Advanced Global Traceable Down Standard
The virgin down in our sleeping bags is certified to help ensure the birds that supply the feathers are not force-fed or live-plucked.
Why
Down is feathers and clusters made from the soft under plumage of geese or ducks. To enforce robust quality-of-life requirements for the birds who supply these feathers, and especially to help protect against force-feeding and live-plucking, the virgin down that Patagonia uses in our sleeping bags is traced from parent farm to final fiber processing facility, protecting the birds under the Advanced Global Traceable Down Standard (Advanced Global TDS).
We trace our down.
The percentage of virgin down we source for our sleeping bags that is certified by NSF International to meet the Advanced Global Traceable Down Standard.
Where We Are
100% of the virgin down we source for our sleeping bags is certified by NSF International to meet the Advanced Global TDS. An important part of their certification has been the on-site auditing of hundreds of parent farms (where birds are raised to produce eggs and where the highest risk for live-plucking occurs), hatcheries, raising farms and slaughterhouses to help ensure animal-welfare practices. Even though we don’t get down from birds at parent farms, we feel obligated to look out for their welfare since they are an essential part of the down supply chain.
What’s Next
By sharing what we’ve learned about our supply chain and exposing gaps that can put animals at risk, we hope to inspire brands, buyers and down producers to adopt higher standards for animal welfare.
