Rab to Adopt Hydrophobic and Traceable Down

LOUISVILLE, Colo. (December 13, 2012) Based on a climbing heritage that was born in Sheffield, UK in 1981, Rab® is a brand developed with a passion for the outdoors which pioneers technical and innovative products to give users freedom and protection in the most extreme conditions in the world.

Our commitment and dedication to our mountaineering heritage will fuel all product development and serve as a guide for our long term brand direction.

Rab to introduce Hydrophobic Down for AW13

Down products have been the cornerstone of the Rab range since the company began. From Winter 2013 down that has received a hydrophobic treatment will be phased into all sleeping bags and clothing. This will greatly improve the performance of the down in damp conditions: hydrophobic down will absorb less water and dry much more quickly than our current untreated down, without adding weight or reducing loft.

Down Traceability

Rab down, that is traceable under the European Down and Feather Association Codex, is being phased into all Rab products from this point forward.

This code of conduct determines the source of down, ensuring that the down is a by-product of a slaughterhouse or harvested during moulting periods; it is not illegally live-plucked. Working with suppliers and sub-suppliers IDFL (IDFL global leader in down testing, founded in 1978, IDFL is the largest down and feather laboratory in the world) aims to trace the materials along the supply chain all the way back to the farm.

In October 2010 the European Down and Feather Association (EDFA) adopted a CODEX or Code of Conduct and a Traceability Standard that EDFA members are required to follow. IDFL can audit supply chains to verify compliance to these standards.
The Code of Conduct expects EDFA members to:
•Maintain and support good animal husbandry.
•Abide by the live-plucking pledge which prohibits use of illegally live-plucked down and feather material.
•Include a declaration about live-plucking in sales contracts and general terms and conditions.
•Have the origin of down and feathers entered into the documentation system.

The treatment of ducks and geese is as important to us as it is to consumers and retailers throughout the world. IDFL visits farms and slaughterhouses to evaluate how the animals are treated. They look at living environments, transportation, slaughterhouse processes, feeding practices and other aspects relating to good husbandry.

This significant step goes a long way towards full traceability of the supply line to ensure that we use only the finest quality and most ethically sourced down.

About Rab

Rab Carrington, one of Britain’s foremost mountaineers, established the Rab brand in 1981 to design and manufacture the world’s finest down clothing and sleeping bags. From its earliest days, Rab created a reputation for producing garments that are truly for ‘the most extreme conditions in the world’ and for searching out the finest technical fabrics to use in its designs. Rab clothing stands among the most technical and innovative on the market, designed to meet the exacting demands of the Scottish mountains that remain the inspiration and testing ground for many of its products. The Rab brand continues to be run by climbers for climbers. All products are tested in extreme environments by our team of mountain athletes. For more information, visit www.rabusa.com.

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