The Most Sustainable Down Jackets
Looking for a lower-impact puffy? Start with our top picks.
The Most Sustainable Down Jackets
Table of contents
The Responsible Down Standard (RDS), created by The Textile Exchange, is the outdoor industry’s leading standard for responsibly sourced down. RDS ensures that down suppliers follow sustainable land management practices, prioritize animal welfare, and provide workers with safe conditions and fair wages. It’s also widely adopted—many brands now highlight their use of 100% RDS-certified down in their products. Among the down jackets we reviewed, more than 90% use RDS-certified insulation. Notably, most jackets that don’t use RDS instead rely on recycled down, meaning nearly all the down jackets we reviewed use some form of responsibly sourced insulation.
The down jacket category has one of the highest percentages of products using recycled materials. Nearly every jacket we reviewed incorporates recycled content in some form. Most feature recycled outer fabrics, such as nylon or polyester, while a few models also contain recycled down insulation. Rab, in particular, has a robust down recycling program, and its Microlight Alpine jacket features recycled down as well as outer fabric and lining made of 100% recycled nylon. On top of that, the Microlight’s zippers are 41% recycled, and the trim is 10% recycled, making 91% of the jacket’s overall content recycled.
About two-thirds of the down jackets we reviewed are made with Bluesign-approved materials. However, the amount can range from a single approved fabric to multiple materials or accessories. The Mammut Broad Peak IN is the only down jacket in our rundown that qualifies as a Bluesign Product, meaning at least 90% of its fabric and 30% of its accessories are Bluesign approved (read the Broad Peak IN Sustainability Report). Bluesign Products meet strict environmental standards across their entire production process.
PFAS chemicals, commonly used to make products waterproof, are found in much of today’s outdoor gear. However, these substances break down extremely slowly and pose risks to both the environment and human health, making a PFAS-free down jacket a better choice for you and the planet. Many down jackets use DWR finishes to shed moisture and keep their insulation dry, while some manufacturers also apply DWR directly to the down for an added layer of protection. All of the down jackets we reviewed use PFAS-free DWRs (except those that don’t have a DWR at all), meaning they contain no forever chemicals. If you're looking for a PFAS-free jacket with extra water protection, the Rab Neutrino Pro and Microlight Alpine both feature PFAS-free DWR finishes and hydrophobic down treatments.
Longevity scores reflect our best estimate of how long a jacket will hold up over time. Since keeping gear in use longer is one of the most effective ways to reduce environmental impact, we weight our longevity ratings as 25% of a product’s overall sustainability score. Down jacket longevity varies widely depending on shell thickness, construction quality, and material treatments. Jackets with reinforced or hybrid shells—such as the Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown, Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down, and Outdoor Research Helium Down—earn the highest longevity ratings for their durability and abrasion resistance. Mid-tier jackets like the Patagonia Down Sweater and Rab Microlight Alpine offer decent durability and can last several seasons, but they still require mindful use. On the lower end, ultralight jackets like the Rab Mythic G and Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer feature extremely thin fabrics that prioritize weight savings over toughness. Overall, jackets with 3-layer shells and high-denier fabrics scored highest for longevity.
We considered including bio-based materials as a sustainability criterion for down jackets. These materials—made from renewable, non-fossil-fuel sources like plants, animals, or microorganisms—are becoming increasingly common across product categories. However, we didn’t find them prevalent enough in down jackets to justify a dedicated category. Two exceptions are the Arc’teryx Thorium and Cerium down jackets, both of which feature a lining made from 60% bio-based materials. It’s important to note that “bio-based” is a broad term encompassing a wide range of materials with different sourcing practices. We only highlight bio-based materials in our sustainability content after thoroughly vetting them as more sustainable than their conventional alternatives.
About three-quarters of the down jackets we reviewed come from brands that offer robust repair services. Keep in mind that if a product is no longer under warranty, some brands may charge a fee for repairs. Common fixes for down jackets include patching fabric tears, repairing seams, and replacing zippers. Brands with standout repair programs include Rab, Arc’teryx, Patagonia, and Fjallraven. We scale the points that brands receive in this category based on how extensive their repair services are.
Resale and recycling programs are effective ways for brands to extend the life of their gear and reduce landfill waste. Among the down jackets we reviewed, just under half of the manufacturers offer a resale or recycling service through which customers can trade in old gear for store credit. Patagonia’s Worn Wear and Arc’teryx’s ReBird programs are two standout examples. At Arc’teryx, if your gear can’t be resold, the company will still recycle it and offer a discount on a new jacket. Rab takes a different approach, with a dedicated down recycling program that repurposes old down jackets into new Rab products.
Over three-quarters of down jacket manufacturers we reviewed use reduced or recycled packaging. For many brands, this means eliminating plastic and cutting down on excess materials like filler paper. Brands are also increasingly using recycled plastic and cardboard, and shifting to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper products. The FSC certifies that wood and paper products are sourced from responsibly managed forests that protect forest ecosystems, reduce climate impact, and minimize chemical use while protecting worker welfare and indigenous rights. Patagonia stands out as a leader in sustainable packaging—all of its bags, boxes, and paper mailers are made from FSC-certified recycled materials or post-consumer waste.
Tracking greenhouse gas emissions is the first step toward improving practices and reducing environmental impact for many companies. Nearly all brands we reviewed down jackets from are monitoring their greenhouse gas emissions. The most commonly used tools for this are the Higg Index, Change Climate Project (formerly Climate Neutral), and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. We award points on a sliding scale based on how thorough a brand’s emissions tracking is and whether it has verified reduction targets in place—and is actively working toward them.
More and more brands are publishing annual impact reports that highlight their year-over-year progress on sustainability efforts, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to increasing the use of preferred materials. Nearly all brands in the down jacket category produce these reports, which help boost transparency and accountability both within the company and across the industry. We award points for this category based on the depth of a brand’s impact report and the frequency of its publication. REI and Rab stand out with particularly robust reports that present clear, accessible information on a wide range of topics, including PFAS elimination, carbon footprint data, and updates on sustainable material sourcing.
About three-quarters of down jacket brands use responsible manufacturing practices. We define this criterion as a brand’s use of third-party certification programs or annual audit systems that verify its manufacturing practices uphold labor rights, safe working conditions, and minimize environmental harm. Examples of these programs include Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear, and the Fair Labor Association. We also recognize brands that manufacture products locally—whether in the U.S. or Europe, depending on the brand’s home base—since those regions typically enforce strict labor and environmental standards. Local production can also lower a product’s carbon footprint by reducing the distance between the supply chain and assembly. Among the brands we reviewed, Patagonia began incorporating Fair Trade production into its operations in 2014, with REI following not long after. More recently, Arc’teryx and Himali have adopted Fair Trade certification for select products.
According to our research, three brands lead the way in down jacket sustainability, each earning the highest sustainability ratings: Patagonia, Rab, and Norrona. Rab holds the top spot with a standout jacket: the Microlight Alpine. The brand distinguishes itself through its use of sustainably sourced materials and efforts to reduce supply chain impact via programs like Fair Wear membership, carbon-neutral certification, and its unique down recycling program. Patagonia and Norrona follow closely, each with models rated closely behind the Microlight Alpine.
If you are looking to purchase the most sustainable down jacket, look no further than the Rab Microlight Alpine. It received the highest score in the category, although it is trailed closely by the Patagonia Down Sweater and Norrona Falketind Down750 (read the Falketind Down750 Sustainability Report). The Rab Microlight Alpine holds a slight edge over other down jackets due to its high volume of recycled materials—91% of the jacket is recycled, including its down (notably, most down jackets do not use recycled down yet). The jacket also receives a higher longevity rating for this category, which boosts its overall rating. The Patagonia Down Sweater utilizes Bluesign-approved and recycled materials, sustainably-sourced down, and receives an average longevity rating. The Norrona Falketind Down750 also meets nearly all our criteria but falls short of the top product due to slightly lower use of recycled and Bluesign-approved materials.
In the coming years, our team expects to see continued use of RDS-certified insulation. With many brands setting goals to increase their use of recycled and Bluesign-approved materials, we’re likely to see more down jackets incorporating both. We're also starting to see brands adopt solution-dyed fabrics, which significantly reduce water and energy use compared to traditional dyeing methods.
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