The US consumes 50 billion plastic bottles a year. 86% of US plastic bottles end up in landfills. Plastic bottles are made from oil and take 1000 years to breakdown.

Fleurville, a company "focused on creating compelling solutions for modern parents" and based in Northern California, has just come out with a new diaper bag made from Re-Run fabric made from plastic bottles. Known to many a hip mama as the maker of the MotherShip-- a ginormous diaper bag that can possible fit a whole baby's wardrobe and maybe the baby too (although I am certain that is not recommended) this new diaper bag comes in beautiful new designs and with the added cache of being "green". So how does the Re-Run measure up? 

The bag came to me stuffed with paper and inside a plastic bag. I am sure that's not how you would purchase it at the store, but for a "green" product it seemed rather excessive packaging for something that is essentially a package. Included in the bag is a diaper change pad, which was a good size and well designed, and a plastic, see through diaper wipes case. I don't think that the wipes case was made out of recycled plastic and furthermore, if you want to be super green you don't use disposable wipes, you just bring along some washcloths or wipes. Fleurville might want to ditch the wipes case. 

The bag itself is a well designed, beautiful item which any mom would love to carry as a diaper bag and perhaps long after diaper days. I had a saleswoman at Lush ask me where I got my bag. She was amazed it was a diaper bag. 

It has a very roomy central pocket which was perfectly sized for extra cloth diapers, a change of clothes and some snacks. In addition, a fleece lined pocket inside is great for sunglasses or an iPod and a key ring allows you to snap your keys on, keeping them out of your baby's mouth. Additionally, the bottom of the bag has four metal feet which keep the fabric off the ground and enable the bag to stand up on its own--an awesome feature for moms on the go. Finally, two outside pockets were well-situated for wallet and accessories. The shoulder strap is the test for any diaper bag and can make or break its use. I found the Re-Run shoulder strap to be very comfortable and it adjusted well and easily. I didn't test this, but I am sure it would hang nicely on most strollers. 

I loved this diaper bag and I would certainly recommend it as a gift. For only $75 you get a lot of features and  the chance to keep 2.5 to 10 plastic bottles out of landfills. Considering all the options out there, I think this diaper bag is not only one of the greenest options out there, but also one of the best all around choices for new parents.

Available online via Fleurville.