Allied Feather & Down Commits to The North Face Responsible Down Standard

Montebello, Calif. (Jan. 24, 2014)–Allied Feather & Down, the outdoor industry’s primary supplier and processor of down, today announces their commitment to the Textile Exchange’s new Responsible Down Standard (RDS) developed by The North Face. The RDS will allow outdoor industry brands to audit and ensure the ethical treatment of all animals in its down supply chain and validate all claims through an established chain of custody process. Allied is the first adopter and will be the primary supplier of RDS Certified Down.

The RDS was developed by The North Face in partnership with Control Union Certifications, an accredited third-party certification body, and Textile Exchange, a global nonprofit dedicated to sustainability in the textile industry. The North Face gifted the standard to Textile Exchange in an effort to affect change in the down supply chain through widespread adoption. Allied supported the development of the RDS by leading The North Face and Control Union Certifications through their global supply chain, evaluating conditions and identifying where auditing should take place.

Allied has also partnered with Control Union as their third party verification auditor for the Responsible Down Standard to certify that there is no live plucking or force feeding of geese, from gosling to finished product.

The North Face gifted the Responsible Down Standard to Textile Exchange to encourage industry-wide ethical business practices and transparency. It is Allied’s hope that manufacturing companies across the industry will see the importance of purchasing down from a secure, ethical supply chain. Allied’s vendor partners have the opportunity to incorporate RDS Certified Down in their product lines for Fall 2015.

“The Responsible Down Standard is one of many ways that we show our commitment to ethical business practices,” said Daniel Uretsky, COO of Allied Feather & Down. “We are constantly working to improve upon our supply chains to ensure we are on the forefront of environmental and ethical practices in the sourcing of down.”

For years, Allied has been a pioneer in developing the most innovative and traceable systems for procuring and tracing down. In 2008, Allied became the first company of its kind to require signed declarations from suppliers verifying that materials purchased were not harvested from any live plucked source. In 2010, Allied also became the first feather and down processor to receive the prestigious bluesignÒ Certification. In 2011, Allied became the first company of its kind to engage a third party to audit and review their entire supply chain. These procedures ensure that Allied conforms to the best available environmental and animal welfare regulations and standards.

Allied continues to work on improving the way feather and down is procured for the outdoor industry. The RDS is another quality control system that Allied is happy to usher into the industry.

To learn more about Allied’s unwavering commitment to environmental standards, sustainability and animal welfare, read the Allied pledge.

About Allied Feather & Down:

Allied Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, Allied has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for over 25 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. Allied is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. Allied values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, home and fashion marketplaces.

Media Contact:
Lauren Fallert
Verde Brand Communications
lfallert@verdepr.com
970.259.3555