Responsible down

Down is an incredible natural material, but if the cost of using it is the mistreatment of animals, we're not interested.

100% of the down in Kathmandu products is certified under the Responsible Down Standard.

FIVE FREEDOMS OF ANIMAL WELFARE

Freedom from hunger and thirst

Ready access to freshwater and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

Freedom from discomfort

Providing an appropriate environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

Freedom from pain, injury or disease

Prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Freedom to express normal behaviour

Providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.

Freedom from fear and distress

Ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering

The Responsible Down Standard protects an animal’s 'Five Freedoms'. This means no force-feeding and definitely no live-plucking. RDS follows the down from farm to product, so consumers can be confident that the birds live healthy lives, and don’t suffer from pain, fear nor distress.

The down that is used in outdoor products is a by-product of raising geese and ducks for meat. For the farmer, the value of the down is only around 5%. Even if all apparel and bedding manufacturers stopped using down today, goose and duck farming would continue, but the down and feathers would probably end up in landfill.

Instead, the feather and down is cleaned, sanitized and recycled into down jackets and other apparel and gear. Your choices as a consumer can influence the living standards for these animals.

The down supply chain is complex — the raw material goes from farms to processors to agents and manufacturers. Tracking each of these stages would be a big job for one brand. That’s why industry-wide collaborations like Responsible Down Standard are the best way to make a big change.

Down has unique characteristics that cannot be replicated by any man-made material. Synthetic insulation is an alternative, but it doesn’t quite measure up when it comes to giving you warm, lightweight, compressible, durable insulation.

Down and feather products come from nature, so the manufacturing process leaves a lower carbon footprint than synthetic materials derived from our finite crude oil resources.

You can be confident that any Kathmandu down product you choose is not just the best material when it comes to warmth to weight, it’s ethical too.

But the choice is always yours. If you prefer to avoid animal products, we do have great synthetic options.

Want to know how down keeps you warm? Our product expert Daan Dijkstra explores the power of down fill power here.