Ponda, Imperial College London launch insulated apparel from wetland plants

Bristol-based biomaterials company Ponda has partnered with Imperial College London to launch branded apparel insulated with BioPuff, a plant-based material made from wetland-grown crops. The collaboration introduces two products, a Mallard gilet and a Fern cap, demonstrating how regenerative materials can be incorporated into branded merchandise.

BioPuff is produced from Typha, commonly known as bulrush, which is cultivated through paludiculture, a method of farming wetland crops on restored peatlands. Unlike conventional agriculture, paludiculture helps preserve wetland ecosystems while producing renewable raw materials for industrial applications.

Each BioPuff-insulated gilet is estimated to support the restoration of around four square metres of healthy wetland. According to the company, this is equivalent to avoiding approximately 9 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions each year while helping retain around 800 litres of water within the restored ecosystem.

In addition to its environmental benefits, BioPuff is designed to deliver high thermal performance. The company claims the insulation provides greater warmth than premium synthetic alternatives while offering a renewable and lower-impact solution for the apparel industry.

The partnership aims to highlight how merchandise choices can influence supply chains and encourage the use of more sustainable materials. According to Ponda, the collaboration showcases an alternative approach in which product demand contributes to ecosystem restoration rather than environmental degradation.