Patagonia announced a move to 100% Traceable Down across its entire collection of down-insulated products, starting in the Fall 2014 season. Patagonia Traceable Down is sourced from birds that have been neither force-fed for foie gras production nor plucked for their feathers and down during their lifetime (though it should be noted that down is mostly a bi-product of the food industry).
Patagonia says it authenticates its down supply chain by utilizing a holistic traceability audit consisting of a physical inspection of the entire supply chain, from farm to factory, performed by an independent, third-party traceability expert.
“Affidavits from suppliers are commonly accepted with minimal verification. It is also common practice to certify only parts of the supply chain without linking all entities that handle the down,” says Wendy Savage, social and environmental responsibility manager for Patagonia. “Patagonia’s traceability program is hands-on every step of the way. We begin our audit at the parent farm, where the eggs are laid, and follow it all the way to the garment factory, where the down is placed in our garments. We need to understand every single part of the supply chain – otherwise we can’t truly feel comfortable claiming the down as traceable.”
Patagonia provided a closer look at its work during the last six years toward achieving 100% Traceable Down: click
here.
