United By Blue Introduces Bison-Insulated Puffer Jacket as the Future of Sustainable Outerwear

October 29, 2018

The outdoor brand asks consumers “What’s in your jacket?” as they unveil a technical and affordable jacket and vest insulated with sustainable bison fiber. Men’s and women’s styles available now starting at $188.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 29, 2018) – United By Blue (UBB), the sustainable outdoor apparel and lifestyle brand that removes a pound of trash from the world’s oceans and waterways, announces today the Future of Sustainable Outerwear: The Bison Puffer Jacket, insulated with North American bison fiber that is often considered waste and thrown away by the ranching industry. 

“Winter is fast approaching. Most of us are pulling our coats from storage or shopping for a new one, guided by the question “Will this jacket keep me warm? While warmth is vital, we’re challenging ourselves to consider an equally important factor: “What’s in my jacket?,” says Brian Linton, UBB’s Founder & CEO. “It should come as no surprise that the most important part of a jacket is what you can’t see: the insulation inside.”

“We don’t use duck or goose down at United By Blue for this very reason. Despite progress in traceability, the down industry’s live plucking practices remain too controversial to consider a viable option,” Linton adds. “We ventured into the world of synthetic insulation, but were never able to find something we could truly stand behind both technically and environmentally. Our only solution was to create something entirely new. Enter B100™: Our very own sustainable insulation.”

The Bison Puffer Jacket is insulated with 190gsm B100™ Fill, United By Blue’s sustainable alternative to down or synthetic insulation made with 50% North American bison fiber and 50% recycled polyester blend. The bison’s shaggy coat consists of a layer of hollow, compactable, resilient hairs that allow them to keep warm and dry in the harshest winter climates. Bison fiber is an often discarded byproduct of the ranching industry. United By Blue has spent the past 5 years creating a supply chain to intercept and harness the power of this natural fiber and diverting it from a landfill. Aside from its warmth capabilities (the jacket is recommended from 0-50°F), B100™ is naturally temperature regulating, hypoallergenic, and lightweight. It is quilted into baffles that will keep its shape and won’t settle over time while providing a level of flexibility for a variety of activities.

“The Bison Puffer Jacket is the most sustainable down alternative jacket we have ever produced. Incorporating lighter weight and higher performance recycled and natural materials, the bison puffer raises the bar for not just bison-insulated outerwear, but sustainable outerwear.” says Brendan Rauth, Product Designer for United By Blue. 

To combat the elements, the Bison Puffer Jacket features a YKK zipper with internal storm flap, fleece-lined pockets, elastic sleeve cuff, and drawcords at the hem. With a partially recycled waterproof, breathable 2-layer shell fabric, interior phone pocket with headphone port, and a printed interior lining, the jacket marries sustainability, function, and aesthetics.

You can purchase the jacket and vest online at unitedbyblue.com/bison-puffer, online at REI.com, at select REI retailers, and at United By Blue retail locations in Philadelphia and Manhattan.

ABOUT UNITED BY BLUE:
United By Blue is a sustainable outdoor apparel and accessories brand started in 2010 driven by the belief that every living creature is united by the blue of our world’s oceans and waterways, and we all share the responsibility to protect them. Our pledge unites our beliefs with our business: For every product sold, we remove one pound of trash from the oceans and waterways through company-organized cleanups. All apparel and accessories are responsibly made using sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, hemp, and bison fiber. United By Blue products can be found in nearly 1000 outlets globally and in our stores in Philadelphia and Manhattan.