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GROUNDTRUTH

United Kingdom

GROUNDTRUTH is a UK brand making backpacks, totes, duffles, slings, dry bags and travel accessories for men and women. Its RIKR range covers everyday and travel bags, and its UNDA range consists of waterproof, submersible bags. Products come with a 10-year warranty. The bags are made from the brand's own 100% recycled textiles, and the UNDA range uses repurposed fishing gear. GROUNDTRUTH has also developed patent-pending hardware made with captured CO2 emissions. The company was started by three sisters with backgrounds in documentary filmmaking and artisan textiles, who aim to reduce plastic pollution through their products. Good On You rates GROUNDTRUTH Great, with 5 out of 5 for Planet, 4 for People and 5 for Animals. It holds Global Recycled Standard and Bluesign certifications, uses recycled packaging, and states its whole range is vegan. Good On You found no evidence it ensures living wages in its supply chain.

Ucon Acrobatics

Germany

Ucon Acrobatics is a Berlin brand that designs minimalist backpacks, belt bags, weekenders and other bags for city life. Its product lines include the Air, Moss and Lotus Infinity series. The brand makes many of its products from textile waste, which is turned back into fibre and yarn through mechanical or chemical recycling. Its products are designed with few components, as mono-material as possible and with PFAS-free coatings, so they can be recycled at the end of their life. Some backpacks are made of up to 96% recycled textiles by weight. The company is a certified B Corp, works with PETA and funds the planting of a tree for every order. Good On You rates Ucon Acrobatics Great overall. It scores the brand Great for planet and animals and It's a Start for people. Good On You credits the brand's circular design, dope dyeing and recyclable packaging, and lists it as vegan through PETA. It also says there is no evidence of living wages across most of the supply chain.

Lefrik

Spain

Lefrik is a Madrid-based label making backpacks, bags, travel goods and accessories for people who move around cities every day. The company started in Madrid in 2012 and focuses on light, practical designs with clean lines. Most of its fabrics come from recycled plastic bottles, and they are water-resistant. Lefrik says its products are fully vegan and cruelty free, and PETA lists the brand as vegan. Each item has a five-year warranty, which supports longer use. Good On You rates Lefrik Good overall. It scores Good for planet, citing a high share of recycled and lower-impact materials and long-lasting products, but it found no evidence that the brand reduces packaging. The people score is It's a Start: final production is SMETA-audited and the code of conduct covers ILO principles, but there is no evidence of living wages. The animal score is Great.

ID.EIGHT

Italy

ID.EIGHT is an Italian sneaker brand. Its gender-neutral designs draw on 1990s styles and come in three main models, Hana, Uriduri and Maru, whose names come from Korean words. The founders, a designer from Seoul and a sustainability-focused marketer, raised money for the first production run through a Kickstarter campaign. The sneakers are made in Portugal from recycled materials and partly plant-based biomaterials such as Uppeal, BioVeg and Vegea. The brand uses no animal-derived materials. Good On You rates ID.EIGHT Good overall. It scores Great for animals because the whole range is vegan, and Good for planet, citing recycled materials, recycled packaging, a recycling offer for customers and action on transport emissions. It is rated Not Good Enough for people because Good On You found no evidence of supplier audits, a Code of Conduct or living wages.

8000Kicks

United States

8000Kicks is a US brand making footwear from industrial hemp for men and women. Its range includes waterproof hemp sneakers, wide toe box styles, hemp Chelsea boots and slip-ons, plus hemp backpacks, hats, socks and wallets. Good On You rates 8000Kicks Good overall, with Great for animals because the brand states its whole range is vegan. Good On You notes a medium share of lower-impact materials such as hemp, action on transport emissions, some recycled packaging and a recycling offer for customers, though it does not report results. On labour, it traces most of its supply chain, has a Code of Conduct covering ILO principles and pays some final-stage workers living wages. The brand runs leftover-stock sales so unsold pairs get worn instead of sitting in storage. During its Kenya Campaign, it donated 10% of every sale to an orphanage to pay for the children's schooling.