Forgot the bulky backpack or — gasp — that dated fanny pack. What we all need this summer is a tote — perfect for the beach, to carry to brunch or for a trip to the library. When we ventured out to find the latest—and coolest—tote bags, it never occurred to us that the cream of the crop would all boast eco-friendly and sustainable design elements. Whether they help save paper or children, the totes we found are chic, trendy and completely economical. Our Meredith Mulligan explores the options…

These days just about every other fashion-forward, clothing and design brand has jumped on the eco-friendly, sustainable bandwagon. So, we here at Corduroy aren’t surprised to see just about every other guy and gal strolling down Bleecker Street toting the latest “It” bag—and, no, we don’t mean Balenciaga’s motorcycle or Chanel’s newest interpretation of the iconic 2.55. We mean Feed Bags. Yup. Feed Bags. As in the creation of former President Bush’s niece Lauren Bush who just so happens to be a humanitarian and activist herself. Pretty much the trendiest charitable endeavor yet, FEED Projects is committed to working to fight hunger by feeding hungry school children every year through the sale of their totally chic and sustainable tote bags. This summer, FEED Projects launched the FEED 2 Kenya bag; made with natural burlap, Kenyan Masai tribal fabric and hand-beaded in the nation of Kenya by local women, this unique design will feed two children in school for one year. Available at Bergdorf Goodman, New York, $175, or visit www.feedprojects.org for information on their other projects.

Friends Liz Long and Holly Tienken turned their love of strong design and practicality into a business venture that has tongues wagging. Bag the Habit is a line of ethically manufactured shopping totes and produce-bags that may be the perfect sack for your Granny Smith’s, but we think they function quite well as an everyday tote. These girls definitely know style, and didn’t skimp on a fresh look when designing their bags. Made with smooth, recycled polyester, the shopping totes are available in a deep plum, rich chocolate and midnight/aqua pattern. Check out www.bagthehabit.com, $18 for a single bag, $45 for a set of three.

If you’re headed on a jaunt to Cape Cod or the Islands—or maybe a trans-Atlantic sail—we have the tote for you. Sea Bags. Each bag is made from recycled sails that have seen their share of the deep blue sea. These efficient totes are perfect for a low-key weekend or storing all the trimmings for a picnic in the park. We find them perfect for lugging our laptop and magazines on a long flight. Toss them in the washer, drop them in the ocean, Sea Bags withstand just about anything. Each bag is equally unique; most sails have been around the world before becoming our favorite new overnighter. Or, choose to give back by choosing the Cure Bag, with 50% of the purchase going directly to the Maine Cancer Foundation. Check out www.seabags.com, $95 to $180.

New York-based designer Mary Ping has unveiled a new set of canvas bags in the eleventh installment of her reconstructed basics line “Slow and Steady Wins the Race.” The new bags are hybridizations of the iconic Hardware, Dior, Gucci, Hermes Birkin, Cotton Quilted Bag and as seen above, As Four. Ping’s goal: to comment on society’s obsession with designer handbags and brand names…and make a practical and affordable bag for the summer in the process. Details at slowandsteadywinstherace.com.

- Meredith Mulligan