Is goose down ethical?

The China Feather and Down Industrial Association condemns the practice but has not outlawed it. The European Union prohibits live plucking, making some goose down from there ethically harvested. Live plucking isn't the only ethical concern; some geese are also force-fed to produce foie gras.

Are geese alive when plucked for down?

The highest grade of down, used to make the most comfy and costly bedding, involves a practice called live-plucking. That's when feathers and the undercoating of geese and ducks are pulled off their skin while the waterfowl are still alive.

Are goose down duvets cruel?

Down With Down

Although most down is removed from ducks and geese during slaughter, birds in breeding flocks and those raised for meat and foie gras may endure the trauma of plucking every six weeks before they are eventually killed. But no matter where it comes from, down is a product of cruelty to animals.

Are goose down pillows humane?

According to the piece, live-plucked geese continue to regrow feathers that are higher in quality with a higher fill power, and these “live pluck” down products are specifically requested by some manufacturers. Unfortunately, live-plucking is painful for the birds, often leaving painful tears in the skin.

Are geese killed for down?

Farmers usually harvest goose down after the birds are slaughtered for meat, and most geese are killed about 15 weeks after hatching. But farmers may also pluck the feathers when geese are still alive, a painful process akin to someone ripping out human hair, animal welfare and advocacy groups say.

How Geese's Feathers Are Ripped Out for Down

Are geese killed for down comforters?

Most of the down is a byproduct of the food industry - ducks and geese to be sold for roasting are plucked after they are killed. Down and feathers, the external plumage, are also plucked from live birds during the molting season, but this is now rare.

Are geese tortured for down?

Most down and other feathers are removed from ducks and geese during slaughter. However, birds used for breeding and those raised for meat and foie gras are sometimes plucked repeatedly while they are still ALIVE.

How are goose down feathers collected?

The process usually involves scalding the birds' bodies in hot water for one to three minutes so the feathers are easier to pull out. The body feathers can then be plucked (often by hand), after which the down is removed by hand or machine.

Are down pillows unethical?

While many consider down & feather pillows a luxury item, that luxury comes at a high ethical price. Birds are often plucked alive for their feathers and down, force fed for fois gras, and killed within four years of their birth. The industry is incredibly unethical and largely untransparent.

What is responsibly sourced goose down?

The RDS ensures that our down does not come from animals that have been subject to any unnecessary harm, such as force-feeding or live-plucking, provides traceability in our supply chain, and helps validate and track the down used in The North Face products from farm to finished garment.

Are down jackets cruelty-free?

Birds used for their down feathers are inevitably sent to the slaughterhouse, where standard practice is to hang them upside down, stun them, and then slit their throats—often while they're still conscious.

Are down comforters cruel?

So to answer your question, yes, animals have been killed in the creation of your new comforter and pillows although it's tough to say whether they were methodically harmed in a rather painful and cruel manner (I'll spare you the gory details) before eventually being slaughtered for food.

Is North Face down cruelty free?

The RDS certifies down against animal welfare requirements and tracks it from the source to the final product. All of our virgin down is now independently certified to the RDS. We started using RDS-certified down in our products in Fall 2015 and since Fall 2016 we have only purchased RDS-certified down.

Are craft feathers cruel?

They likely came from terrified birds who were killed for their flesh or skin. Just like buying items made with down, purchasing ones made with feathers supports the cruel meat and exotic-skin industries, because many farmers who raise birds for food or clothing make an extra profit by selling their feathers.

Is Canada goose cruel?

Canada Goose jackets are products of cruelty, and it's not just coyotes who are killed. The company also uses down from birds who died violently. Geese used for their down are inevitably sent to the slaughterhouse, where standard practice is to hang them upside down, stun them, and then slit their throats.

Is feather and down cruelty free?

No finished product has been tested on animals. We follow our customers animal testing policies for third party manufacture. No ingredients used in Creighton's, Potter and Moore or branded products have been tested on animals.

Are down jackets ethical?

“Down is a superior material in terms of warmth and weight. It's environmentally friendly. It's also a byproduct of the food industry – if it wasn't being used by apparel companies it would still be there because people are eating the birds. The campaign groups sometimes forget that.”

How many geese does it take to make one down jacket?

Johan Beck Friis, said: "geese feel pain just like all other animals/people, and this is nothing less than qualified torture." It takes the feathers of 75 geese to make just one down comforter. In addition to ducks and geese, ostriches are also bred for their feathers.

Are feather pillows ethical?

Ethical concerns

Feather pillows contain feathers from waterfowls, usually geese and ducks. The majority of these come as a byproduct of the food industry. While they are mainly collected after slaughter, animal welfare advocates condemn the unethical feather harvesting practice of removing feathers from live birds.

Where do goose down feathers come from?

Although the down feathers of various species of wildfowl, gulls and other seabirds have historically been used for insulation, most now come from domestic geese. Some 70 percent of the world's supply comes from China, typically from birds killed for their meat.

Does live plucking hurt?

Live plucking (including as a result of harvesting/gathering) is not acceptable on welfare grounds and should be prohibited worldwide. It can lead to bruising, skin injuries and bleeding wounds, causing pain, suffering and distress to birds.

How are feathers ethically sourced?

Conscious shoppers will agree that “molt-harvesting” is an ethical way to source feathers without harming the animal. Molting is a natural process that birds go through to replace feathers that have succumbed to general wear and tear. It's normal and does not hurt the bird at all.

Are birds killed to make down?

(Down is a by-product of the meat industry, and many birds used for down are also slaughtered for their meat and livers.)