FAQ

 

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.
 

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).

 

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.

 

 

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

 

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.