For . 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. At Alpkit we only use RDS-certified down or100% recycled down. In adeliberate move to circularity, we are the first brand in the UK to accept donations of used down products. This includes ensuring that the workers who make the products are paid a fair wage and all human rights are met, the factories are clean and safe environments to work in, and that all social and environmental aspects of . Both certifications issue their labels based on how the ethical down is sourced. This way, you get soft comfy bedding and none of the guilt. These include polyester, microfiber, and cotton. Goose down is a popular filling choice for outdoor gear (Image credit: Getty) But Kaier argues that ethically sourced down can be a renewable resource that helps the products it fills be more sustainable. If not, what are the alternatives? We knew it was a problem crying out for a solution. Because down jackets are water-resistant, they gained traction among outdoor enthusiasts (hence the original appeal to Eddie Bauer), who used them for everything from skiing to camping to hiking. In fact, Pete Hutchinson worked with the legendary Don Whillans to design the very first one-piece down suit. Find out how to recycle your down equipment. Ethical down bedding, outerwear, and other products may be certified by organizations like the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) or Global Traceable Down Standard (Global TDS), both globally recognized programs for manufacturers developed in cooperation with animal welfare groups and the down industry. Additionally, the full composition of the down is important. Once the disk settles, the compressed volume, measured in cubic inches, is the fill power. are created using down thats procured with. Before the public attention was drawn to the responsible production of down, it was not uncommon for birds to be treated with considerable cruelty. It is natural, useable, and recyclable, with no microplastics. Producing Ethical Down By comparison, ethically sourced down comes from birds that have been raised and treated with decency. In recent years there have been a series of scandals overthe welfare of animals used in the down industry. Is it eco-friendly? Sedexs tools and services allow businesses to understand and manage the risks of negative impacts within their supply chains. Wash your down jackets, pants, or other wearables on a gentle cycle in warm water and use a down-specific soap. Fill power is a great metric for comparing down products, but the fill power number alone cannot tell the full story. Many people use these terms interchangeably to mean that the products and services from each point of a supply chain have been obtained through ethical, environmentally sustainable, and socially conscious ways. It is highly compressible and lasts a lifetime. [4]The EU has their own certification for the organic label. It wasn't until the 1960s, 70s and 80s that specialist downequipment really took off. Those who want to completely bypass products sourced from animals may opt for a comforter or pillow filled with down alternative, or a product that uses recycled down. To find products that come from happy birds, you must do your due diligence. You could fill up on down, but any one of these products makes an excellent gift or addition to your own camp setup. Downmark. More information on the horrors of live plucking and farming of ducks and geese can be found on the PETA website. Down gained popularity because of its ability to trap heat, thus keeping its wearer warm and insulated a product of particular use in cold climates with long winters. With 650-fill down, full-length two-way zippers, and a breathable shell, the Disco is an excellent option for spring, summer, and fall camping below treeline, or anywhere where the overnight temperature wont drop below 15 degrees. It provides excellent warmth and insulation, yet is soft, incredibly light, and can be easily compressed. It provides ethically sourced down to clothing manufacturers around the globe. This allows us to make jackets and sleeping bags that are incredibly warm but still lightweightenough to carry easily. Want to read more about all our experts in the field? Ethical sourcing is an approach to sourcing and supply chains. Avoid storing your sleeping bags and travel puffy coats in their stuff sacks. Be cautious if you find down jackets, bedding, or outerwear that claims to use ethically-sourced down but comes in at budget costs. 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. Down feathers are the fluffy layer found underneath the larger, tougher exterior feathers on ducks and geese. 700+ fill power is excellent, while 850+ fill power is for those who want the absolute best. Despite the bad press around live-plucking, the down market is continuing to expand, and is expected to reach $8.2 million by 2015. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Its pillow-topped, inflatable, and easy to pack in a backpack or keep in the back of your car. Thanks to RDS certification you can be sure that: Our recycled down is certified asRecycled Claim Standard 100 (RCS 100). Premium insulation brands, such asPrimaLoftandThermoliteare progressing towards more sustainable production by; However, ethically sourced down still holds several key sustainability advantages: Synthetic insulation alternatives are catching up, but down cannot be beaten on its warmth-to-weight. The swoosh sound of your arms swinging while you walk in a puffy jacket is the sound of winter in many places around the globe. Feel good about what keeps you warm. These days, down jackets are a fashion symbol as much as they are a functional piece of outerwear, especially if you live in a place where outdoor activities hold cultural supremacy (looking at you, Boulder). Female eider ducks pluck the feathers off their chests and use it to line their nests for insulation. You can now find retailers that are committed to only using ethically-sourced down. This structure gives down its resilience and allows it to return to its original form. Fortunately, customers are demanding better. Used successfully by Chris Bonnington on his 1970 Annapurna expedition, downproved to be perfect for high altitude mountaineering. The content on this website is for informational purposes only. We belong to communities that value environmental stewardship and ethical behaviour. were putting birds through unnecessary harm by plucking their feathers while they were alive, all while, , reacted with shock and betrayal. Here are some of the ways we can help you: Interested in getting started with ethical sourcing? Like all animal-derived products, some sources and methods of production are more humane than others. 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. That's why we use some of the highest lofting down available so you can shed a lot of weight without sacraficing warmth. Sourcing Ethical Down The fills of ethical down products are traceable to farms that raise animals without causing undue harm. You can tumble dry on a slow cycle if youre in a hurry. That might be because down is simply a more effective insulator than the alternative: synthetic fill. We have much more on this in ourSustainability Report. Yet, this simple requirement doesnt say anything about the birds quality of life. Get 10% back on everything you buyBecome a member and get access to exclusive rewards and benefits. However, being an animal product, choosing down comes with some important ethical considerations. Recycled down is collected from used or unsellable items. Down is the soft undercoating of feathers closest to a bird's skin. The RCS tracks recycled down throughout the supply chain, from sorting to cleaning to processing. Ethical down certifications allow you to track where the feathers were sourced and ensure they werent obtained from birds subjected to harmful practices. Instead, the certification denotes accurate information; to earn the ADFC stamp of approval, a company must list extensive information about where the down was sourced from. certification that specializes in bedding, some of which is sold in the United States. Companies should assess their suppliers and look at the inherent ethical risks in their supply chains. This means that down alternative comforters and pillows may be heavier since more material is needed to achieve the same level of insulation. Meta-ethics is the study of ethical terms and concepts, such as good and evil, right and wrong, and justice. Only five years ago, it was uncovered that Patagonia was filling jackets using suppliers who plucked down from birds that were still alive and force-fed so their livers could be used as foie gras. Companies that prioritise sourcing ethically take responsibility for the impact that their business decisions may have on the people and communities of their supply chains. By choosing sustainable down, you show that you really care. One of our favorites is Tundra, a company that creates high-end. The most expensive down in the world is eiderdown, which is hand-collected by indigenous groups and by commercial outfits in Canada, Iceland and Norway after its been shed by eider geese into their nests. Extending the useful life of our resources is part of a responsible consumption and production cycle. Down is also water-resistant, so it wont soak up your sweat. Some manufacturers use naturally occurring materials such as cotton and hemp, which are biodegradable like down. In fact, Pete Hutchinson worked with the legendary Don Whillans to design the very first one-piece down suit. Sadly, as with most animals raised for profit today, these innocent animals are often subjected to unthinkable treatment in the name of cutting costs. This method does not yield anywhere near enough down to meet global demand. This practice produces very little down as only the loose feathers are gathered to avoid harming the birds. Note that high heat can ruin the jacket, so be conscious of the settings on your tumble dryer. How to Find Ethical Real Down. Whether you run, climb, hike, swim or bike it is likely that you have encountered the benefits of down insulation. You can usually buy waterproof iron-on patches in various colors and shapes, too. Most/all fair trade products have a FAIRTRADE mark which shows that they have . Patagonia and REI are two of the leaders, carrying a variety of companies that prioritize humane sourcing. Because of their stiff nature, feathers may be more supportive, but also more uncomfortable because of their sharp quills. When buying natural down make sure thatit is ethically sourced. But after you're done with your insulated clothing and equipment,whatcan you do withit? All rights reserved. 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. What steps should businesses be taking to source more ethically? First of all, purchasing fair trade or ethically sourced products means that you are personally contributing less to the exploitation of workers around the world. RDS only requires from hatchling to final product. In the case of Allied Feather and Down, each batch of down receives a Lot number displayed on the final product. Yes! If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Whether its in a jacket, pants, shoes, blankets, or sleeping bag, theres no better natural material for keeping people warm. It's this property that keeps ducks and geese warm in very cold temperatures. Whether you run, climb, hike, swim or bike it is likely that you have encountered the benefits of down insulation. 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.