With the rise of conscious consumerism, we’re fielding a lot of questions about the ethical and environmental implications of down and feather fills. These are important discussions to have, and we're proud to serve a knowledge-hungry customer base. So let’s get into it – is your bed ethical?
First, let’s make sure we know what we’re talking about here: both feathers and down come from the same place: waterfowl. The difference between the two is that feathers make up the outer covering of the bird, while down lives beneath the layer of feathers. Feathers are tougher and have quills, while down fibres are light and fluffy. Both are 100% natural materials.
Given that both feathers and down are animal products, many consumers express concern over the humaneness of their sourcing. We’re happy to assure you that 100% of the feathers and down we use are a byproduct of the meat industry (read: no live plucking). We work exclusively with Downmark, a Canadian non-profit organization committed to ensuring quality and ethics in the down and feather industry, and they certify every one of our down and feather products. This means full transparency from source to consumer.
In terms of environmental impact, the big draw of a quality down-filled product is that it’s going to last. This means years of use without having to replace it, preventing unnecessary additions to the landfill. Furthermore, the International Down and Feather Laboratory and Institute (IDFL) states that “down and feathers have the lowest carbon footprint of any other fill material, both natural and synthetic.” IDFL also makes note of down and feather being fully biodegradable materials.
Our pillows and duvets are made exclusively in Canada, leaving no lingering questions about labour or supply-chain ethics. We maintain strong relationships with our factories and makers, and have no question about best business practices every step of the way.
As the old adage goes, knowledge is power. We hope this addresses your concerns about our down. If you have any more questions, please reach out to us at info@aulitfinelinens.com.