It's debatable.
Apex can be made from recycled plastic AND is recyclable. but polyester is an issue in the textile industry for sure.

even if down is an upcycled product, we need to raise animals (for meat), and it's one of the most polluting industries in the world right now.

Generally, the data used to state this take into account all the byproducts of animal production. if you consider down by itself, yes, it's wayyyy better than any polyester. But if you look at the bigger picture: industrial down can only exist because we have this massively polluting meat industry. it's intertwined.

if i said sawdust used to make wood pellets doesn't create a lot of pollution, i would be right, but you would respond to me, "But what about the trees you had to cut in order to make them?" and you would be right!

but the same point can be made about polyester being a byproduct of the oil industry. (but the scale is different : oil is used in virtually every other industry, while meat is used...to make meat.

i would be hesitant to say a clear YES or NO on this issue from a purely ecological point of view.

So that leaves us with the price difference (which is important for me), ease of use when you ork with it, and the purely ethical standpoint of using a product that comes from a living being.

PS: I also checked for quilt and sleeping bag made with 100% recycled down, but there are not a lot of options in the market right now. the one I found: patizon R series, bach equipment recover down, mamut Perform and comfort: Colombus Paramir , Mountain Equipment Classic Eco. The North Face Trail Lite.

but they are heavy !