About Paravel
We believe travel can open your eyes to the world while protecting it at the same time. Since 2016, we’ve been creating luggage and travel gear from recycled materials – proving that sustainable doesn’t mean sacrificing style, quality, or durability. Every suitcase we make represents a choice to do better.
The Paravel Story
Paravel was founded in 2016 by Indré Rockefeller and Andy Krantz with a radical idea: travel gear could be beautiful, functional, AND sustainable. At the time, the luggage industry was stuck in the past. Suitcases were either cheap and wasteful or expensive but still made from virgin plastic. Nobody was thinking about the environment.
We started small with weekender bags and packing cubes. We spent months finding the right recycled materials, testing prototypes until they were perfect, and building relationships with ethical manufacturers. The mission was simple: prove that eco-friendly travel gear didn’t mean compromising on quality or style.
In 2018, Indré traveled to Antarctica with The Nature Conservancy. Witnessing glaciers melting and wildlife struggling from climate change firsthand changed everything. We realized we couldn’t just make “better” products. We needed to make products that actively helped solve the problem. That’s when we created the world’s first carbon-neutral suitcase – our signature Aviator carry-on.
Meet the Founders
A luxury fashion expert who previously worked at Spanish fashion house Delpozo. After witnessing climate change firsthand in Antarctica, she became determined to make Paravel the first 100% sustainable travel brand. Her vision combines high fashion sensibility with environmental responsibility.
Former Goldman Sachs executive turned sustainable entrepreneur. Andy brings business expertise and operational excellence to Paravel’s mission. He believes in creating timeless products without built-in technological obsolescence, focusing on what truly matters to travelers.
Our Impact in Numbers
Since 2016, we’ve been working to reduce plastic pollution, restore ecosystems, and offset our carbon footprint. Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far.
7+ Million Bottles
Plastic bottles recycled and transformed into luggage, bags, and accessories
35,000+ Trees
Planted through Eden Reforestation Projects to restore forests and protect ecosystems worldwide
8,150+ Tons CO2
Offset through our carbon-neutral shipping and manufacturing programs with Gold Standard
How We Make Our Products
Recycled Polycarbonate
Our hard-shell suitcases are made from post-consumer recycled polycarbonate sourced from discarded water cooler jugs. Just as strong and lightweight as virgin plastic, but with a fraction of the environmental impact.
Negative Nylon
Every soft bag uses our proprietary fabric made from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles. Fifteen bottles go into every carry-on lining. Water-resistant, ultra-lightweight, and certified sustainable.
Recycled Components
Our aluminum handles are recycled aircraft-grade. Zippers are recycled. Vegan leather trim is 60% recycled polyester. Even the smallest details are chosen with sustainability in mind.
EcoCraft Canvas
Our canvas totes combine natural cotton fiber with thread made from recycled plastic bottles, finished with a silicone coating that’s better for the environment and lasts longer.
Carbon-Neutral Process
We offset 100% of emissions from sourcing, manufacturing, shipping, and delivery. Our Aviator line even includes offsets for your first flight with it.
Certified Materials
All materials are certified by Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and Global Recycled Standard. Third-party verification ensures we’re accountable for every sustainability claim.
Our Design Philosophy
We design luggage that looks as good in ten years as it does today. No trendy colors or flashy logos. Just clean lines, classic proportions, and neutral tones inspired by vintage travel.
Every detail serves a purpose. 360-degree spinner wheels, compression boards, TSA-approved locks, and water-resistant linings. We obsess over the small stuff so you don’t have to.
The most sustainable product is one you never replace. Premium materials, reinforced stitching, and extensive testing. Our carry-ons are backed by a 10-year limited warranty.
Our products work together as a system. Packing cubes nest inside suitcases. Weekenders slide onto luggage handles. Mix and match based on your trip instead of buying single-use items.
Recycled polycarbonate shells are incredibly lightweight without sacrificing strength. More weight for your belongings, less strain on your shoulders. Carry-ons weigh just 8.2 lbs empty.
Interior pockets, compression straps, and removable laundry bags keep everything in its place. Find what you need without unpacking your entire suitcase at security or in your hotel.
What We Stand For
Our values guide every decision we make, from the materials we source to the partners we work with.
Climate Neutral Certified
Certified since 2021 and offsetting 100% of carbon emissions from manufacturing to your first trip. We work with Gold Standard, DHL GoGreen, and UPS to ensure accountability.
Ethical Manufacturing
We work only with certified factories that meet strict labor and environmental standards. Every partner is vetted and regularly audited for fair wages, safe conditions, and sustainable practices.
Giving Back
We plant trees through Eden Reforestation Projects and support the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program, addressing how climate change disproportionately affects communities of color.
Transparent Impact
We publish our sustainability metrics publicly. No vague claims. You can see exactly how many bottles we’ve recycled, trees we’ve planted, and carbon we’ve offset.
Quality Guarantee
Our luggage comes with a 10-year limited warranty because we believe in making products that last. If something breaks under normal use, we’ll make it right.
Continuous Improvement
We’re not perfect, and we don’t claim to be. Sustainability is a journey. We constantly look for ways to reduce our impact and increase transparency in everything we do.
Why Sustainable Travel Matters
Travel opens our eyes to how beautiful and diverse our world is. It connects us to different cultures, landscapes, and ways of life. But it also has an environmental cost – flights, hotels, and the gear we pack it all in.
We can’t eliminate that impact completely, but we can make better choices. Buying luggage made from recycled materials instead of virgin plastic helps. Choosing bags that last 10 years instead of 1 year reduces waste. Supporting companies that offset their emissions and give back to the environment matters.
Every Paravel product represents a choice to do better. A choice to invest in quality over disposability. A choice to leave the places we visit a little better than we found them. That’s the kind of travel we believe in.
Ready to Travel Sustainably?
Explore our complete collection of sustainable luggage, bags, and travel accessories. Every product is made from recycled materials and designed to last for years.