Kit by: Emmaly Knecht
Founder & CEO | eba totes

eba totes answers the age old question. Can a bag be stylish, versatile, and eco-friendly? We are happy to answer, YES!!

It all started with a grocery visit: 4 items, a small shoulder bag, and the want to not have to use a plastic grocery bag. In the end, I was forced to use that plastic bag because I only have two arms and my grocery items were lettuce, vegetables, and milk, not items you want to co-mingle with your personals. So the idea of a stylish tote bag that had some kind of waterproof compartment catapulted me into the wild world of fashion accessory design. The outcome, eba totes!!

Our mission is simple, create stylish tote bags that are versatile, durable, and earth friendly. Plus, we wanted to have the bags assembled in the old U.S. of A. A challenge I knew we could face head on, but a challenge none the less.

Handmade Totes with Recycled, Eco-Friendly Fabrics & Vegan Leather

Crafted Ethically in the USA

Handmade, Vegan Leather & Waterproof Recycled Nylon Tote Bag (Whisky) – Made in the USA
By: eba totes

A Conscious Alternative

Take our Whiskey tote. Its made from a high grade of vegan leathers called ‘ultrafabric’. Created to feel as buttery soft as leather but durable enough to take everyday wear and tear. And the lining is made from recycled nylon and is waterproof, perfect for that sweating iced coffee, baby bottle, or fresh produce from the farmers market. And easy clean up too, just wipe the empty compartment out with a damp cloth, waahhlaa.

RATING

Handmade, Vegan Leather & Waterproof Recycled Nylon Tote Bag (Indigo) – Made in the USA
By: eba totes

A Conscious Alternative

Most of our linens are from companies in the US and not only are they fun and a little funky but they can also take the wear and tear. Typically used to cover furniture a little dab of warm water and a little soap will release any stain. And all the accent pieces are the amazing ‘ultrafabric’. But we know we can do better with our weaved fabric, with every season we will improve on features that maybe aren’t as green as we want them to be. A challenge every eco-company faces.

RATING

Handmade, Vegan Leather & Waterproof Recycled Nylon Tote Bag (Uccello) – Made in the USA
By: eba totes

A Conscious Alternative

The Uccello tote features the same vegan leather in both a stunning black and uccello color. The soft and durable vegan leather makes this the perfect everyday bag – it’s color and textures pairs well with just about any outfit and any season. Everyone needs an eco-friendly, classic black tote at some point or another!

RATING

For the Working Professional – Nallely’s EBA Totes Testimony – by Nallely

“What I adore most about the bag is how versatile it is. It’s so easy to use for work, shopping, gym, and going on a trip. I can pack anything that I need from food to clothes and everyday necessities without having to worry about spilling or having to carry more than one bag for each purpose”…see more.

The Perfect Mom Bag – Kim’s EBA Totes Testimony – by Kim

“With my first two kids, diaper bags were never “purse like”, your only option was a backpack diaper bag because there hadn’t yet been the “hip mom movement” of women having kids and also having great jobs. The floral prints you also find on most diaper bags weren’t for me and I wanted something that could be used as a diaper bag but also felt, and looked like an everyday purse. Eventually I purchased a backpack diaper bag due to the comfort and convenience when it came to traveling and carrying my youngest daughter”…see more.

A Student’s Dream Bag – Natalie’s EBA Totes Testimony – by Natalie

“As a full time student and part time airline employee my days are constantly busy. I go to school Monday through Thursday and work Friday through Sunday. Throughout all my busy days I’m always carrying around school supplies, lunches, work clothes etc. I’ve used backpacks to carry my crazy load between school and work, but it’s pain when you need to grab something quickly, plus they don’t look as cute as a purse! What I really wanted was a cute, comfortable, durable bag that would fit my everyday needs”…see more.

Testimonials

The good news is, these bags actually work. Our friends, family, and complete strangers in the blogging world have given us some great feedback. The straps are wide and very comfy, the tote size is big enough to hold everything you need but not hurt your poor shoulders, and the compartments make it easy to separate and organize all your items. We wanted to make sure when our customers buy a bag, we can confidently tell them, “Hey, this bag is the real deal.”

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.

Discover more kits:

My name is Emmaly and I am the owner and designer of eba totes. I spent most of my childhood watching national geographic shows and now i spend my adulthood Netflix-ing documentaries and series about this amazing world. What does that have to do with anything? Well my inspiration and love of all things world influenced me to make functional stylish and eco-friendly tote bags. Its been a journey full of lessons, both good and bad but seeing how great the bags work for our customers fuels me to keep moving forward and experimenting with more eco-materials and blending fun patterns and colors.

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2 Comments

    You guys find great brands, just wanted to drop a note 🙂

      Thank you, Laur 🙂 eba totes is certainly awesome.

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