When it comes to eco-friendly purchases, the place where you keep your money is probably the last thing on your mind. But switching to sustainable wallets–ones made with cruelty-free, renewable materials–is both stylish and sensible.
Landfills are full of those flimsy faux-leather wallets that wear out after a few years. And the polyurethane that’s used in many mass-market wallets releases hazardous chemicals during manufacturing. Not to mention the fossil fuels needed to make the plastic.
Pollution issues aside, poorly-made accessories just aren’t worth it. Buying a durable, eco-friendly wallet will save you money in the long run. It’s truly fast fashion vs slow fashion in action.
Thankfully, you don’t need to scour the Earth or spend a fortune to find the best sustainable wallets! From upcycled fire hoses to cork, here are 10 unique brands to buy.
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Flowfold Wallets
Flowfold is a great eco-conscious company that makes fun, upcycled wallets from sailcloth Carbon Fiber.
Their wallets are lightweight, incredibly durable, and water-resistant. Sailcloth is meant to weather harsh storms, after all!
A few of their newer models also have RFID for your protection. While these aren’t made from sailcloth fabric, they are still made with sustainable materials and will last for years with proper care.
Flowfold is a Maine-based company, and all of their products are 100% American-made following strict environmental regulations, labor laws, and safety guidelines.
Over a third of the materials used in Flowfold’s products are recycled, and all materials are sustainably sourced. Wherever possible, the company source locally, which cuts down on pollution from container shipping, and the overall carbon footprint of transporting raw materials.
Recycled Firefighter Wallet
If sailing isn’t your thing, but you love the idea of using strong, upcycled materials, another great sustainable wallet option is the firefighter wallet.
These awesome wallets are made using recycled materials from old firefighter’s outfits and hoses, and made with genuine kevlar and aramid fabric. Because of the material, they are a little heavier than Flowfold, but still surprisingly lightweight.
But more importantly, they’re nearly indestructible. In addition to being nearly tear-proof, they are also flame retardant and water resistant.
Plus, thanks to the bright neon reflective tape you’ll always be able to find it in your purse or bag.
Tree Tribe Leaf Wallets
Want a totally unique, one of a kind sustainable wallet? Look no further than Tree Tribe’s awesome leaf wallets.
Because the natural veining from the teak leaves used creates its own patterning, no two wallets are alike. And the best part is that the design becomes more prominent as they age.
All Tree Tribe leaf wallets are made from sustainably sourced teak leaves that are colored and sealed with non-toxic dyes and film. This coating protects the leaves from wear and makes the wallet water resistant.
Plus, for every purchase Tree Tribe plants one tree. So far they have planted over 400,000 trees in 12 countries.
Corkor Wallets
It’s impossible to talk about eco-friendly wallets without mentioning Corkor. This Portuguese-based company works with local artisans to create natural, cork-based vegan products.
Cork is not only sustainable, but it is also versatile, water-resistant, difficult to scratch, and can be made to look very similar to leather!
These wallets are built to last. If they start to wear, brighten them up with some soap and water. At the end of their life, the cork can be composted.
Corkor wallets are minimalist and come in many different designs and shades. They have wallets for both men and women, many with RFID block technology. If you fall in love with their wallets, Corkor also makes amazing bags and belts.
Bungalow 360 Animal Print Wallets
Need a fun, sustainable wallet that’s perfect for kids or animal-loving adults? These canvas wallets from Bungalow 360 come in multiple colorful designs and cute prints.
Bungalow 360 is an animal loving, eco friendly brand who makes vegan wallets and bags. All their canvas products are made with natural, unbleached cotton and printed with water based ink. They work closely with animal sanctuaries and no kill shelters, even providing solar power installations.
Alchemy Goods Franklin Reflective Folding Wallet
Continuing with the upcycling trend, the Franklin Reflective wallet uses reclaimed bicycle inner tubes to make stunning products. As the name suggests, the design has reflective tape so you’ll never lose sight of it!
Alchemy Goods is an eco-friendly company that stands 100% behind their products. Everything they sell comes with a limited lifetime warranty–they’ll gladly repair any manufacturing or material defects for free.
For any other issues, such as general wear and tear or user error, they are happy to provide a quote and repair it for you. All manufacturing – and repairs – is done in Seattle, Washington.
If this just isn’t your style, I also love the Splaff bike tube wallet. It’s the same concept done by another wonderful eco-conscious company.
Save me for later!
Pixie Mood Vegan Leather Wallet
Going vegan doesn’t mean you can’t own a chic and sustainable wallet. If you want to show all your friends just how stylish cruelty-free fashion can be, a vegan leather wallet from Pixie Mood is the perfect accessory.
Although they’ve always been about ethical animal practices and sustainable products, Pixie Mood really upped their game in 2020 when they committed to making all their products carbon neutral. In fact, they are now working with Terrapass to not only offset all future emissions, but ALL their carbon emissions since they started in 2010.
Haiku Wallets
Haiku’s wallets–and all their products–are made from post-consumer recycled materials such as plastic bottles or polyester. They are still working to reach their goal of using 100% recycled materials, but are on track to be there by 2025.
Thus far, Haiku has reclaimed nearly 2 million plastic bottles, and saved 1.4 million bottles of water.
If saving the planet didn’t make these sustainable wallets cool enough, they also come in fun colors with RFID blocking technology and water-resistant coating.
Mighty Wallets
I’ve long been a fan of Might Wallets. I love the idea that you can get awesome, sustainable wallets that completely match your personality.
With designs like folded money, robots, and even world maps, there is truly something for EVERYONE from Mighty Wallets.
Established in 2005, Mighty Wallets are the original “paper” wallets made out of DuPont™ Tyvek®. Tyvek® is made from thousands of interlocking plastic fibers that create a thin material that’s elastic, tear-resistant, water-resistant, recyclable, and insanely durable.
Pela Compostable Phone Wallet
If you’re the kind of person who only ever leaves the house with your phone, a few cards and one folded bill, this Pela Compostable Phone wallet was created with you in mind.
Compatible with any Pela phone case, these are ideal for people on the go.
Pela’s compostable case card holder is made with Flaxstic® and takes up virtually no extra space. Flaxstic® is a compostable bioplastic elastomer and flax straw material with a low carbon footprint that is 100% biodegradable.
Plus, Pela is a 1% for the Planet company, which means they donate 1% of all profits to environmental organizations that they support and trust.
Looking for more sustainable products? Check out these posts:
What is the wallet in the first picture?
Hello Marla, those are upcycled cork wallets from a street market vendor. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find anything similar sold online, but if I do, I’ll be sure to add a link!