FAQ

FAQ

FAQ

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FAQ
Tierschutz

Are there other ways of collecting feathers and down, for instance from live ducks and geese?

 
Duck feathers and down stem from dead animals: As far as we know, duck down and feathers are exclusively collected after the slaughtering.
 
In geese, the gathering of feathers from the live animal, the so-called harvesting of feathers during the moulting season, is permitted by law.
 
Duck feathers and down stem from dead animals: As far as we know, duck down and feathers are exclusively collected after the slaughtering.
 
In geese, the gathering of feathers from the live animal, the so-called harvesting of feathers during the moulting season, is permitted by law. There are clearly defined rules available in gathering feathers from live animals which are defined for instance in the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes, the standard on the keeping of geese for the purpose of plucking and the national laws concerning animal welfare. According to that, feathers and down must not be plucked, only mature feathers and down which have already been shed from the animal body may be removed.
 
Allgemein

Is there an alternative to down and feathers being used as filling material?

 
Down and feathers are a unique natural resource. Since feathers and down offer a combination of naturalness, heat retention with minimal weight, active breathing and moisture transfer they are especially suited as filling material of bedding articles and clothing. As far as we are aware, there is no alternative material available which offers the same properties.
 
Down and feathers are a unique natural resource. Since feathers and down offer a combination of naturalness, heat retention with minimal weight, active breathing and moisture transfer they are especially suited as filling material of bedding articles and clothing. As far as we are aware, there is no alternative material available which offers the same properties. From an environmental point of view it is to the credit of down and feathers that no raw materials have to be used since both of them accrue as by-products of meat production.
 
Verband

Which kinds of companies are represented by your association?

We represent those companies, which purchase raw feathers and down, then process them under hygienically sound conditions (water washing, steam drying – sterilizing, sorting) and further process them into finished bedding articles. The VDFI is organized in the EDFA (The Registered Association of the European Bedfeather and Bedding Industries).
 
We represent those companies, which purchase raw feathers and down, then process them under hygienically sound conditions (water washing, steam drying – sterilizing, sorting) and further process them into finished bedding articles. The VDFI is organized in the EDFA (The Registered Association of the European Bedfeather and Bedding Industries).
 
Tierschutz

Is the feather bedding industry against animal welfare?

 
No, on the contrary: The feather bedding industry is rather benefiting from correct animal husbandry, even if the manufacturers neither keep animals nor produce meat and are not involved in the slaughtering process.
 
Birds that are kept in good condition and are well treated not only yield good meat, but good by-products as well in the form of high-quality filling material, which is very easy and cost-effective to process yet also saves resources as the processing of high-quality primary components may be organised, for instance, in a more energy-sav
 
No, on the contrary: The feather bedding industry is rather benefiting from correct animal husbandry, even if the manufacturers neither keep animals nor produce meat and are not involved in the slaughtering process.
 
Birds that are kept in good condition and are well treated not only yield good meat, but good by-products as well in the form of high-quality filling material, which is very easy and cost-effective to process yet also saves resources as the processing of high-quality primary components may be organised, for instance, in a more energy-saving way and is, thus, more cost-effective.
 
Kauf

If I avoid buying down-filled duvets, will I save geese from live-gathering of feathers?

Around 98% of down and feathers are obtained as a by-product after the birds have been slaughtered and thus will accrue regardless of whether there is a demand for bedding articles or not. Geese and ducks are being kept for the purpose of meat production. Down and feathers are just by-products.
 
Around 98% of down and feathers are obtained as a by-product after the birds have been slaughtered and thus will accrue regardless of whether there is a demand for bedding articles or not. Geese and ducks are being kept for the purpose of meat production. Down and feathers are just by-products.
 
Allgemein

Is the quality of grey down better than white down?

The quality of down cannot be determined on the basis of the colour.
 
The quality of down cannot be determined on the basis of the colour.
 
Allgemein

Is it correct that geese and ducks are always assisted-fed before slaughter in order to produce foie gras?

 
The colour “grey” for filling material in no way signifies that the animal has been bred for the purpose of foie gras production.
 
 
The colour “grey” for filling material in no way signifies that the animal has been bred for the purpose of foie gras production.
 
Tierschutz

Which criteria apply to the proper gathering of feathers in live geese (=the gathering of feathers in live geese during the moulting period)?

The proper performance has to conform to quite specific regulations. The most important criteria in this respect are:
  • await the exact moment of moulting (moulting = the natural process of shedding and regrowing of the plumage)
  • the plumage must not be removed completely, but only be “thinned out”.
 
The proper performance has to conform to quite specific regulations. The most important criteria in this respect are:
  • await the exact moment of moulting (moulting = the natural process of shedding and regrowing of the plumage)
  • the plumage must not be removed completely, but only be “thinned out”.
 
Kauf

What can I do to avoid purchasing down that has been obtained through maltreating birds?

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The risk of purchasing down and feathers obtained using cruel methods is minimal. Worldwide the volume of feathers and down obtained from live birds is only approx. 2% of the total volume. In order to offer customers even greater assurance in future, the manufacturers who are organised in our association have committed to full documentary traceability of the goods they purchase. Each company knows exactly where they have purchased the filling material, which is generally a by-product following slaughter. Our companies also impose an obligation on their suppliers’ suppliers to track the goods, thus closing the circle. The information provided is verified by neutral institutes by means of sample checks and audits.
 
Until this traceability system is being implemented extensively, our customers may obtain information from the respective vendors of bedding articles. As the vendor knows where he sources his goods, he can provide information.
 
Allgemein

Which feathers and down are mainly used as filling material of quilts and pillows?

 
European manufacturers use in most cases feathers and down from waterfowl (geese and ducks) to produce the fillings of bedding articles (quilts and pillows).
 
 
European manufacturers use in most cases feathers and down from waterfowl (geese and ducks) to produce the fillings of bedding articles (quilts and pillows).