What is RDS certification?
RDS - or the Responsible Down Standard - is a certification that ensures humane treatment of geese and ducks throughout the entire down and feather supply chain.
RDS certification: definition
RDS is a global standard, issued by an independent body to brands that voluntarily choose to certify their products. The standard, which was initiated by Textile Exchange - a non-profit trade organization - was developed over a period of 3 years with the input of industry experts, animal rights groups, brands and retailers.
What are the key points in the RDS certification? :
Any removal of down and feathers from live birds (live-plucking or moult-harvesting) is prohibited.
- Force-feeding is prohibited.
- Holistic respect for animal welfare of the birds from hatching to slaughter.
- The animals have access to both indoor and outdoor spaces that are sufficiently large, comfortable and hygienic to ensure their well-being.
- Each stage in the supply chain is audited by a professional, third party certification body.
- RDS down and feathers must be clearly identifiable so they are not confused with other non-certified materials.
- Only products made from 100% certified down and feathers carry the RDS logo.
Why make a commitment to certifying our feather products?
Decathlon works with suppliers who respect decent breeding conditions: no animal mistreatment, no force-feeding for geese and ducks, and no raw plucking. Since 2020, 100% of the feathers for clothing used by its suppliers have been certified Responsible Down Standard (RDS).
The RDS label guarantees the protection of geese and ducks reared for the production of textiles with down and feathers.
The origin of our feather products
Feathers and down
The feathers come from ducks and geese raised on RDS-certified farms, which have been reared for their meat by the local agri-food industry.
How it's made
DECATHLON produces in more than 1,000 production sites around the world, in RDS-certified factories, where we ensure that working conditions are decent.
Transport
Almost all DECATHLON products are transported by boat or train to our warehouses on 5 continents (0.4% of our products are transported by air / figures at 31 December 2022).
Why use feathers?
Well known to our ancestors for their thermal qualities, feathers are also very popular with trekkers thanks to their relative compactness and low weight.
What's more, contrary to popular belief, feathers are easy to care for: it's all a question of washing and storage!
Kevin Guillaume
Responsible procurement of feathers and down
"For us, in Decathlon, helping protect the environment is not just confined to lowering our CO2 emissions. It's also about ensuring the humane treatment of animals when the base material comes from this source. Our commitment to the RDS Label ensures traceability of feathers from livestock farms to shops as well as compliance with animal welfare standards."
