If you are invested in Apple's ecosystem, it's worth considering the Apple AirPods Max over-ear headphones. As you'd expect, the company utilized high-quality materials, namely stainless steel and aluminum rather than plastic, for the headphones. The earpads, where you might typically find animal products, are made of memory foam and covered with a woven fabric. Like the in-ear variants in the AirPods range, the AirPods Max are designed to integrate well with Apple's other hardware and services. To that end, Apple created a custom driver to provide high-quality audio reproduction. Eight microphones feed into the headphones' Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This blocks distracting external noise so that you can enjoy your audio in relative peace. However, when you need to be aware of your surroundings, there is a Transparency mode that reduces the ANC. The AirPods Max are powered by the Apple H1 chip, optimized to give the best performance and battery life. As a result, you can use the headphones for 20 hours with ANC enabled before needing a recharge. The Apple AirPods Max are available in Space Gray, Silver, Sky Blue, Pink, and Green.

House of Marley, a consumer electronics brand with links to the legendary reggae star's estate, takes inspiration from Bob Marley's ethical stances to produce some of the most sustainable headphones on the market. The House of Marley Positive Vibration XL over-ear headphones are made of the company's REWIND fabric, formed from recycled materials, FSC-certified wood, stainless steel, aluminum, and memory foam. This makes them one of the best choices for vegans. The movement is rooted in sustainability and compassion for the planet and its inhabitants. Although electronics supply chains are fraught with ethical issues, House of Marley are one of the few brands making headway towards a more positive and sustainable future. Of course, this alone may be enough for some people to invest in a seat of Positive Vibration XL headphones.Fortunately, you aren't compromising on performance here, either. They offer a 24-hour battery life, connect to your devices via Bluetooth, and come with an onboard microphone so you can take calls wirelessly. The headphones are powered by 40mm drivers for high-quality playback, and they recharge via USB-C. Even with the focus on sustainability, House of Marley has designed the Positive Vibration XL to be comfortable to wear over long periods, too.

The entire House of Marley range is centered around sustainability, but the House of Marley Rebel BT are an affordable entry-point for vegans and environmentalists. The wireless headphones connect to your smartphone and other gadgets via Bluetooth. Despite their lightweight design, weighing just 200g, the headphones can last up to 10 hours on a single charge before needing a top-up via a micro-USB cable. The minimalist aesthetic doesn't come across as budget or cheap, instead, focusing the eye on the use of materials. The headphones make fair use of the company's Regrind silicone rubber, while the polymer headband is comfortable and long-lasting. The earcups are also produced with 70 percent bioplastic, a plastic made from renewable sources rather than the petrochemical industry. There's also a 3.5mm aux input for you to plug in the included audio cable and use the headphones in a wired mode, even when they're out of power for Bluetooth connectivity. The 40mm drivers ensure you get a high-quality and balanced audio experience. One of the most notable omissions here is the lack of noise cancellation, but that's a compromise you'd expect to make for a sustainability-focused set of budget-friendly headphones.

The Jabra Elite 85h over-ear headphones utilize a PU-based leatherette along the headband and earpads. While the set contains no animal products, there are plenty of other reasons to love the headphones, too. For instance, they come equipped with the company's high-performance Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology. You can switch this between three modes; full active noise cancellation, HearThrough, and disabled. There may be times you want to cancel out all background noise, but the HearThrough mode is one of the set's best features.Once paired with the Jabra Sound+ smartphone app, the headset's AI analyzes your environment and adjusts the noise cancellation to keep you aware of important activities going on around you. The Jabra Elite 85h also come equipped with eight microphones. Two are used for noise cancellation, with the other six involved in capturing audio for calls and interacting with your chosen smart assistant. There's a small button on the headset to activate Google Assistant, Siri, or Alexa for easy access to voice commands.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are comprised of stainless steel, faux-leather, plastic, and Alcantara, a synthetic suede-style fabric. Besides the vegan-friendly credentials, the headphones are among the best noise-canceling sets around. The company has a reputation for high-quality noise cancellation; there's a reason the QuietComfort headphones have become ubiquitous. There's a dedicated button for access to Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. With the Bose companion app, you can choose a custom name for your headphones, adjust settings, and update the firmware. One argument often made for using leather is comfort, an essential consideration for wearing headphones for long periods. However, the animal-free materials used for the QuietComfort 35 II aren't a compromise. The headphones are incredibly comfortable, even when worn for long commutes, working, or out and about. The headphones fold inwards for easy storage and come with a vegan-friendly carry case, too. With ANC enabled, the set will last around 20 hours before needing a top-up. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are available in black, silver, and rose gold.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 are made from plastic, faux-leather, and memory foam, making them an ideal budget-friendly choice for vegans. The company has a well-earnt reputation for affordable, high-quality products, and that approach remains with these headphones, too. The noise-canceling over-ears have four external microphones to detect sounds. An onboard algorithm interprets these and consequently reduces unwanted noise by around 90 percent. As a result, these headphones are particularly well-suited to noisy environments where there might be traffic or planes overhead. The Soundcore Life Q20 last for up to 40 hours with the ANC enabled and up to 60 hours without it. There's also a five-minute quick charge which provides up to four hours of playback. Anker's BassUp technology is an excellent addition for low-end lovers, as it adjusts the audio to give a weighty but balanced bass reproduction.

Sony is one of the most notable audio brands in the world. Fortunately, if you're after high-performance vegan-friendly headphones, you can still pick up a set of the Sony WH1000XM. Reviewers and users alike consider these headphones some of the best noise-canceling sets available today. Even with the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled, the headphones offer up to 30 hours of playback on a single charge. When it's time to top up, they recharge via USB-C. Notably, the faux-leather makes the headband and earpads comfortable to wear even over long periods. The Sony WH1000XM integrate with Alexa, Amazon's digital assistant, and there's even a quick access button for voice commands. ANC is undoubtedly a useful feature, but it's not always ideal to be unaware of your surroundings. That's why the headphones' Quick Attention Mode allows you to cover the right earcup with your hand to turn down the volume briefly.