Big Guide To Ethical Waterproof Jackets In The UK
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Looking for an ethical waterproof jacket? To help point you in the right direction, I’ve rounded up 10 of my favourite sustainable raincoats for men, women, and children, available in the UK.
Living in Scotland, I know only too well that a good waterproof jacket can be the main difference between a miserable, soggy trudge and an enjoyable outdoor adventure.
But how well a jacket keeps you dry isn’t the only factor you should consider when shopping for a new one. This is because many waterproofs are made in ways that harm the environment or the people who produce them.
A big part of the conversation revolves around PFCs and PFAS – short for perfluorinated compounds and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, respectively. It’s quite the mouthful, but these are the chemicals traditionally used to make jackets water repellent.
Whilst these substances do a good job at keeping you dry, that dryness comes at a cost. It’s been found that these compounds don’t break down in nature, leading them to be dubbed as “forever chemicals”. PFCs and PFAS build up in our bodies, and that of animals, and have been linked to environmental pollution and health risks.
The good news is that eco-friendly alternatives now exist, and many ethical and sustainable brands are proving that you can stay dry without relying on these chemicals.
Alongside these eco-friendly alternatives, more and more brands are rethinking how waterproof jackets are made – choosing recycled materials over virgin plastics. They’re also putting greater care into the well-being of the people who make them.
Guide To Sustainable Raincoats
Not sure where to look for sustainable alternatives? Let me help you out. Here are my favourite ethical waterproof jacket brands in the UK – with options for men, women, and children.
The price range key for this guide is £ = Under £50 | ££ = £50 – 100 | £££ = £100
Seasalt
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men (sizes S – 3XL) and Women (UK sizes 8 – 28, plus petite and tall options)
- Available from: Seasalt
I’m a big fan of Seasalt’s waterproof collection. Its inclusively-sized collection of raincoats are made from more sustainable materials – such as recycled polyester. Others are made from a fabric blend that Seasalt calls ‘Tin Cloth®’ – a blend of organic cotton canvas, chambray, and ripstop cotton, that’s treated with a PFC-free waterproofing treatment.
Seasalt has been championing sustainability longer than most high street retailers. It was the very first fashion company to achieve Soil Association Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification back in 2005.
Since 2018, it’s been part of the UK’s Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), which works to protect workers’ rights in global supply chains. It also belongs to SEDEX, a platform where companies share their efforts on labour standards, safety, and the environment.
It still focuses on the use of more sustainable fabrics. And it has introduced a buy-back scheme, to keep unwanted clothes out of landfill.
I find it’s clothes really high quality. I bought a Seasalt raincoat back in 2020. Five years later, despite regular wear in the spring, summer, and autumn, it’s still looking immaculate and still keeps the elements out. I think my cost-per-wear might be down to about 10p now!
Findra
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Women (UK sizes 8 – 18)
- Available from: Findra
Scottish ethical outdoor clothing brand Findra is another good place to check out for sustainable rainwear, particularly if you are looking for technical wear.
All of Findra’s technical clothing is made from a soft and lightweight fabric called P4Dry. This high-performance, four-way stretch fabric is made from a combination of repurposed coffee grounds and recycled plastic bottles. This is water and odour-resistant, helping to keep you fresh and dry on outdoor adventures.
Get 20% your first purchase when you sign up for the Findra mailing list.
Finisterre
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men and Women (UK sizes 6 – 18)
- Available from: Finisterre
Cornwall-based Finisterre is a sustainable clothing brand with a focus on the great outdoors. It offers a fantastic range of stylish yet durable waterproof jackets for men and women. These are all made from sustainable fabrics, such as breathable recycled fabrics, and finished with PFAS-free waterproof coatings.
As a certified B-Corp, the company believes in being completely transparent about its supply chain and only works with partners who share those same high standards.
Finisterre also offers a handy repair service to keep your clothes going for longer. And when you’re done with your Finisterre pieces, you can trade them in for store credit. They’ll be resold if they are still in good condition, and if not, they’ll be upcycled into new products or fully recycled.
Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for Finisterre’s mailing list.
Roka London
- Budget: ££
- Caters for: Unisex (sizes S – XL)
- Available from: Roka London
Roka might be better known for its stylish range of sustainable rucksacks. However, it does have a small but perfectly formed selection of recycled raincoats that are worth checking out.
Available in 8 different colours – from bright yellow or red, to more muted shades – these are made from 100% recycled polyester, and are PFAS-free.
Described as lightweight yet rugged, and waterproof yet breathable, these handy jackets are designed to pack down small, like a pac a mac. This makes them perfect for keeping in your bag in case of showers. Each jacket even comes with a handy D-ring so that you can attach it to your backpack.
Rapanui
- Budget: £
- Caters for: Men (sizes S – XL) and Women (UK sizes 8 – 18)
- Available from: Rapanui
If you are looking for a plastic-free waterproof jacket, then head straight to Rapanui. This Isle of Wight-based sustainable clothing brand makes entirely plastic-free jackets, which are made from organic cotton with a PFC-free water-resistant outer layer.
Its jackets are also vegan-friendly and made in a renewable energy-powered factory that is audited for a wide range of social and sustainability criteria.
What’s also to love about Rapanui is that every product is designed with recycling in mind.
This means that once your Rapanui clothes reach the end of their life, you can send them back to Rapanui. Here, your old clothes will be recycled and made into new products. Rapanui will also reward you with a coupon that you can use to save money on your next purchase.
Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the Rapanui mailing list.
Oxfam Online
- Budget: £
- Caters for: Men, women and children (all sizes)
- Available from: Oxfam Online
If you’re looking for a raincoat on a tight budget, then my top recommendation is Oxfam Online. It’s just like shopping in your local charity shop, but with the ability to easily search through listings so that you can hone in on the right size and style.
You’ll find plenty of choice when it comes to waterproof jackets (over 100 at the time of writing), in a huge range of sizes, all at affordable prices.
Every item is second-hand, which means you’re giving good quality clothing another life instead of letting it go to waste. And the best bit? Every purchase helps fund Oxfam’s work tackling poverty around the world.
Passenger
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men (sizes S – 2XL) and Women (XS – XL)
- Available from: Cotswold Outdoor
Made from 100% recycled polyester, ethical brand Passenger is another one to check out for waterproof jackets. All Passenger waterproof gear is treated with PFC-free durable water repellents. And its jackets have been so carefully considered that even the care label is made from recycled fabric.
This particular jacket (the ‘Seek Out’ jacket) folds down into its own pocket, so it can be chucked into a bag. Perfect for hikes and cycle rides, as well as the commute to work.
As well as a commitment to sustainable fabrics, Passenger plants a tree with every order placed. Passenger also donates each month to The Rainforest Trust to protect trees and soils all over the world. Each month, Passenger protects a minimum of 65 acres with each donation.
Fat Face
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Men (XS – 4XL, plus tall options) and Women (UK sizes 6 – 24)
- Available from: Fat Face
If you’re looking for more ethical options on the high street or for a brand that offers extended sizing, Fat Face is well worth a look at. Its sizeable collection of waterproof coats is made with more sustainable fabrics – including a decent proportion of recycled fabrics.
The coat pictured above, for example, is made from cotton and polyester. Where polyester is used, it’s 100% recycled. The only thing to be aware of is that Fat Face has no mention of its stance on PFCs.
In terms of sustainability, Fat Face has committed to sourcing responsible fabrics such as organic, recycled, or Better Cotton, alongside lower-impact alternatives for polyester, viscose, linen, and leather. It’s also tackling energy use, plastic reduction, and waste recycling. Fat Face is not perfect by any means, but it seems to be doing better than many other high street brands.
Labo Mono
- Budget: £££
- Caters for: Unisex (2XS – 2XL)
- Available from: Buy Me Once
Worried that rainwear has to be monochrome? Fear not. If you are looking for sustainable rainwear in fun and exciting prints, then let me introduce you to Labo Mono.
This fun unisex brand makes each brightly printed jacket from around thirty recycled plastic bottles, and is finished with PFC-free waterproofing. They’re also made in a BSCI-audited factory. This means it follows the Business Social Compliance Initiative standards, which ensure fair treatment of workers. This includes safe working conditions, reasonable hours, no child labour, and payment of at least a living wage.
What’s also to love is that if you’ve had a little too much fun in the outdoors and your jacket needs repairing, Labo Mono offers a handy repair service. And when you get to a point where it can’t be repaired, you can send it back. Here, Labo Mano will either repair and re-proof it and give it to charity, or it will upcycle it into new products and repair kits.
Muddy Puddles
- Budget: ££
- Caters for: Kids (age 18 months up to 12 years)
- Available from: Muddy Puddles
Finally, if you’re looking for sustainable waterproofs for kids, then you need to head straight to Muddy Puddles.
This UK-based brand makes breathable rain jackets that are produced entirely from recycled fabrics and finished with PFC-free coatings. Meanwhile, clever details like reflective zips help boost visibility and safety on gloomy days.
Built to last and machine washable, these jackets are made to stand up to everything you can throw at them – from family hikes, the school run, and everything inbetween.
More Ethical Fashion Resources
If you need more help building a sustainable wardrobe, then I’ve got lots of guides just like to help you out:
- Looking for something for colder weather? Try my big guide to sustainable coats.
- For more wet-weather gear, try my guide to sustainable umbrellas.
- And to keep your feet dry, try my guide to sustainably welly boots.
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