The Best Vegan Belts Made From Recycled Materials

Buckle up in style with our guide to the best vegan belts for men and women. And there’s no fake plastic leather here. All belts featured are made from recycled materials for a more sustainable and eco-friendly take on this wardrobe staple.

With more than a third of adults in the UK now interested in trying a vegan or plant-based diet, there are now increasing options when it comes to vegan-friendly food products.

And that growth hasn’t just been restricted to food and drink products. More and more vegan clothing and accessories are now available – taking the vegan clothing sector from a niche to a more mainstream audience.

This in turn means that products such as vegan belts are much easier to get hold of. However, this proliferation of vegan products gives rise to an increase in greenwashing.

Belts made from vegan leather, for example, are marketed as a green alternative. However, most vegan leather is made from or with plastic. The problem here is that plastic is a non-renewable fossil fuel that helps contribute to the rise in greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.

The use of vegan leather is a better choice when it comes to parts of your wardrobe where there are few alternatives. Take vegan shoes for example. However, for other areas of your wardrobe, I’d always recommend finding materials with a smaller impact on the environment.

The Best Vegan Belts Made From Recycled Materials

To help you out, I’ve put together my guide to vegan belts made from more sustainable materials, whether you need a new belt to help hold up a pair of ethical jeans or trousers, or to sinch in a dress. Buckle up and read on for my top eco-friendly recommendations.

Elvis & Kresse Belts Made From Decommissioned Fire Hoses

Elvis & Kresse’s unisex vegan belts are intriguingly made from recycled firehoses.

It’s true. For over a decade, Elvis & Kresse have been rescuing all of London’s retired fire-hose. Rather than heading to landfill, the hoses are handcrafted into sustainable luxury bags and accessories.

Elvis & Kresse’s lovely belts don’t just look good. They do good. 50% of the profits from their Fire-hose Collection go to The Fire Fighters Charity. This charity offers specialist, lifelong support for members of the UK fire services community, helping to support serving and retired firefighters with their mental, physical and social well-being throughout their lives.

Buy from Elvis & Kresse at Not On The High St, for £44.

Cycle of Good Vegan Belts Made From Innertubes

Love cycling? Love recycling? Then you’re going to love Cycle of Good. Cycle of Good saves the waste associated with cycling from landfill and re-purposes it into useful items that will last a lifetime.

Each high-quality vegan belt is crafted by skilled Malawian artisans. Four layers of recycled bicycle inner tubes – which would have otherwise ended in landfill – are expertly stitched together. This makes each belt very strong and durable.

Want to change the buckle? A popper allows you to switch up the look and fit of your belt, with one quick and simple pop! 

Profits from the sale of their repurposed goods then help to fund education, family support and non-profit enterprise development in Malawi. 

Buy Cycle of Good’s belt from Ethical Superstore for around £26.

Recycled Climbing Rope Belt

DeCoredDesign gives new life to retired climbing ropes, by repurposing them into belts and other accessories.

All of their vegan-friendly belts are crafted by joining lengths of rope sheath – matching and aligning patterns where necessary – to create the belt webbing.

Some belts are then paired with stainless steel D shackles, to create a secure quick-lock fastening.

Alternatively, some of the belts are paired with retired harness buckles as a fastening system. This creates a truly upcycled climbing product! The buckles vary from brand to brand, and belt to belt, which means no one belt ever looks the same.

Suitable for both men and women, these jazzy vegan belts from DeCored Design are sure to bring a little pop of colour to your outfit.

Buy DeCored Design belts from Etsy from £18.99.

FJÄLLRÄVEN – Recycled Polyester Belt 

Whilst Fjallraven is primarily known for its range of backpacks, it’s a little-known fact that the Swedish company also makes a range of accessories.

Whilst the majority of Fjallraven’s belts are vegan and vegetarian friendly, this stylish unisex Abisko Midsummer belt is the only one that is made with recycled materials. However, it is a bit of a compromise as this vegan belt is made with partly recycled polyester, rather than 100% recycled polyester.

I’d love to see Fjallraven expand its range of products made with recycled materials, and shift from using partly recycled polyester to using 100% recycled polyester. In the meantime, I’d rate its efforts as a good start.

Buy the Abisko Midsummer belt from Alpinetrek for £27.85, where it’s available in 3 different colours.

Patagonia’s Tech Web Vegan Belt

Looking for a real multi-tasker? Patagonia’s vegan-friendly Tech Web belt is made with 100% recycled nylon webbing.

What sets it apart from other belts is that its tough yet lightweight aluminium buckle is notched – making it able to pry off a bottle cap. Handy if you are out and about on an outdoor adventure without a bottle opener!

The belt is Fair Trade Certified™ sewn. This means that Patagonia pays a premium to the factory that makes its clothing and accessories.

That extra money goes directly to the workers at the factory, and they decide how to spend it. Here a democratically elected committee of Fair Trade workers decides how the funds will be used, to make it a fair programme.

Workers have chosen to use the premiums to fund community projects, like health-care programmes or child-care centres, or to purchase products they could not otherwise afford, like a laptop computer or a stove. Some opt to take a cash bonus.

Buy Patagonia’s Tech Web Belt from Alpinetrek for £29.95.

In need of more ethical clothing inspiration? Then don’t forget to check out my guide to ethical clothing brands, as well as my guide to vegan wallets.

Main image used c/o Cycle Of Good