Down and feathers are often harvested when the birds are slaughtered for food, so it can be viewed as ethically akin to leather. More potential ethical concerns arise from a process known as “live-plucking,” during which feathers and down are removed from a living bird. Since this process is extremely painful, it is prohibited in some parts of the world. If you're concerned about how the ducks and geese are treated, you may prefer to look for RDS certified products. This standard prohibits force-feeding and live-plucking.