Down and Feathers as a Sustainable Filling Material
A topic that ruffles some feathers
Down as Upcycled Waste Material
Down and feathers are extracted as a byproduct from the food industry. By subjecting the feathers we acquire to thorough washing, sterilization, and sorting processes, we transform them into an upcycled premium insulation material. The resulting fluffy down offers superior insulation that is sustainable, recyclable, natural, and biodegradable, surpassing the performance of all manmade fibres.
Ethically Sourced Down
We obtain our down and feathers from strictly controlled European farms that prioritize animal welfare, strictly prohibiting life plucking. None of the animals are bred solely for the purpose of harvesting down and feathers. Through rigorous traceability measures and third-party certifications, we guarantee the ethical sourcing of all the down and feathers we offer.
Available Certifications
GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification for down and feathers ensures that these materials are sourced from recycled or reclaimed sources. It verifies that the down and feathers used in products meet strict criteria for recycled content, traceability, and social and environmental practices.
Down Standard
The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is a global certification ensuring ethical treatment of ducks and geese in the supply chain. It bans live-plucking and force-feeding and mandates traceability, verifying humane sourcing practices.
DOWNPASS certification ensures that the down and feathers used in a product meet high ethical and quality standards. It guarantees humane sourcing practices and full traceability throughout the supply chain, providing confidence in the responsible sourcing of these materials.
Certifications of Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing
GRS Recycled
GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification for down and feathers ensures that these materials are sourced from recycled or reclaimed sources. It verifies that the down and feathers used in products meet strict criteria for recycled content, traceability, and social and environmental practices.
RDS - Responsible Down Standard
The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is a global certification ensuring ethical treatment of ducks and geese in the supply chain. It bans live-plucking and force-feeding and mandates traceability, verifying humane sourcing practices.
DownPass
DownPass certification ensures that the down and feathers used in a product meet high ethical and quality standards. It guarantees humane sourcing practices and full traceability throughout the supply chain, providing confidence in the responsible sourcing of these materials.
Down vs. Synthetic Alternatives
When looking for a sustainable filling material, it is important to compare the environmental impact of how a material is obtained and what happens with it at the end of its lifecycle. According to a global study on the Life Cycle Assessment of down compared to synthetic fills, down has 18 times less impact on climate change and 85% – 97% lower environmental impact in categories such as cumulative energy demand, resources, ecosystems, and human health. If sustainability is your target, a down fill is the right choice.
Download the study of IDFB (International Down and Feather Bureau) below for more details.
Our Commitment to a Sustainable Production
Sustainability Through Innovation
Sustainable European Down (SED) Guarantee
The Sustainable European Down (SED) guarantee indicates the efforts that we make at Down Creators in obtaining a sustainable production process and the responsible sourcing of European down and feathers. All our down and feather materials carrying the SED guarantee ensure that they are of European origin and are processed in a sustainable way using less water, soap, and energy.
Download our SED-Guarantee report below to learn more about the efforts we make at Down Creators for a sustainable future TODAY!
European Sourcing
At Down Creators over 95% of our down and feathers is of European origin and is sourced from strictly controlled farms where no life plucking is performed. We offer down with RDS and DownPass certification, ensuring full traceability.
Efficient Processing
Through technological innovation we are able to reduce soap, water, and electricity usage by up to 50% compared to industry standards by removing all redundant materials at the source. This smart, efficient processing enhances overall sustainability.
Reusable Energy
Processing down and feathers requires large amounts of energy. To limit our consumption of conventional energy sources we invested heavily in solar energy. With 2600sqm of solar panels and 330sqm of solar water heaters we are able to cover 25% of our electricity and up to 50% of our warm water consumption.