Most Suitcases are Toxic to the Environment: Here is How to Minimise Your Damage and Choose the Best Sustainable Suitcases
Those smart wheeled suitcases are environmental disasters.
They are made of polycarbonate, ABS, or polyesters. The creation process is an energy intensive, using petrochemicals. After you discard them, they break down slowly (if at all), releasing toxic chemicals into the ground.
Minimise the environmental impact of your luggage with smart choices, recycling and by buying sustainable suitcases that last.
Here is the overview:
- Hard shell cases are made of ABS, Polycarbonate, or polypropylene.
- Producing these plastics is energy intensive and they degrade slowly (toxic by-products)
- Soft shell cases are not better, made with polyester or nylon that does not biodegrade.
- Soft shell sustainable suitcases made of recycled bottles (PET plastic) can be recycled.
- Hemp / cotton luggage needs replacing every couple of years, wasting effort / energy.
- My strategy is to buy hard shell cases which last years, then recycle them (or pass on).
Choosing a case made of recycled materials is a great first step.
While you’ll see a lot of cases made of sustainable alternatives like hemp, it is important to consider how long they will last. Using five hemp / cotton cases for every hard-shell (for example), then the transport, production and waste create its own environmental impact.
This page covers getting the right balance between environmental impact and a case that will last.
What are Suitcases Made of and How Toxic are They for the Environment?
Hard shell spinner cases are typically made of Polycarbonates. At the high-end, superlight cases are made of polypropylene instead.
Let’s take these materials one at a time:
Polycarbonate:
These hard plastics are impact resistant and don’t scratch easily, making them ideal for suitcases. They are used for everything from mobile phones to medical components. Polycarbonates come from hydrocarbons, with the manufacturing process releasing CO2 and chemical pollutants.
It is the breakdown after disposal which does most environmental damage. Chemicals including BPA (Bisphenol A) are released – potentially polluting groundwater. Burning them releases toxic compounds that may facilitate ground level ozone formation.
ABS Suitcases:
An alternative plastic used in hard shell cases is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene – better known by the acronym ‘ABS.’ This is also derived from petrochemicals, and combines lightness with impact resistance, it has better heat resistance than Polycarbonate polymers. It is frequently used in 3D printing.
Production of ABS requires significant energy use. Chemicals including Ammonia are used in production, and this material is not biodegradable. While it can be recycled, most ABS suitcases will end up in landfills. Burning it will release toxic fumes.
Polypropylene (Super-Light) Suitcases:
Those amazing super-light cases made by Samsonite (and others) are made of polypropylene. CURV material is an example of this used in luggage. Polypropylene is used for clothing, electronics and even carpets. IT luggage have adapted Polypropylene by adding natural fibres for their Eco-Tough hard-shell range of sustainable suitcases.
Compared to the materials listed above polypropylene is easier to recycle. That said, this page on Wikipedia noted that only 1% of goods made with it are recycled (USA numbers). Harmful chemicals are released as it (slowly) breaks down in landfill.
PET Plastics:
Polyethylene Terephthalate, better known as PET, is widely used to create plastic bottles. It is tough, and resistant to oil and alcohol. PET plastics can be recycled over and over. Suitcase makers have adapted recycled PET into their sustainable soft-shell suitcase range. Notable examples from trusted brands comes from Samsonite (their excellent Spark SNG Eco range) and from IT luggage.
Polyester and Nylon Soft-Shell Suitcases:
Soft shell cases are made from waterproof plastics including polyester and nylon. I’ll cover them together, though they are chemically unique. Polyesters can be derived from natural materials – though the overwhelming majority comes from petrochemicals. They are used in clothes and carpets, as well as soft-shell luggage. Note that nylons are used for lining as well as the cover.
Neither nylon nor polyester are biodegradable. Of the two, polyester is recyclable. This needs to be balanced with the better durability of nylon bags / cases. Multiple steps are needed in the creation of these materials, making them energy intensive.
Sustainable Cotton / Hemp Suitcases:
These organic materials are used for suitcases by independent brands. What you gain in environmentally friendly construction, you lose in durability. While bags and backpacks made with hemp or cotton are viable, it is difficult to create a suitcase which will stand the rigours of international travel from them. Canvas is more durable, though will require plastic coating.
With the main materials biodegradable, there is no doubt cases made of cotton or hemp are better than the petrochemical equivalents. Keep in mind that wheels, the frame, and handles are less likely to be organic. You may also need to replace these cases every couple of years.
Other Materials Involved in Sustainable Suitcase Manufacture:
So far, the focus has been on the main shell materials.
Suitcases have wheels, plastic corners, telescoping poles, the frame which keeps them rigid, handles, zips or clasps, locks, and design elements like badges. Dyes, metallic coatings, and waterproofing chemical layers can also be added to this list.
If you order a case online, it will arrive in a box, with padding material, packaging tape and labels. I’m sure that anyone doing their homework on the sustainability of suitcases will already be recycling these packing materials.
Balancing Environmental Impact and Sustainability with How Long Your Suitcase Lasts
A positive way to reduce the environmental impact of your luggage choice is to make sure that it lasts.
For example, a case made of ABS will last many years.
While the energy use of creating the shell, and the non-biodegradable material are negatives. If you look after your luggage, it could be 8 or more years before you need a new one. Compare this with a hemp soft-shell case, which may need to be replaced four times in this scenario.
Polypropylene is a compromise. That said, if you choose an ultra-lite case with a glossy or metallic finish, it is likely to scratch. I love these cases from Samsonite, though their lifecycle is lower than the polycarbonate shell equivalents as they look scruffy fast.
Recycling and Rehoming Your Suitcases
I’d hope that everyone reading this dispose of their suitcases at their local recycling centre.
As an active traveller, I like to give my older cases away.
Family members that only take the occasional trip are delighted to use an older Samsonite, Antler, or IT suitcase. To them it is a step up, even if it has a few scrapes and dings. That single international trip per year does not justify the additional expense of a sustainable suitcase.
When you pay a pound or two to offset the carbon impact of your next flight, why not add a little more to balance the sustainable impact of your suitcase?
Upcycling is to find an alternative use for older cases. There are obvious storage uses, and I’m sure with some imagination there are other ways to make use of the shell, wheels, and inner pockets. I’ll make a note to write a full article on this soon!
My final thought is to favour the recognised international brands when making your purchase. They are accountable for their environmental impact in a way that the ‘no brand’ knock offs are almost certainly not.
Below are my recommendations for sustainable, durable luggage options:
IT Luggage Eco Range:
IT are best known for their ‘world’s lightest’ range. Those may be mind-blowing the first time you pick one up, though for this article I’ll point out two excellent options from the IT Eco range.
#1 – Lykke Sustainable Suitcases
These lightweight soft-shell cases are made from GRS certified materials recovered from plastic bottles. They come with a 10-year warranty, and a great spec that includes 8 spinner wheels, a combination lock and lined inner pockets.
For the price tag, this sustainable luggage option offers fantastic value.
Check the latest price and range of colours now, on this page at the IT Luggage official store.
#2 – Eco-Tough (Hard Shell Spinners)
IT has developed a bio-compostable plastic which mixes polypropylene with natural fibres for their Eco-tough range.
When you try them, you really won’t know the difference between this and a destructive ABS hard-shell case. There is cabin, medium, medium plus and large versions in a choice of colours. The ‘plus’ ones expand to boost the capacity. You get the full spec of spinner wheels, TSA over-ride lock and inner pockets.
I love these spinners, and the peace of mind in knowing that they will biodegrade in a way that other hard-shell cases cannot.
See the smart colour options and size guide for Eco-Tough cases now, on this dedicated page at the official IT Luggage store.
Quality Soft Shell Spinners: The Spark SNG Eco Range from Samsonite
Samsonite create durable and head-turning luggage and have added a sustainable suitcases option with their Spark SNG Eco range.
They are soft-shell spinners, made from 100% PET plastics – recycled from bottles.
This material is called ‘Recyclex.’ You also get cork detailing, spinner wheels and a choice of four sizes from Cabin to extra-large. While most people opt for the classic black, there are other colour options too.
I’m a big fan of Samsonite cases – built to last and backed up by a solid warranty.
Check out the options and see the impressive close-up picture gallery, over on this dedicated Spark Eco page at the official Samsonite Amazon store.
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