Sustainability is globally important and multi-faceted.
When it comes to Down & Feather materials, they are a by-product of the global food industry. There are no farms who raise waterfowl strictly for the procurement of Down & Feathers to be used as fill inside finished textiles like bedding and apparel. In fact, plucking Feathers and Down from live ducks and geese is detrimental to the industry, because this practice damages both the birds and the quality of the Down and Feather. Animal welfare laws in the food and agriculture industry of each country foster the proper treatment of ducks and geese.
Manufacturers—as well as the majority of wholesalers—of Down and Feather must sign pledges to abide by these laws before becoming members of organizations in the Down and Feather industry.
And more than a by-product, Down and Feather is also a waste product of the global food industry. By taking this food industry waste product and then responsibly, industrially cleaning and sanitizing it to be used in bedding, clothing and outdoor gear, Down & Feather use helps contribute to the overall sustainability of our world.
Down & Feather materials are natural, biodegradable and pose little to no harm on the environment. Down & Feather have unmatched superior qualities like breathability for air circulation and warmth retention properties without adding weight to a finished product.
These properties cannot be reproduced in synthetic alternatives and all the while the manufacturing of Down & Feather leaves a lower carbon footprint than that of synthetic materials.
Derived from nature, Down and Feather materials have longevity and are gentle on the environment.
IDFB contracted an independent study which was done by Long Trail Sustainability as a global life cycle assessment (LCA) which compared Down to Polyester fill and reported much lower impacts for down in five areas of environmental concern.
*Excerpts from the IDFB commissioned White Paper on the Sustainable & Ethical Practices of the Down and Feather Industry.