The materials found in headphones include various types of metal, plastic, wood, and fabric. Many headphone manufacturers use vegan leather as a more ethical alternative to real leather. You’ll also find recycled and novel types of plastic in modern headphones, which demonstrates the progress we’ve made in material science. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the headphones are more sustainable or that manufacturers are more eco-conscious. Often, using alternative materials is simply cheaper; but when they also make our headphones more eco-friendly, it’s a win-win situation.