ISPO Award Winner 2025: The Ultra Light Polar Recycled Down Jacket by Tanboer sets a new benchmark for circular polar protection

The Ultra Light Polar Recycled Down Jacket introduces a textile system designed to meet the demands of polar environments while advancing a fully circular approach to material sourcing and reuse. The outer shell is engineered from 7d nylon 6 made of recycled ghost fishing nets recovered from marine ecosystems—waste streams that carry significant ecological impact. This ultralight material weighs only 25 g/m² and is processed through post-consumer nylon chemical recycling, enabling near-infinite reuse without degrading quality. Certified by grs, obp and oeko-tex 100, the fabric retains down-proof integrity and resilience in windy, abrasive conditions. 

“Winning the ISPO Award proves the Tanboer Ultra Light Polar Recycled Down Jacket’s innovation, sustainability, and performance leadership, elevating the brand’s global reputation and opening doors to international markets and premium retail opportunities,” said Wang Xiaojie, Senior Design Manager, Tanboer. The concept links marine recovery with extreme-weather protection, demonstrating how circular textile chains can support scientific work in the world’s coldest regions.

The jacket’s sustainability framework extends beyond the shell. Tanboer integrates a down recycling system that recovers insulation from old garments and restores it through cleaning, grading and performance testing, reducing reliance on new animal-derived down while ensuring high thermal standards. All auxiliary components—including lining materials, zippers, buckles, and stitching threads—use renewable or recycled content, allowing the garment to be processed within a unified recovery stream. A built-in “dna” tracking system records material origins and processing routes, giving research stations, retailers and end users full traceability. This enhances supply-chain transparency and supports proper recycling at end of life. The PFAS-free c0 DWR finish reduces chemical impact while maintaining wind and water resistance. The overall system demonstrates a consistent circular approach: single-material nylon for simplified recycling, renewable down, recoverable trims and digital traceability.

Functionally, the jacket is designed for the extremes. With 900 fill power and 95% high-quality goose down, the garment carries up to 370 g of insulation and withstands temperatures from –40 °c to –45 °c. The Borealis Matrix down chamber system distributes insulation to minimize cold spots, improve durability and maintain loft during high activity. Tanboer’s 4d patterning supports a 180-degree lifting angle, enabling free movement in field research, glacier travel or technical terrain. An anti-blizzard design reinforces stability in high winds, while a helmet-compatible hood, magnetic fidlock attachment and snow skirt address field-specific needs. 

Safety features include an integrated recco transceiver for avalanche rescue scenarios. Storage is structured through a multifunctional pocket system with napoleon access, internal mesh pockets, a glasses cloth and a d-ring for equipment. Renewable zipper pulls and a circular zipper loop support both usability and end-of-life recovery.

The Ultra Light Polar Recycled Down Jacket reflects Tanboer’s intention to link extreme-weather protection with environmental responsibility. By transforming ocean ghost nets into high-performance insulation shells, the design reduces marine pollution and expresses a broader commitment to ecological restoration. The profitable portion of this circular initiative supports the n.o.c. marine environmental protection scientific research institute, funding polar climate research. For retailers, the jacket presents a blend of certified recycled materials, advanced insulation engineering and clear traceability, positioned for consumers who value both technical capability and environmental purpose. 

For scientific teams and expedition users, it provides a reliable, recoverable system aligned with long-term sustainability goals. The ISPO Award 2025 acknowledges the jacket’s combination of innovative recycled materials, polar-grade performance and measurable social impact.

• Ultralight 7d nylon shell
• 900-fill recycled down (–40 °c)
• Embedded dna tracking system
• 4d mobility, recco safety and multifunctional pockets