Eco-Fabulous Find: Ecotech Bags!

I LOVE bags!  And what girl doesn’t?  My husband calls me the bag lady, and with the amount of purses and bags I own I could probably open a small store.  Bags are like shoes…a girl can never have too many. As I was going through all of the bags and purses I own, in preparation for our big move, I started thinking about what to do with all of the ones I no longer use.  I could give them away, try to sell them (highly unlikely), or throw them into the landfills away.  Most of the bags I own are of the plastic/vinyl variety and laden with chemicals harmful to both myself and the environment.  You know that "new" smell of a brand-new bag?  It’s the result of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a chemical known to cause severe damage to one’s health including cancer, birth defects, and endocrine disorders.  In order to identify whether your child’s favorite rubber duckie or your faux designer bag contains PVC, look on the label for the number "3."  PVCInformation.org is a fantastic resource for information on the dangers of and alternatives to PVC.

A few weeks ago I highlighted Ecogear’s Kids’ Series of backpacks in my "green" back-to-school guide.  I recently received Ecotech’s Tiger laptop carrier which I had planned on handing over to my husband for his computer.  I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from a bag made of recycled plastics.  Would it be durable?  Would it look recycled?  Take a look:

The Tiger bag is constructed of PVC Free 168OD eco-weave ballistic nylon and completely toxic-free (including the dyes used in the fabric).   I absolutely love the number of organizing pockets and compartments.  I almost don’t even need a purse!  The laptop sleeve is padded, which increases my confidence in the bag’s ability to protect my computer from my clumsiness.  At present, the bag only comes in black and retails for $69.99.  I’d love to see the bag in funky, girlish prints.

Ecogear and Ecotech’s entire line of bags are made with planet-friendly organic cotton, PVC-free materials, recycled plastics and toxic-free dyes and components.  You’ll find sleek and stylish messenger and duffle bags for your personal indulgence, rugged bags and backpacks for the men in your life, and hip, fun organic cotton animal bags for your kids.  The company uses Ecoweave (EPO) as a PVC-alternative coating on all of its bags.  The coating is free of toxins including chlorine, PVC, dioxin, phthalates, heavy metals, or ozone-depleting chemicals.

The company is getting ready to launch their new Recycle series which includes an entire line of bags made from recycled PET bottles.  I’m already drooling over the Madtom messenger bag.

In agreement with the company’s philosophy, small changes can make a significant environmental impact.  Choosing an eco-friendly bag is another way we can all do our part to help preserve our fragile environment.

Caryn Bailey, aka Rockin’ Mama, is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night. She and her husband backpacked for 8 weeks in Europe before moving to Edinburgh, Scotland. While living out their dream to immerse themselves in another culture, Caryn and her husband Jason found out they were pregnant with their first baby. A difficult pregnancy landed her on bedrest where she discovered the world wide blogosphere and was hooked. This babywearing, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, mama still finds time to sip a cup of tea and shop (albeit online these days)…two of the simple pleasures she enjoys. When she’s not running after her 9 month old son…or her husband…you’ll find her reading or baking. Her passions include health, fitness and all things green.