Kit by: Jake Madoff
Co-Founder | Agreeable & Co.

For this kit, I wanted to craft a list of things that I always carry in my backpack. I get asked to share everyday tips and products that are easy to incorporate into daily practices, so here’s my attempt to do exactly that.

I’ve picked 7 products  that can replace many of the things you–probably–currently have your in your bag, and that you can also add. This kit features my favorite eco-friendly laptop case, bamboo tea tumbler, and–what I consider to be an integral part of any productive day–a low-impact medium-sized notebook and beautiful hand-crafted pen made from reclaimed wood. Plus, I’ve included vegan, organic lip balm (in my favorite flavor), and one of my, many, go-to protein bars; this one is vegan, made with plant-based protein and has only 1 gram of sugar.

In addition to the things I have in my bag, I wanted to share a relatively new, innovative company I found that makes backpacks using carbon saving technology. So, just in case  you need a new bag, I offer you this option. Let me know what you think! If you have any questions, comment below, and I’ll answer.

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Everyday Essentials for the Conscious Consumer: “My Backpack”

Eco-Friendly Gear & Vegan Snacks

100% Cotton, Weather-resistant Backpack – Ecoya Eco-dyed, Hand-crafted in USA
By: Incase

A Better Alternative

No backpack kit is complete without a backpack. I often find it difficult to find vegan-friendly backpacks that are aesthetically appealing — whenever I think I’ve found one I like, it’ll usually have some kind of leather facet. This backpack by Incase is 100% cotton and uses “Ecoya eco-dye”, which is an eco-friendly dye that saves water, has a lower carbon footprint, and has less harsh chemical runoff.

RATING

Khaki Macbook Sleave – Ecoya Eco-dyed, Hand-crafted in USA
By: Incase

A Better Alternative

For me, another essential backpack accessory is a laptop sleeve. This product is also made by Incase and uses the same innovative, eco-friendly dye technology. Click through to find more sleeve sizes in this khaki style.

RATING

Portable Glass Tea Tumbler with Stainless Steel Infuser & Bamboo Lid
By: Sei Sei Co.

A Better Alternative

Not sure about you, but I drink a lot of tea. When I first started, I wasn’t quite sure why a tea tumbler with a loose leaf tea infuser was worth getting, but after about a week or two, it became apparent that I needed one. In my opinion, this is one of the best ones on the market; it’s made with a bamboo lid and has a super sleek design. You can finally drink you loose leaf tea without the mess and in style!

RATING

Treeless Ecopaper Sugar Cane Paper Notebook – Recycled from 100% Agricultural Waste
By: EcoPaper

A Better Alternative

I always write down notes throughout the day. I’ll have a recycled paper notebook in just about any bag. This one, though, has a relatively new take on sustainability; it’s crafted with sugar Cane fiber made from 100% agricultural waste, which means it’s treeless.

RATING

Organic, Vegan, Raw Lip Balm, Tangerine Chamomile, with SPF
By: Hurraw!

A Better Alternative

A little known fact, some lip balms contain animal byproducts, like animal fats, which are used to thicken and preserve the balm itself. There’s also lip balm made with beeswax and honey, which is fine if it’s harvested sustainably and humanely. This lap balm, though, is vegan and organic, and made with SPF. It’s also chamomile flavor, which is my favorite, but it comes in more flavor options.

RATING

Reclaimed Wood, Ballpoint Pen – Handmade in Chicago
By: Allegory

A Better Alternative

This is an awesome company that got started through a Kickstarter campaign. They hand-craft all their products in Chicago and only make pens with reclaimed wood. The pens also have a good weight and feel nice in your hand.

RATING

Vegan, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO Protein Bar (Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip)
By: Bhu Fit

A Better Alternative

You’ll always find a protein bar in bag. I’ve been moving away from whey protein bars for a while now, and much prefer vegan, plant-based protein in my bars. This bar is organic and uses peanut and pea protein as its main sources of protein. It also only has 1 gram of sugar (which is basically unheard-of) and 12g of protein.

RATING

View Our Research Standards.

Each of our six badges has its own unique set of metrics. These are some of the qualities (i.e., metrics) we try to look into when assessing a product and brand with respect to each of our badges:

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Socially Responsible (purple triangle):
+ Does the company abide by Fair Trade Practices, or is it Fair Trade Certified;
+ Is there a commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR);
+ Is the company philanthropic – does it donate goods or services to environmental or humanitarian efforts;
+ Does the brand promote corporate transparency;
+ Are there any community engagement initiatives set in place;
+ Does the company communicate healthy and equitable working conditions along the supply chain;
+ Does the brand abide by fair and honorable employment values;
+ Is there a disclosure of sourcing methods, and are such materials or ingredients sourced responsibly;
+ Does the brand have a cause-driven mission towards human & environmental health & well-being.
*We do not conduct in-person audits. Oftentimes we will consult the language and standards set by third-party certifications and seals such as Fair Trade Certified, B Corp Certified, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Green America Certified, etc. We will, however, do independent research with respect to certain badges and utilize peer-reviewed articles. Also, please note that according to the Journal of Economics and the EPA, “social responsibility” does include practices and commitments that support environmental health and well-being; thus, the qualities of this badge may overlap with our other badges.

Eco-Conscious (red triangle):
+ Does the company practice sustainable modes of production;
+ Is the product composed of materials and/or ingredients that are biodegradable;
+ Are the materials and/or ingredients compostable;
+ Does the company have carbon reduction or mitigation strategies set in place;
+ Do the involved materials and/or ingredients have a relatively low environmentally impact;
+ Does the company utilize reduce or reuse principles in their facilities;
+ Does the company use renewable or efficient energy technologies in the production of their good(s);
+ Are there practices in place that work to maintain ecosystem biodiversity;
+ Is environmental stewardship a part of their business model.
*We aim to be transparent and objective when it comes to labeling a product as “Eco-Conscious”, and reject “greenwashing”. According to marketing and advertising standards set by The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Green Guides, it is most accurate to communicate not that a product is necessarily “good” for the environment, but that it is a “better environmental alternative”. This is the message we aim to communicate in labeling a product as “Eco-Conscious”.

Quality Materials/Ingredients (M/I) (green triangle):
+ Does the product contain organic or certified organic m/i;
+ Is there a significant degree of m/i ‘naturalness’;
+ Is the product non-GMO or Verified Non-GMO;
+ Are the m/i biodegradable;
+ Are the m/i compostable;
+ Do the m/i raise little to no concern in terms of m/i toxicity;
+ Is the product treated with harsh chemicals;
+ Is there a healthy ratio of synthetic or artificial m/i to natural m/i;
*For select “Pantry” products, we may look into health and nutritional value.
*For select products, we may consult reviews to assess m/i effectiveness.
*Generally, these are the ingredients that we try to steer clear of: Acesulfame-K (acesulfame potassium), Acetylated ester of mono- and diglycerides, Ammonium chloride, Antibiotics, Artificial colors (Synthetic and FD&C Certified), Artificial flavors, Aspartame, Astaxanthin, Azodicarbonamide, Bentonite, Benzoates, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), Bisulfites, Bromated flour, Brominated vegetable oil (BVO), Calcium bromate, Calcium disodium, EDTA, Calcium peroxide, Calcium propionate, Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate, Calcium sorbate, Caprocaprylobehenin Carmine, DATEM (diacetyl tartaric and fatty acid esters of mono and diglycerides), Diglycerides (acceptable in supplements), Dimethylpolysiloxane, Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS), Disodium calcium EDTA, Disodium dihydrogen, Disodium guanylate (GMP), Disodium succinate, Dimethylamylamine (DMAA)… Read more at Free From 101.

To see the rest of our badges and read our full list of indicators, please visit our “About” page.

Hey people! My name is Jake. I’m the Co-Founder of Agreeable & Co. I’m an Environmentalist, Social Entrepreneur, Writer and Developer. Besides making people- and planet-friendly products more accessible through Agreeable & Co., I run an online research guide for sustainable, ethical, and healthy products, called Greener Square; and helped to start an award-winning trade and barter app, called TradeMade, that measures and tracks one’s carbon footprint. In a word, conscious consumption and overall healthy, low-impact living is my jam. I also like jam.

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