Fleurville is known for its stylish yet functional diaper bags, and as unbelievable as it may seem, they’ve even topped their own bags with their new Re-Run line. The Re-Run Messenger bag is actually the popular MotherShip slightly shrunken in size and made out of Fleurville’s recycled plastic bottle fabric. How their Re-Run fabric is made is an interesting read in itself (for the life cycle, click here). Just know that 86% of the 50 billion plastic bottles the US consumes each year end up in landfill and these same plastic bottles take 1000 years to breakdown. Makes you re-think buying a case at Costco, doesn’t it?

Fleurville’s Re-Run Messenger bag keeps 10 (600-ml) plastic water bottles out of landfill. Though this “green” bag (okay, it oesn’t actually come in green but it does come in four fab colors) is smaller in size you’ve still got the adjustable shoulder strap, 2 external pockets, 3 interior pockets, a key clip, see-thru wipe case, and even an earbud pass-thru badge and fleece-lined iPod/sunglasses pocket. All that in a Messenger bag made from recycled plastic! But what does it look and feel like up close? Well…just like any other well-made, high-quality Fleurville bag. I know because I am now lucky enough to go green with a red Re-Run Messenger bag, and that beautiful silk-screened botanical print only enhances the inner beauty of this bag.

Let’s not forget the Re-Run MicroPod, which keeps 3 (600-ml) plastic water bottles out of landfill. I had to get up close and personal with to make sure it lived up to its claims: zip-out mesh sippy cup pocket (sippy cups and baby bottles okay; plastic water bottles not okay), removable/adjustable shoulder strap, fleece lined iPod/sunglasses pocket, earbud pass-thru badge, changing cloth, and wipes case. I truly couldn’t believe it, but this little made-from-recycled-plastic pod had all that hidden in its sleek lines and perfect-for-the-light-traveler size. You can even wear the MicroPod in four ways: messenger, over the shoulder, around the waist, or hung from a stroller.

I absolutely love Fleurville’s Re-Run line, but their Re-Run fabric isn’t the only “green” thing about this company. Fleurville is a certified “San Francisco Bay Area Green Business” (i.e. it uses “green” business practices), and its products are PVC-free. Instead of PVC, Fleurville uses its own environmentally friendly polyurethane laminate, Green-LAM, which has superior attributes like moisture–repellency, UV-resistance, and overall durability. “By purchasing products with [the] Re-Run logo, you are reducing your carbon footprint and supporting a more sustainable form of manufacturing.” Sounds pretty darn good to me.—Emily

* Giveaway Fleurville is giving away one Re-Run Messenger and one Re-Run MicroPod! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: Jan. 24, 2007 (midnight). The winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

** Congratulations to Donna Fenton and Joanna Dreifus, the winners of the Fleurville giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!