what is ethically sourced down

This practice produces very little down as only the loose feathers are gathered to avoid harming the birds. Many countries have established their ownlegislation for ethical sourcing, including the EU as a whole, the UK, Australia, France, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and California within the US. At Alpkit we only use RDS-certified down or100% recycled down. Got your down sleeping bag soaked on a soggy bivvy night? To qualify for a certification, a company must meet strict quality, label, and packaging standards. The most ethically sourced down is that gathered from nests, however this is a time consuming process which is not feasible for production processes. We belong to communities that value environmental stewardship and ethical behaviour. Each down cluster has a three-dimensional structure with thousands of tiny fibers branching out from its core. Youll feel good on frigid nights when youre protected from the cold and feel good about buying an ethically sourced product. A shopper's guide to ethically-sourced down jackets - Quartz Ethical down refers to any down that passes the highest animal welfare standards. Ethically sourced is when a product is sourced or supplied through means of sustainability, in terms of the item itself, environment and well being of the workers. Once harvested, the down is used to make the soft, compressible fill in bedding products like pillows and duvets. Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to make a purchase. Down feathers can be squashed into a very small space, yet spring back into shape without losing any loft. Sourced from farms that meet quality of life standards for animals, Shoppers are able to track the source of the down, Usually more expensive than down that is not ethically sourced, Comes from ducks and geese that are raised for meat. Sadly, as with most animals raised for profit today, these innocent animals are often subjected to unthinkable treatment in the name of cutting costs. Carry warmth, not weight. It's this layer that provides exceptional warmth for these birds during winter, and as such, it's this layer that is used to create the warmest, squishiest products. Ultimately it comes down to due diligence. Sleeping bags - they are so important, yet they require a lot of down to keep you warm. To qualify for these certifications, down must be produced: The standards of GTDS certifications are more stringent than those for RDS certifications because they apply further back in the supply chain. Generally, down comes from the underbelly of these animals. You can usually buy waterproof iron-on patches in various colors and shapes, too. And the icing on that toasty cake is that down is also incredibly breathable, so you can walk, ski, hike, or even jog in your down layer, and perspiration wont get trapped in your layers. Feathered birds living in natural and outdoor environments that experience life with space to roam and exhibit natural behaviors produce higher-quality feathers, in part because they arent plucked when not molting. For example, Patagonia now enforces the Patagonia Traceable Down standard, which follows down production from farm to factory to verify birds are safeguarded by stringent animal welfare standards. It provides excellent warmth and insulation, yet is soft, incredibly light, and can be easily compressed. Not only is fill power a decent indicator of down quality, it becomes especially important in weight-conscious activities, such as mountaineering and backpacking. Because down jackets, in particular, are made with thin coatings and are generally designed to be packable, they are prone to punctures from sharp objects (were looking at you, bushwhackers). You can now find retailers that are committed to only using ethically-sourced down. that claims to use ethically-sourced down but comes in at budget costs. Namely, what percentage of the down contains down plumage, also known as "down cluster," in relation to other elements, such as feather and quill? Down is the fluffy, light coating found clustered beneath goose or duck feathers. However, being an animal product, using down always comes with some ethical considerations. China, the worlds leading supplier of down and feathers, still produces live-plucked down wholesale according to investigations by PETA. They also loft up, are very resilient to compression, and do not contain a quill shaft. Sustainable. Many popular outdoors brands including The North Face and Patagonia, as well as smaller companies with eco-conscious founders like Jones, makes ethically-sourced down products. are created using down thats procured with. (They love duck meals over there.) To qualify for these certifications, down must be produced: : freedom from pain, injury, or disease; freedom from discomfort; freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from fear and distress; and freedom to express normal behavior. Its this layer that provides exceptional warmth for these birds during winter, and as such, its this layer that is used to create the warmest, squishiest products. That might be because down is simply a more effective insulator than the alternative: synthetic fill. Our Down - Ethically Sourced, Unmatched Quality - Feathered Friends Down is also naturally warmer than synthetic fills. The primary difference between down vs. down alternative is the filling: while down is sourced from the soft undercoat of birds, down alternative is made from a synthetic polyester material that mimics traditional down's natural softness. I had a reader recently ask me to explain whats going on with down, the feather filler that goes inside puffy coats and bedding. Here's how to wash, dry and care for your down jackets and sle Waterproof jacket in need of a little TLC after a hard season of abuse? Ethical Sourcing is the Future of Manufacturing - Thomasnet 8 likes, 6 comments - Micro - Keratin Bonds | Micro Weft & Tape Extension Supplier (@goldclasshairextensions) on Instagram: "Gorgeous work by @hairbysarahblack A . All down are feathers, but not all feathers are down. A jacket with 9 ounces of 850 fill power down will be substantially warmer than a jacket with 9 ounces of 600 fill power down. More information on the horrors of live plucking and farming of ducks and geese can be found on the PETA website. It prohibits live-plucking, force-feeding, and ensures that any product with the RDS logo is filled with 100% third-party audited and certified humanely-sourced down. Find out how to recycle your down equipment. However, not every brand selling bedding or other products containing . Pretty cool way to know exactly what youre buying.. It comes from birds that areprotected from live-plucking and force-feeding. So 700 fill power down has a volume of 700 cubic inches per ounce of down, 850 fill power down is 850 cubic inches per ounce of down, and 900 fill power down is 900 cubic inches per ounce of down. That's why we use some of the highest lofting down available so you can shed a lot of weight without sacraficing warmth. Ethical Sourcing: Definition, Goals and Keys for Implementation Everything You Need to Know About Buying Ethically Sourced Down Products may also be certified by Downpass, which is a German certification. The outcry was met by multiple companies, such as. Its light, soft and insulating. Here is what each of these terms mean and how they are typically used: Organichas many different definitions depending on the product and the source. 'Ethical down': is the lining of your winter coat nothing but fluff? Whether its in a jacket, pants, shoes, blankets, or sleeping bag, theres no better natural material for keeping people warm. No. Its pillow-topped, inflatable, and easy to pack in a backpack or keep in the back of your car. Historically, down was gathered from the nests of Eider ducks during the nesting season. When you think about the lives that you improve, its a small cost to pay. A data sheet comparing down jackets : r/Ultralight - Reddit She is also a Certified Sleep Science Coach. Got your down sleeping bag soaked on a soggy bivvy night? , where the eggs for the down-producing birds are sourced. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Yet, this simple requirement doesnt say anything about the birds quality of life. What is the healthiest ice cream? Try this option for a summer treat. The Act sets legal requirements for companies to identify, prevent and mitigate modern slavery in their own operations and supply chains. In order to keep your down in working, you need a little education of what down is and why it must be treated, stored and . Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Best Down Comforter With High Fill Power: Matouk Chalet Down Comforter Best Down Comforter For Allergies: Boll & Branch Down Comforter Best Colored Down Comforter: The Company Store. If you are in the market for a down product but are concerned about animal welfare, its important to understand what does and does not constitute ethical down. Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more! Feathers, on the other hand, are a bit larger and pokier. Is it eco-friendly? Beyond national and international certification, many companies have begun introducing their own certifications. Can Down Be Ethical or Green? Buying products that use that down is supporting an industry that doesnt care much about animal welfare. + Follow. Ducks and geese are raised around the world for their plush down feathers. Despite the bad press around live-plucking, the down market is continuing to expand, and is expected to reach $8.2 million by 2015. We dont want to sacrifice the happiness of animals to benefit ourselves. Supreme warmth weighing just 255g (M), Warm and compressible 650 FP down jacket for the coldest conditions, PrimaLoft insulated gilet with fleece panels for core warmth on the move, Super lofty PrimaLoft synthetic down jacket, Lightweight and packable PrimaLoft insulated jacket, All-in-one pile fleece-lined windproof smock jacket for cold and damp, PrimaLoft Gold Active jacket, breathable outer or midlayer, Our warmest PrimaLoft jacket for cold and damp winter activites. For visual context, imagine how fuzzy a baby duckling or chick appears before they develop stronger feathers. It has become increasingly common to see companies marketing their products and services as ethically sourced, especially in industries like clothing, diamonds, coffee, and palm oil, which have well-known histories of unethical practices. Whether it can be called ethically source down comes down to how its sourced. Only a handful of years ago, a trusted outdoor company made headlines by selling outdoor gear made from unethically sourced down. Hi, looking at the Filoment jacket, is the down fill still hydrophobic? Men's Synthetic Insulated Puffy Jackets & Pants, Women's Synthetic Insulated Puffy Jackets & Pants. Dont throw it in the dryer with the rest of your clothes, though its better to hang it or lay it flat on a clothing rack and let it sit for several hours. But Kaier argues that ethically sourced down can be a renewable resource that helps the products it fills be more sustainable. These products generally have a certification from Responsible Down Standard (RDS), Global Traceable Down Standard (GTDS), or Downpass. This soft layer is down. All import charges covered. Recycled down products include down from used items to create a sustainable alternative to virgin down. We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. The standards of GTDS certifications are more stringent than those for, . Your home away from home. Suppliers can receive an NSF Global TDS standard once their entire supply chain has been audited and any issues have been addressed. In the case of Allied Feather and Down, each batch of down receives a Lot number displayed on the final product. Ethically Sourced Down. Down from $2775. You might have to run it through several times to get it completely dry. But after you're done with your insulated clothing and equipment,whatcan you do withit? Its natural, durable and in high demand. Its important to note that ethical down usually consists of feathers from animals raised for food, and that the ethical label only signifies that farms meet certain standards for quality of life. While the United States as a whole is far behind Europe in this sort of legislation, California passed the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act in 2010. Supreme warmth weighing just 255g (M), Featherlight 800 fill power down jacket. Often, the further you go down the supply chain, the less visibility you have over ethical risks, like poor working conditions and child labour. ALLIED Feather & Down doesnt ever use feathers that were live-plucked (a process both painful and harmful for the birds), nor does it work with farms that force-feed birds to create foie gras (a dish so closely tied to animal cruelty that it was banned in California in 2004). Global Traceable Down Standard. But there is one problem with down bedding and outerwear products: it has to be sourced from birds. Fill weight is the physical weight of down used for a product. Down and down alternatives are some of the most popular filling types for pillows and duvets. However, using recycled down allows us to reduce our use of 'virgin down' and reuse down that would otherwise end up in landfill. Its natural, durable and in high demand. The Ultimate Summer Backpacking Gear Guide, Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L Is the Best Travel Backpack for YourMoney, 5 People Who Successfully Used AI To Plan Their Travels and How They DidIt, Travel Experts Predict How AI Could Forever Change How WeVacation, How To Use AI To Plan a Trip To Just About Anywhere, This Family Is Taking a 6-Month Trip Planned Entirely by an AI Travel Assistant, Download the If you spend the time and money to purchase a high-quality, humanely-sourced down product, youre likely to enjoy many years of warmth and comfort. In fact, Pete Hutchinson worked with the legendary Don Whillans to design the very first one-piece down suit. What Does Ethically Sourced Mean? - oboloo It's made up of short, fine filaments that grow in clusters. For your product or service to be ethically sourced, it means meeting certain ethical standards for example, that your organisation, your direct suppliers, and your entire supply chain have decent working conditions, good business ethics, and fair wages. But with China producing 80% of the worlds down, countless geese and ducks are still raised in unthinkable conditions, being live-plucked or force-fed. Temperatures are dropping and down-lined coats will be in ever greater demand. As a natural product, it's a completely renewable material, It's fully biodegradable at the end of its life, It's a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise be wasted, No extra energy or resources are required to produce it, Recycled down keeps existing down out of landfill, Well-looked-after down will last a lifetime. These include polyester, microfiber, and cotton. If you prefer to sleep atop a comfortable pillow rather than using your down jacket or pulling the classic tent bag stuffed with clothes move, Sea-to-Summit makes an excellent ethically-sourced down pillow. Want to read more about all our experts in the field? Is down sustainable? There are about 60 brands committed to the RDS standard the ones that I recommend that holistically work towards being more ethical and eco-friendly include prAna, Nau, Levis, H&M, Parachute, and Coyuchi. Some companies go far above the standards required by either the RDS or GTD by hand-harvesting molted feathers from geese and ducks that arent raised to be used for food. Down is a fully circular product, Kaiser says. Ethically Sourced & Incredibly Warm The down that keeps you warm Our Down. By choosing sustainable down, you show that you really care. That said, its sustainability becomes more debatable when considering that even ethical down is often tied to the meat industry, which leaves a large ecological footprint. But if youre not vegan, are trying to live plastic-free, and/pr live in an extremely cold northern city, or go on some serious hiking trips, then you should probably go with the real thing. Another way is to contribute to the sustainability of the down industry by properly caring for your product to make it last for many years. The UK became a leader in ethical sourcing legislation by establishingthe UK Modern Slavery Actin 2015. Down vs. Down Alternative: Everything You Need to Know It wasn't until the 1960s, 70s and 80s that specialist downequipment really took off. This allows you to carry a much smaller pack without having to sacrifice any clothing or equipment. We only use animal products where there is a clear performance benefit. Down is difficult to recycle, butRe:Downcan giveuseddown productsan exciting new life. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. The puffy pockets in your puffy jacket create space for the down feathers to expand and loft up. The goose down and feather we use in scooms duvets and pillows is a by-product of the food industry. In this Spotlight Guide we will cover everything you need to know in order to choose the best insulated jacket. . Downpass is a German ethical-down certification that specializes in bedding, some of which is sold in the United States. The most sustainable thing you can do is buy fewer products and take care of them properly so they last longer. Ethical down for jackets and sleeping bags: everything you need to know Downmark is a globally recognized certification issued by the Down Association of Canada. However, as with most sustainable and organic bedding products, ethical down is generally more expensive. products: it has to be sourced from birds. Therein lies the problem with most down, he says. In recent years there have been a series of scandals overthe welfare of animals used in the down industry. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Find out how to recycle your down equipment. Do Consumers Care About Ethical Sourcing? - Forbes Down is difficult to recycle, butRe:Downcan giveuseddown productsan exciting new life. To take care of your real down items, make sure to cover your down-stuffed comforter, pillows, etc with a natural fiber cover or even dust-mite repellent covers, and wear pajamas or long johns when sleeping in your down sleeping bag. [1]Fairtrade Standards fromFair Trade America, [2]U.S. Food & Drug Administration onCruelty Free Cosmetics, [3]Eco Mundo onUsing the Cruelty Free Logo in Europe, [4]U.S. Department of Agriculture on theorganic label, [5]European Commission on theorganic logo. TheResponsible Down Standard(RDS) is a voluntary code of practice that was established in cooperation with animal welfare groups and the down industry. At the time, down contributed about 10 to 20% of the total revenue of raising a goose, at least in the U.S. Its just a side stream of income for farmers. By clicking on the product links in this article, Mattress Advisor may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. Thanks to RDS certification you can be sure that: Our recycled down is certified asRecycled Claim Standard 100 (RCS 100). In the US, the label organic is governed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and it means that federal organic standards for the growing and processing of foods are met in terms of soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. When buying natural down make sure thatit is ethically sourced. It's this property that keeps ducks and geese warm in very cold temperatures. If youve ever worn a waterproof jacket or a pair ofsoftshell walking trousers then you've probably already come into contact with PFCs perhaps With the right care, your down jacket and sleeping bag can last for years and years. You can drop off your used down products to one of our stores, or post it to us. 2023 Mattress Advisor. Thats because they usually come in awesome colors, keep you toasty warm, and are easy to find almost every outdoor brand makes at least half a dozen. By Mark Roberts 30 Jun 2022 People have been using down to keep warm for centuries. Overseen by NSF International, the Global Traceable Down Standard (Global TDS) monitors the down supply chain to ensure animals are being treated with decency. Bonus for REI Coop members as many are available for purchase directly from REI (see the complete list here). The RCS tracks recycled down throughout the supply chain, from sorting to cleaning to processing. For . Additionally, the full composition of the down is important. You can think of natural goose down exactly like cow leather: a byproduct of meat farming that would be thrown away if it werent used in fashion and home goods. However, using recycled down allows us to reduce our use of 'virgin down' and reuse down that would otherwise end up in landfill. That said, because recycled down comes from multiple items, it can be difficult to determine the source. At Alpkit we only use RDS-certified down or100% recycled down.

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