In response to growing consumer and industry concern about animal welfare and responsible sourcing of down for apparel and bedding, independent public health organization NSF International developed the new Global Traceable Down Standard, representing the strongest public animal welfare standard available to companies that use duck or goose down in their products. NSF International’s Sustainability division will provide independent third party auditing and certification services for product manufacturers to this standard following publication in January.

View the Global Traceable Down Standard here.

Leading outdoor goods manufacturer and retailer Patagonia approached NSF to facilitate a consensus-based process to refine a Patagonia-developed internal standard, with a commitment to expanding animal welfare and 100% traceable down, 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 from industry including down processors, manufacturers, retailers, animal welfare groups, such as Four Paws International, trade associations and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These key groups developed, defined and agreed to criteria for the final standard.

A byproduct of the meat industry, down is sourced through multiple channels and suppliers. Under the Global Traceable Down Standard, onsite audits verify that treatment of waterfowl meets the rigorous requirements of the standard, including no force feeding or live plucking, from parent farm to slaughterhouse. It was particularly important to go beyond existing other programs and extend protection to parent farms where animals typically live for four years or more and would be at greatest risk for live plucking.

Additionally, 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 programs to include the full lifecycle of waterfowl and more fully protect all birds in the supply chain,” said Tom Bruursema, Sustainability General 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.”

 All companies that use down are encouraged to adopt the Global Traceable Down Standard to set the highest bar possible for animal welfare. For more information on the Global Traceable Down Standard or on certification through NSF Sustainability, contact Phil Alexandrin at sustainability@nsf.org. Visit the NSF website to learn more about the Global Traceable Down Standard.