Is Lo & Sons ethical?

Overview

Founded by a mother and her two sons, Lo & Sons has grown from a small family business into a leader in the sustainable travel gear market. The brand focuses on functional elegance, specifically designing bags that address the logistical challenges of frequent travel. From a sustainability perspective, Lo & Sons distinguishes itself by prioritizing recycled textiles and high-performance synthetic alternatives to traditional leather. Their product development cycle emphasizes durability, ensuring that bags have a long lifecycle to reduce the environmental impact associated with disposable consumer goods.

Certifications

The brand maintains a robust portfolio of third-party certifications that validate its marketing claims. Most notably, their flagship recycled products carry the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification, which verifies the recycled content of the materials and monitors social and environmental practices throughout the processing. Additionally, they utilize OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified fabrics, ensuring that the finished textiles are free from harmful substances and safe for human health. Their commitment to animal welfare is validated by their status as a PETA-Approved Vegan brand for several of their key collections.

Animal testing & vegan range

Lo & Sons offers a significant vegan range, prominently featuring high-quality alternatives to animal products. Their '600D Recycled Poly' and several other specialized synthetics are used to replace leather without sacrificing the structural integrity required for heavy travel. As a PETA-Approved company, they do not conduct or commission animal testing on any of their materials. While they do offer some products using high-quality leather, their focus has shifted heavily toward high-performance vegan options like the Terra and Re-Play series, which achieve some of the highest ethical ratings in their catalog.

Sustainability pledges

The company is deeply committed to a 'circular' design philosophy. Their sustainability pledges center on increasing the percentage of recycled content across all product lines. For instance, the Re-Play collection is constructed from recycled plastic bottles, diverting waste from oceans and landfills. They have publicly committed to transparency regarding their material origins and are continuously working to eliminate single-use plastics from their shipping and fulfillment operations. Their pledges also include a focus on timeless design to discourage fast-fashion consumption patterns.

Sourcing & labor

Lo & Sons maintains a selective approach to manufacturing, partnering with factories that adhere to fair labor standards. They prioritize long-term relationships with their suppliers to ensure consistent oversight. By visiting their manufacturing partners regularly, the brand maintains a level of accountability regarding working hours, wages, and safety conditions. While they manufacture in regions common to the textile industry, their use of GRS-certified facilities provides a layer of environmental and social auditing that exceeds general industry standards.

Controversies context

To date, Lo & Sons has no major environmental or labor controversies on record. They have avoided the greenwashing pitfalls common in the luggage industry by backing their claims with specific certifications rather than vague marketing terminology. Their customer transparently addresses material choices, including the nuances of why they choose certain synthetics over others based on durability and carbon footprint metrics.

Bottom line

For the conscious traveler, Lo & Sons represents a top-tier choice. With ethical scores reaching as high as 89/100 for specific models like the Re-Play Softside Carry-On, the brand proves that style and utility do not have to come at the cost of the planet. Their heavy reliance on GRS and OEKO-TEX certifications makes them a transparent and trustworthy option in a crowded market.