To wrap up Plastic-Free July, let’s spotlight the brands that have taken it upon themselves to tackle plastic waste—whether by crafting their collections entirely from recycled materials or by launching their own clean-up, sourcing, fabric development, and recycling initiatives aimed at reducing plastic pollution.
With only around 9%1 of plastic waste currently recycled worldwide, choosing recycled over virgin plastic remains a meaningful step—especially when an estimated 171 trillion plastic particles are now floating in our oceans, up from just 16 trillion in 20052. Yes, recycled plastic is still plastic, and petroleum-derived materials remain far from ideal. But unless one can confidently and traceably claim to live entirely free from single-use plastics, supporting those who actively repurpose what already exists—bottle by bottle, bag by bag—feels all the more vital. We certainly are.
You’re all welcome.
GOT BAG (USA)
Based in the eco-conscious hub of Oregon, Got Bag transforms ocean plastic waste into functional treasures. The brand operates the GOT BAG Indonesia Foundation, which runs a clean-up programme collecting Ocean Impact Plastic from marine and coastal areas. Each bag comes with a two-year warranty and access to an Oregon-based repair service at no extra cost.
Materials used: RE:PET made of Ocean Impact Plastic, RE:PC®, RE:NYNET®
VFR’s pick: Cloud Tote Bag from RE:NYNET®
Regular price: $99,00
Matt & Nat (Canada)
One of the most widely recognised vegan brands, Matt & Nat (short for Materials & Nature) was founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1995. The Canadian brand was an early adopter of recycled materials, incorporating nylon, rubber, and even repurposed windshield resin. Each Matt & Nat bag contains approximately 21 recycled plastic bottles, with the brand recycling over 9 million bottles annually for bag production alone.
Materials used: PU (polyurethane), PVB (polyvinyl butyral) made of 100% windshield glass resin, lining made of 100% recycled plastic bottles
VFR’s pick: Sanford Men’s Vegan Boots
Regular price: $145,00 CAD
Vesica Piscis (Spain)
Vesica Piscis draws on ecosophy—a philosophy that values nature’s wisdom and promotes harmony between people and the planet—and biomimicry, the science of solving human problems by emulating nature. Their RECYCLE ME circular process reuses durable soles in new sneakers where possible, or otherwise recycles the soles, insoles, and textiles to achieve zero waste. Customers receive a 20% discount when their old soles are reused, or 10% if the materials are recycled.
Materials used: recycled cotton, organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester from plastic bottles, recycled TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), natural rubber, cork, bamboo
VFR’s pick: Diogenes men’s sneakers
Regular price: €83,00
Girlfriend Collective (USA)
Girlfriend Collective produces activewear using its own range of fabrics made from post-consumer water bottles, all certified to Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, the world’s leading authority on fabric safety. Alongside its transparent sourcing and production practices, the brand runs the ReGirlfriend recycling programme, accepting garments from any brand in exchange for store credit. Shipping for recycling is free—circularity doesn’t get much easier than this.
Materials used: recycled polyester, spandex
VFR’s pick: Paloma Racerback Bra
Regular price: $56,00
Bihotz (France)
Bihotz—Basque for ‘heart’—believes veganism is only the beginning. While many animal-free alternatives rely on petroleum-based materials, Bihotz takes a stricter approach, using only plant-based or post-consumer recycled materials backed by credible certifications. All textiles meet standards such as USDA Organic (equivalent to France’s AB label), OEKO-TEX, Global Recycled Standard, and GOTS for organic cotton lining. Each piece is handcrafted in France.
Materials used: synthetic suede made from recycled post-consumer materials (plastic bottles, film strips, textiles, etc.), cactus leather
VFR’s pick: The Xerra Tiger Bag – Limited Edition
Regular price: €335,00
Sans Beast (Australia)
Sans Beast is a brand unafraid to challenge conventional thinking around materials, advocating for informed conversations—however heated—on the environmental impact of synthetics versus natural alternatives. All materials are certified under the Global Recycled Standard or Recycled Claim Standard, and comply with both REACH and Proposition 65 regulations, ensuring safety and traceability.
Materials used: recycled polyester, rPET, Uppeal™ Appleskin, Mirum®, Oleatex
VFR’s pick: Bright Spark 2.0 – Noir
Regular price: $229,00 AUD
Canussa (Spain)
Canussa is a B Corp-certified brand specialising in bags and accessories. In 2023, the company launched Canussa Lab, an innovation hub that helps businesses revalue waste and adopt circular economy principles by transforming textile and plastic waste into durable products. They also operate their own resale platform.
Materials used: STANDARD 100 by Oeko-Tex certified microfibres, SEAQUAL®, fabric made from waste of the Alicante palm tree, and Closset (PolyAl derived from beverage carton packaging).
VFR’s pick: Totissimo in perla
Regular price: €99,00
Gaston Luga (Sweden)
Founded by Carl Sundqvist and named after his childhood friend, Gaston Luga is a Swedish brand with the tongue-in-cheek tagline “Full-time art dealer, part-time backpack seller”. The brand positions its accessories as fashion staples, not just practical tools. Since 2019, Gaston Luga has operated as a carbon-neutral company and continues to prioritise responsible material choices, including the use of recycled PET across its collections.
Materials used: rPET, rPET with polyurethane coating, apple leather, FSC-certified paper, and plastic film made from either 100% LDPE post-consumer recycled waste or 100% biodegradable material, compostable within 3–6 months under ideal composting conditions.
VFR’s pick: Däsh Duffel S
Regular price: €79,00
Explore more vegan and sustainable brands in our Directory.
- https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2022/02/plastic-pollution-is-growing-relentlessly-as-waste-management-and-recycling-fall-short.html#:~:text=Only%209%25%20of%20plastic%20waste%20is%20recycled%20(15%25%20is,environments%2C%20especially%20in%20poorer%20countries. ↩︎
- https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/171-trillion-plastic-pieces-estimated-to-swim-in-oceans/ ↩︎