You know those super soft pillows that sink the second your head touches the surface? There’s a pretty good chance that those pillows are filled with down. Often found in puffy jackets, sleeping bags, comforters, and pillows, down is highly prized for its insulation properties, durability, comfort, and sustainability. Of all the insulation materials used today, down provides the greatest warmth for the least weight.
So what exactly is down?
Down is more than just the feathers that are plucked from ducks and geese—it’s the plumage next to the fowls’ skin, found underneath the feathers. Though duck down is more common and affordable than goose down, the latter has a better weight-to-warmth ratio and more fluffiness. Down is collected from only ducks and geese that are being raised for their meat—and this is where issues arise.
Waterfowl raised for meat are often subjected to practices like live-plucking and force feeding. Live plucking involves the removal of feathers while the birds are still alive, and is an incredibly stressful and painful process for the animals. Force feeding (it’s exactly what it sounds like) is a common practice that’s performed to fatten the livers of ducks and geese, a process known as foie gras.
Because of the global awareness of these cruel and inhumane practices, the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) was created. In 2014, The North Face launched the Responsible Down Standard in partnership with Textile Exchange, a global nonprofit dedicated to sustainability in the textile and apparel industry, and Control Union Certifications, an accredited third-party certification body with expertise in agriculture and farm systems.