Oyster shells used to insulate a new puffer jacket

Apparel company Jetty is offering a new puffer jacket with insulation made, in part, with oyster shells. The innovative material is called Oystex and is a mix of crushed oyster shells and recycled plastics. The fill is comparable to 600-fill down. Creating Oystex requires a four-phase process composed of reclaiming the oyster shells and then pulverizing them into a calcium carbonate powder. Then the Oystex powder is mixed with recycled plastic, which is molded into small pellets, melted and strung into yarn. 

According to Jetty, the benefits of Oystex insulation are its breathability, quick-dry, anti-odor, anti-static and natural eco-friendly attributes. In terms of performance, it’s similar to synthetic insulation like PrimaLoft but the company says it leaves behind a much smaller carbon footprint across its lifecycle. 

Although different from traditional down or synthetic insulation, a recent reviewer for Gear Junkie, who tested it for a month in outdoor conditions, said it was “very warm in cold conditions.” The reviewer recommends layering in very cold weather and adding a windproof jacket on top in especially breezy conditions. 

The apparel company based in New Jersey offers eco-minded, durable apparel for outdoor activities.