NSF uses Patagonia’s research for ‘more comprehensive’ new down standard
13/01/2015
At the end of 2013 and throughout 2014, the outdoor industry came together to promote responsible sourcing, with brands such as Patagonia, Mountain Equipment and The North Face (TNF) among the first to commit resources to it.
TNF in January 2014 ‘gifted’ its research to the Textile Exchange, which has been working to develop a workable framework, which it calls the Responsible Down Standard.
NSF said Patagonia approached it to facilitate a process to refine a Patagonia-developed internal standard into a consensus global down standard. Patagonia’s standard, which the company implemented fully for its own supply chain in 2014, now represents the independent Global Traceable Down Standard’s highest tier.
The Global Traceable Down Standard was developed in partnership with stakeholders including down processors, manufacturers, retailers and animal welfare groups, as well as other non-governmental organisations. These developed, defined and agreed to criteria for the final standard.
“It was particularly important to go beyond existing programmes and extend protection to parent farms where animals typically live for four years or more and would be at greatest risk for live plucking,” said NSF.
Traceability is confirmed through on-site audits at all locations from parent farm to final manufacture to ensure the compliant down and feather material is fully documented as the only material used in finished, certified goods. All organizations handling the down are audited and verified to have good management systems in place to keep the certified down segregated from conventionally-sourced down.
“The Global Traceable Down Standard moves beyond current industry programmes to include the full lifecycle of waterfowl and more fully protect all birds in the supply chain,” said Tom Bruursema, sustainability manager of NSF International. “The importance of full traceability and animal welfare are well defined in the standard and can help drive greater supply chain transparency for the industry.”
Image: Courtesy of Mountain Equipment, which has had down tracing standard in place for four years (see WSA September/October 2014)
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