect for exploring a new city, trail trekking in the Andes Mountains, and everything in between.Â
- Padded laptop sleeve
- Cool, modern design
- Anti-theft features
- Long-lasting durability
- 100% recycled and water-resistant materials
Made From 30 Recycled Bottles
The Jetsetter Tote is our sleek, lightweight, anti-theft crossbody perfectly suited to city trips when blending function and style is your preferred way to wear.
- RFID protection
- Water bottle holder
- Large front-angled pocket
- Padded laptop sleeve
- 16L of space
- 100% recycled and water-resistant materials
Made From 16 Recycled Bottles
The Mei is our sleek, lightweight, anti-theft crossbody perfectly suited to city trips when blending function and style is your preferred way to wear.
- RFID protection
- Two interior dividers for extra space
- Anti-theft features: slash-proof fabric, locking zippers, chair loop lock
- Modern design
- 100% recycled and water-resistant materials
4. The Tempest Convertible Tote Bag
Made From 22 Recycled Bottles
The Tempest is a chic and practical choice for daily work commutes or late nights out on the town.
- Easily converts from tote to backpack (just pull the straps)
- 14L of space
- Deep interior pocket to fit a laptop & other daily essentials
- Anti-theft features
- RFID protection
- 100% recycled and water-resistant materials
These bags, and many others, are part of our mission to create eco travel gear that doesn’t compromise on style, durability, or performance.
Why Sustainable Travel Matters More Than Ever
Travel is more accessible today than ever before. Practically anyone can find ways to travel, whether near or far, or by train, plane, or car. And people are increasingly interested in seeing our world close up.
This excites us—a lot. But it also serves as a reminder that our mission is more important than ever.
Encouraging our customers and their fellow adventurers to travel smarter helps us move toward a world where exploration fuels the best parts of travel: learning about new cultures, trying unfamiliar foods, and meeting people from all over the globe. If we want the generations that follow us to have the same pleasures of exploring the world we love, we’ll need to take good care of it first.
Here’s the best part: it’s not as complicated as you think.
Sustainable travel isn’t about perfection—it’s about making small, meaningful choices that reduce the environmental footprint of every trip. And one of the simplest ways to make an impact? Packing light.
- Lighter luggage reduces fuel consumption
- Carrying fewer items eliminates unnecessary waste down the road
- Investing in gear that lasts means less turnover and fewer products ending up in landfills
A mindful approach to packing is a small way to make a big difference.
Small Changes You Can Make for More Sustainable Travel
You don’t need to revamp your entire routine to travel sustainably. Just start with small, meaningful habits that grow over time.
1. Choose Recycled & Durable Travel Gear
Opt for bags made from recycled materials that are meant to last. High-quality, long-lasting gear reduces the need for replacement and potential waste.
2. Pack Only What You Need
Capsule wardrobes, travel-sized essentials, and multipurpose items help reduce the weight you carry and the emissions associated with travel.
We know—it seems weird that just leaving your favorite shoes and outfits at home can actually reduce emissions. But get this: lightening your luggage by 15 pounds can reduce emissions by 80 pounds on a 10-hour flight. Now imagine if 200 passengers were committed to packing light. It would save 16,000 pounds of CO2 from entering our atmosphere!
So, it’s not so small, after all, is it?
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3. Bring Reusables
Water bottles, tote bags for daily carry, utensils, and refillable toiletry pouches minimize single-use plastics.
4. Shop Consciously (and Gift Consciously!)
Support brands with transparent and honest sustainability efforts. During the holiday season, this is especially meaningful—gifts made from recycled materials are the gifts that keep on giving: to your loved ones and to the planet.
Shop Sherpani’s sustainable gift collection here.Â
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5. Choose Direct Flights When You Can
We get it, this is not always up to us. But keeping it in mind is a good place to start. After all, fewer takeoffs and landings = fewer emissions.
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6. Support Local, Sustainable Tourism
Choose local guides, eco-certified stays (accommodations that have been verified by a third party to meet specific environmental and sustainability criteria), and community-run experiences.
EcoBNB is a fun place to start if you’re looking for eco hotels and more sustainable lodging options.Â
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Let’s Travel Lighter. Together
We’re proud of the sustainability achievements we’ve made so far (and we’re nowhere near done yet), from recycled materials to ethical manufacturing to ongoing environmental partnerships. Still, we’re even more excited about where we’re headed.
Every traveler has power. Every purchase is a choice. Every trip is an opportunity to leave a lighter footprint on our planet. Let’s make the decision to do better, together!
Shop Sherpani’s sustainable travel bags.
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