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
Why make a commitment to certifying our feather products?
The origin of our feather products
Why use feathers?

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!

These articles will interest you

What is a durable product?

Spoiler: if your big toe pokes a hole through your sock or your tyre punctures within the first few kilometres, they are not durable products.

Why does it take so much water to make a cloth?

The production of a single T-shirt requires 2,700 litres of water, the equivalent of 70 showers. How do we actually achieve such volumes?

Does a garment really travel around the world before it is bought?

How many kilometres has that nice t-shirt you just bought travelled: 100? 1,000? 10,000? Focus on the journey of our clothes.

The concept of repairability

Or how to encourage a longer life for our products.

What is the connection between the climate and biodiversity?

Climate change is disrupting life on earth. The climate and biodiversity are very closely connected to each other. Read all about it here!

Climate change: moving beyond carbon tunnel vision

Carbon has become the symbol of the fight for the environment. However, in light of this challenge, there are many others, often much less highlighted...