The short answer is yes! All of the down and feather we use is by-product of the meat industry that would otherwise go to the landfill. We have zero tolerance for the inhumane treatment of animals, including live-plucking, force-feeding, overcrowding, and neglect. Read on for more details about how we verify that all of our raw materials meet our standards.
IDFL Down Standard
IDFL’s Traceability Audit System involves rigorous audits and inspections of the entire supply chain, from parent farm to the end retailer, conducted to assess adherence to the requirements of the IDFL Down Standard. Obtainment of the IDS Certification verifies that down and feather products are ethically sourced and traceable through the supply chain to the parent farm.
For a product to be considered ethically sourced, animals must be treated humanely. Live-harvesting, live-plucking, molt-harvesting, force-feeding, over-crowding, neglect and abuse are strictly prohibited. People must be given a safe, clean place to work with well-maintained facilities, and must be paid fairly, given adequate time off and breaks, and must meet the minimum legal age of employment. Suppliers must be aware of their environmental impact and demonstrate a commitment to reducing their climatic footprint.
Canadian Down & Feather Company has passed IDFL’s Traceability Audit and was the first company in Canada to be both IDS and RDS Certified.
CDFC’s suppliers have also recently been audited and certified, and products will soon bear the IDS Certification Logo.
Responsible Down Standard
IDFL is also approved to audit for and issue the Responsible Down Standard Certification, which verifies the humane rearing and handling of animals in the down and feather supply chain. Animals must be treated with respect and must not be subject to unnecessary harm, including live- plucking, molt-harvesting and force-feeding. Products may only be RDS Certified if they contain 100% RDS Certified material, traceable through the chain of custody.
Canadian Down & Feather Company is RDS Certified and products will soon bear the RDS Certification logo.
Click here to read more about our commitment to ethical sourcing.