If you don’t live by the beach in a tropical location, chances are that you may be on a quest to find the best sustainable men’s coats ahead of the cold-weather season. Much like men’s sustainable boots and ethical watches, coats are a significant investment. But when you find one that checks all your style and quality boxes, it can become a wardrobe staple for years to come — a type of sartorial armor to help you battle the seasons’ unpredictable weather.
When it’s time to retire your worn-to-death jacket, the best ethical men’s coats on the list will provide you with consciously made and eco-friendly options that will certainly pass the test of time (and weather).
Why Choose Sustainable Men’s Coats & Jackets?
Jackets that are just marketed as sustainable won’t make the cut. 2023 requires us to cut through the noise and sleazy greenwashing tactics to find sustainable men’s brands with a strong track record of environmental and social responsibility. Whether you choose organic or recycled fabrics, you can rest assured that they require significantly less or no chemical treatment, little water, way less energy, and no GMOs to grow. Also, ethical fashion ensures fair wages and safe working conditions which is not the case in mass-produced, fast-fashion clothing.
There are also numerous selfish reasons. Men’s sustainable clothing is superior in terms of durability and longevity. Organic and natural fabrics are softer, stronger, and will last you for years. On top of that, recycled fibers, like recycled polyester, feature very long, stable, and strong molecules which are synonymous with durability.
From using recycled or organic materials to closely monitoring their entire supply chain to being mindful of their eco-footprint, the ethical companies below lead the way to a greener fashion industry.
The Best Sustainable Men’s Coats & Ethical Jackets Of 2023
Tentree
Apart from being inherently stylish, Tentree is one of the best sustainable men’s brands with an array of ethical men’s coats for pretty much every scenario. On their virtual shelves, you can find traditional puffer jackets with an eco-friendly twist, canvas unisex jackets as well as corduroy shackets. When it comes to social and environmental responsibility, Tentree is a prime example of ethical and low-waste manufacturing. They use compostable & 99% recycled materials to craft their sustainable men’s coats and treat them with a non-toxic DWR coating to keep light rain and snow out while keeping warmth in.
On top of that, you can rest assured that your ethical men’s coats were made ethically in safe factories where workers are paid a living wage, and help the local community thrive.
Also, the B-certified corporation has planted 77,279,203 Trees in an effort to further minimize their carbon footprint. It’s no wonder why they are lauded as one of the best sustainable men’s brands on the eco market.
Patagonia
When you think of sustainable men’s brands for outdoors enthusiasts, Patagonia is probably the first one that comes to your mind – and for good reason. Their men’s puffer jackets are made from 100% recycled materials and are completely windproof and water-resistant. Aside from the numerous color variations and impressive size inclusivity, the brand also turns post-consumer goods into sustainable men’s coats with P.U.R.E.™ technology which has significantly lower emissions.
You can browse products by your favorite material as well (hemp, recycled cotton, you name it) or by style and occasion. Also, the ethical brand is certified by FLA Workplace Code of Conduct and Fair Trade USA which ensures the well-being and safety of its workers.
Outerknown
Outerknown is a prime example of how sustainable men’s brands can be holistically ethical and impressively stylish at the same time. Their wide range of sustainable men’s jackets runs the gamut from heavyweight puffers with 700-fill-power responsibly sourced down for any cold-weather adventure to M65-inspired, midweight jackets in 4oz organic cotton and hemp blend twill. Recycled polyester is widely used through their collections whether it’s a surf, skate, and ski-approved coat, or a casual city jacket.
The company has a total commitment to sustainability. This includes supporting their workers through Fair Trade USA, prioritizing industry-serving resale, repair, and recycling programs as well as using planet-friendly materials. Their signature ECONYL® yarn, for example, is made out of regenerated fishing nets and other nylon waste. Along with their amazing ethical men’s coats, the brand also carries sustainable jeans, flannel shirts, and everything in between.
Prana
Prana is the home of ethical men’s coats, performance tops, hoodies, and many more outdoor options for nature enthusiasts who cherish comfort above all else. Aside from their impressive sustainable men’s swimwear with FPS protection, the brand offers smart-casual jackets and Windproof, high-performance coats crafted from 100% recycled materials and PFAS-free durable water repellent. You can also opt for transitional, sustainable men’s jackets made from storm cotton, which dries way faster than organic traditional cotton and shares the same benefits!
The ethical brand has a strong Code of Conduct which is evident from its partnership with the FairLabor Association, and its Civil Society Organizations engagement strategy. Through their Renewed Apparel Program, the brand thrives on extending the life of its clothing and diverts textiles from landfills by repairing or renewing existing products, restoring their wearability before re-selling.
Toad & Co
When it comes to casual-smart sustainable men’s jackets, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option than Toad & Co. Aside from its social partnerships with 1% For the Planet, Search, Inc, and The Conservation Alliance and the Venture Out Project, the brand also thrives on choosing the best eco materials like organic (or recycled) cotton, hemp, and recycled polyester. Their low-impact garments can also be recycled, renewed, or upcycled when they’re no longer functional through their partnership with thredUP. At the headquarters, they have converted regular bulbs to LED bulbs and participate in a composting program. Moreover, they purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for all three of their Toad & Co locations.
Cotopaxi
Touted as one of the best sustainable men’s brands of 2022, Cotopaxi is a Certified B Corporation committed to having transparent and fair supply chains all while supporting the local community to thrive. This men’s sustainable clothing brand is not for bland minimalists. On the contrary, their fun and unapologetically bold colorways are made with bold personalities in mind. From bright hoodies, to striped responsibly sourced, RDS-certified down jackets to recycled fleece zip-ups in 9 different colors, the options are endless. Plus, you can feel great purchasing anything from their (Re)Purpose™ Collection made from remnant fabric, which avoids contributing to the negative impacts of producing virgin fabric.
Girlfriend Collective
You may know them as one of the best size-inclusive and sustainable men’s brands for basics, but the Girlfriend Collective also carries a fantastic range of sustainable men’s jackets and impressive ethical activewear. Their Recycled puffer, for example, is made for temps as low as 18-28 °F and goes up to 6XL. The Outer shell, lining, and filling are crafted from 100% recycled plastic bottles (RPET) which helps divert 93 water bottles from landfills and prevents 125.13 lbs of CO2 per coat.
As for their environmental and social responsibility, their factory is SA8000 certified and only uses recycled fabrics certified by Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, the world’s leader in testing fabrics to regulate harmful substances – so you already know that your Sustainable men’s coats were crafted ethically and responsibly.
ASKET
While most men’s sustainable clothing brands focus on jackets for outdoor adventurers, ASKET offers sustainable men’s coats that are classic everyday styles, perfect for work and leisure. The brand uses windbreaker and water repellent, Italian-made 100% organic cotton twill, recycled wool, and 100% recycled PET.
Currently, there are 6 different lines of ethical men’s coats available ranging from oversized silhouettes to fitted zip jackets. The brand is fully traceable and allows us to tag along as we trace its entire collection, from farm to finished garment. As for their ethical factories and eco materials, the lists are on full display on their website.
Nudie Jeans
Nudie Jeans offers some of the most coveted sustainable men’s jackets inspired by pop culture and workwear heritage. Don’t let the name fool you! Apart from the range of jean jackets that include both dry and black denim, the brand carries parkas and anoraks, baseball jackets, and fleece jackets to keep you warm and cool through the cold-weather season. When it comes to conscious materials, Nudie Jeans uses organic cotton and pre-consumer recycled cotton as well as recycled polyester and leather to offer you an extra layer of guilt-free warmth.
According to the GoodOnYou directory, Nudie Jeans’ environment rating is ‘great’. The brand reuses most of its offcuts to minimize textile waste. Also, they use organic fabrics to limit chemicals and wastewater. Last but not least, they manufacture in vertically integrated facilities in Italy and Tunisia.
Finisterre
For vintage-inspired, functional, and sustainable men’s coats, look no further than Finisterre. The brand has several collections including waterproof jackets with 100% Recycled Insulation, practical workwear-style canvas jackets, as well as casual jackets crafted from durable organic cotton. While the clothing is “built to inspire a love of the sea” they are perfect for your future mountain adventures and pretty much every other outdoors scenario you can think of.
When it comes to sustainability, organic cotton, recycled polyester, and Econyl regenerated nylon are their top fabrics of choice. Additionally, the B-certified corporation reuses most of its offcuts to minimize textile waste and has a fantastic Code of Conduct.
Images via brands.
