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What does 'Ethical Down' mean?
Down is the most efficient insulation for clothing and sleeping bags; it is much warmer for a given weight than other insulators and it is long lasting. Over the years, there have been some issues surrounding the ethical nature of down products and how they are produced.

The most ethically sourced down is that gathered from nests, however this is a time consuming process which is not feasible for production processes. Down is also recovered 'ethically' as a bi-product of the meat industry when birds are killed for food, this is the most common source of ethical down. Due to questions surrounding the true ethical nature many companies are now involved in RDS (Responsible Down Standards) which provides independent accreditation for companies certify their goods if they can abide by these standards.

The down used in outdoor gear is a natural byproduct of the food industry; the waterfowl which provide the warm insulation have been farmed or raised for food, not their feathers. By using the plumage for natural insulation, it helps to reduce the amount of agricultural waste

Why use down for insulation?
According to the IDFB (International Down and Feather Bureau), down is the environmentally friendly choice outdoor gear, as it:

Is biodegradable– As a natural product it decomposes and goes back to the earth;

Conserves resources– As a by-product of the food industry, no resources are going to waste, and no byproducts are being put into landfills;

Is renewable– Synthetic fill materials are often composed of non-renewable resources like oil, whereas down and feathers are renewable resources.

Overall, down and feather products require a lower carbon footprint to produce than synthetics. Furthermore, Down is long lasting and only needs to be fluffed up to keep its loft and its insulating ability for outdoor gear does not diminish.

Traceable Down
Ensuring down is fully traceable back to its source is a way of making sure that the duck & geese farmers adhere to the standards that a brand want to set for the production of the down they are using. These standards are principles and agreements that safeguards the welfare of the fowl.

Restrictions may include the prohibiton of force-feeding, live-plucking and other inhumane farming techniques.

Brands can try and control this process themselves, Mountain Equipment do an amazing job with their Down Codex scheme. To make things easier brands can use official suppliers who are members of groups of down suppliers who are certified to be ethical sources of down under intiatives such as the Responsible Down Standard which is discussed below.

RDS - Responsible Down Standards
The RDS is a certification created by The Textile Exchange. Textile Exchange is a global nonprofit organization that works closely with all sectors of the textile supply chain to find the best ways to minimize and even reverse negative environmental and social outcomes created by this $1.7 trillion industry.

The RDS states: The Responsible Down Standard aims to ensure that down and feathers come from animals that have not been subjected to an unnecessary harm. It is our hope that the standard can be used to reward and influence the down and feather industry to incentivize practices that respect the humane treatment of ducks and geese. We believe that education – through the RDS – is a meaningful way to drive demand for strong animal welfare practices. The standard also provides companies and consumers with a tool to know what is in their products, and to make accurate claims.

Although the RDS is a voluntary process, over 3640 farms have now signed up to gain accreditation which covers over 550 million farmed birds across the globe.

The RDS was developed and revised over three years, with the input of animal welfare groups, industry experts, brands and retailers. The standard recognizes and rewards the best practices in animal welfare. The standards are based around six key points which are shown below.