If you had any doubt that a puffer coat is a must-have right now, then just look to the likes of Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, who have all been spotted wrapping up warm in their pillowy outerwear since the turn of the year.

So, what makes the ultimate puffer? Black is always a fail-safe choice, although white and beige alternatives are becoming increasingly popular (as are more zingy colours, if you’re in desperate need for a dopamine hit right now). Length is also a key consideration: do you want a short bomber-style jacket or a longer, statement piece?

Then come the environmental factors. Typically made out of fossil fuel-derived synthetics such as nylon, puffer coats aren’t necessarily the most eco-friendly item out there. There have been growing ethical concerns, too, about the use of animal down used for the padding, with horrifying reports from PETA of ducks and geese being plucked for their feathers while alive (a practice that is prohibited in the European Union).

Luckily, there are a growing number of more sustainable and ethical options to choose from – with the likes of Patagonia, Pangaia, and even Prada now using recycled plastic waste to create their puffers. While we know that recycled plastic comes with its own set of issues (including the question of what happens to it at the end of its life), it makes sense for a puffer, given the need for it to be waterproof and durable, and the fact that it doesn’t go in the wash (meaning there’s less concern about the shedding of harmful microplastics).

 

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“We had this goal of creating a puffer that was made entirely from waste,” Olivia Dowie, CEO and co-founder of Riley Studio, tells Vogue of her brand’s eco-puffer, which consists of a recycled nylon shell dyed using onion skins and rice husks, and a filling made from recycled PET bottles. “Hopefully you’re buying a puffer to last, and so that concern of potentially putting plastic back into the system [by discarding it] is negated,” Dowie adds.

 

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“People are becoming more aware of both the issues with traditional animal down, but also their replacement with synthetics, [which] are arguably just as troublesome,” Dr Amanda Parkes, fashion scientist and chief innovation officer at Pangaia, says. “FLWRDWN is a vegan replacement for animal and petroleum-based synthetic down.”

While it’s found a plant-based alternative for the filling, Pangaia still uses recycled nylon for the shell and lining of its puffers – a material that it is ultimately looking to move away from. “We’re on a mission to eliminate the fashion industry’s dependence on non-renewable and non-biodegradable textiles, such as synthetic fibres made from fossil fuels,” Parkes continues. “There’s lots of exciting research happening that ticks all boxes: bio-based, biodegradable, recyclable and microfibre-free.”

In the meantime though, choosing a recycled version is the biggest statement you can make with your outerwear this winter. Below, see our pick of the best eco-puffers out there.