Down Smackdown: Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and Traceable Down Standard (TDS)

Remember the Canada Goose ski jacket that kept you warm in the snowy mountains last Verbier festival? Or the Moncler puffer that kept you fashionable during the Christmas season? How many of you actually know what they’re made of? (hint: read the title)

What is Down?

To give a brief explanation, down is the plumage that sits closest to the bird’s skin, underneath its feathers. Down is collected from ducks and geese being raised for their meat, often in Asia and Eastern Europe. Among all insultations used today, down provides the greatest warmth for the least weight. It’s an ideal option for the winter, when you’re already bundled up in 30 other layers. In addition, down is breathable, water resistant, and can trap body heat. Duck down is more common, and typically a bit cheaper than goose down, but goose-down usually has a better weight-to-warmth ratio and higher “fill power”.

Just five years ago, there weren’t any existing welfare standards for waterfowl. Two companies stepped in – The North Face decided to write its Responsible Down Standard (RDS), and Patagonia created its Traceable Down Standard (TDS). To quote the Oxford Dictionary, “responsible” means being “morally accountable for one’s behaviour”, and “traceable” means being “able to be found or discovered.”

What is RDS?

The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is a leading, voluntary standard for the welfare of geese and ducks that provide down and feathers. The guideline aims to ensure that waterfowls are treated in a humane manner in a traceable supply chain, and that the down and feathers from these animals have not been subjected to unnecessary harm, such as force-feeding or live-plucking. The scope of the RDS includes the full supply chain, from the farms and slaughter facilities all the way to the garment manufacturers.

In 2014, The North Face launched the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) in partnership with Textile Exchange (TE) and Control Union Certifications (CUC). The development process involved the input of animal welfare groups, industry experts, brands, and retailers. Within a few years of its establishment, the RDS has gained great momentum and has been widely adopted. In 2017, 3640 industrial farms were certified with the RDS, with 550 million birds under farm certification to the RDS.

RDS certified organisations are required to commit to the following rules:

  1. Any removal of down and feathers from live birds (live-plucking or molt-harvesting) is prohibited
  2. Force-feeding is prohibited
  3. Holistic respect for animal welfare of the birds from hatching to slaughter
  4. RDS down and feathers are properly identified (to ensure that non-RDS down and feathers are not mistakenly identified as RDS)
  5. Each stage in the supply chain is audited by a professional, third party certification body
  6. Only products with 100% certified down and feathers can carry the RDS logo

What is TDS?

Launched in 2015 in collaboration with NSF International, the TDS strives to ensure the responsible sourcing of down for garments, household and other commercial products; animal welfare is respected and the supply chains can be transparently traced from the hatchery to final product. The goal of the TDS is to influence the industry to engage in humane practices when treating waterfowl.

TDS is based on a few principles:

  1. Animal Welfare: down and feather material used in products are produced without causing unnecessary harm to animals – no force feeding or live plucking/molt-harvesting
  2. Traceability: the entire supply chain should be traceable to ensure that conventional down has not been mixed with certified down
  3. Supplier Education: educate suppliers regarding good practices throughout the whole supply chain

The principles listed above are zero-tolerance issues that companies must adhere to in order to be TDS-certified.

Why Become RDS or TDS Certified?

If farms become RDS- or TDS-certified, down suppliers can make sure that farms have met the criteria for best practices of animal welfare. Many brands also commit to only using certified-down, which in turn creates demand for more responsible practices by farms and processors. Adhering to these standards can also create new business opportunities.

Consumers are also demanding greater care of animals involved in our food and fashion systems. The frameworks also provide companies with a tool accurately make claims that align with their corporate responsibility, and prove their commitment to animal welfare. By following these certifications, stakeholders will have increased confidence on companies too.

How Do We Benefit?

Down insulation is known for its warmth, comfort, and durability. But did you know that ethical down is also sustainable? Down is a high-performance by-product of the waterfowl-meat industry – no one raises ducks or geese just for their feathers. The material is biodegradable and recyclable, and can last for decades. It is also a one-of-a-kind alternative to blasting your heaters during the cold, winter months. RDS- or TDS-certified products ensures customers that the products they purchase are ethical, made only from responsible sources of down that respect animal welfare.

How Can We Take Action?

It is important to be conscious about the down you buy. As consumers, you can ask questions before making purchases, to know whether or not any unethical practices was involved. You can also educate your friends and family about responsible down, and encourage them to only buy down products that are certified. Once you have purchased down products, take good care of them so that they can have longer durability! The ultimate goal for the RDS or the TDS is to create positive change for more waterfowls in the down and feather supply chain. When you purchase RDS- or TDS-certified products, you are a part of that change.

Want to find out more about RDS?

Visit: http://responsibledown.org/

Want to find out more about TDS?

Visit: http://www.nsf.org.cn/en/our-services/service-by-industry/Sustainability_and_Environment/responsible-sourcing/global-traceable-down-standard

Want to search for RDS certified organisations?

Visit: http://responsibledown.org/find-responsible-down-standard/

Want to search for TDS certified organisations?

Visit: http://www.nsf.org.cn/en/certified-products-systems

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