Responsible Down Standard

Responsible Down Standard (RDS), certifies products that contain feathers and down from certified farms.
It ensures that the feathers and the duvet used in the padded products derive from geese and ducks raised in compliance with the principles and criteria of animal welfare.

INFORMATION

The  Responsible Down Standard (RDS)  is promoted internationally by the  Textile Exchange , provides for the  release of an environmental declaration verified by a third party  which ensures that down and feathers used for padding elements are obtained from  aquatic birds (goose and duck) or terrestrial (e.g. chicken and turkey)  that  have not been subjected to treatments that cause pain, suffering or stress  and that an identification and traceability system that applies to  the origin of the material is applied and maintained  .

The following can be certified according to the RDS:

  • Down and feathers  from responsible farms that respect animal welfare;
  • Textile products  that contain at least 5% of certified feathers and down. However, finished products can only be labeled as RDS Certificates if 100% feather and down is certified.

The purpose of the RDS includes the entire production chain and extends to:

  • Breeding of birds
  • Slaughter
  • Collection and processing of feathers (selection, dedusting, deep washing, elimination of excess water, drying)
  • Production of garments and textile products.

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

The RDS certification process is  differentiated , depending on whether it refers to  bird breeding , in turn distinguished between  individual farms, groups of small breeders and cultivation  contracts (first aid contract), and manufacturing  companies .

In any case, the certification process includes the following 3 phases:

1


Preliminary evaluation.
Initial evaluation of the products and of the production process, which includes, among other things, the evaluation of the  composition of the products  for which certification is required, as well as the conformity of raw materials and suppliers, and the suitability of the chemicals  used in specific production processes.
2


On-site inspection.
On-site inspection to ascertain: the effective  compliance of the products  with the RDS criteria, the correct  organization and management of  production processes and internal procedures, likely to compromise the conformity of the product itself, the  maintenance of the chain of custody  in order to ensure that the material is correctly identified and traceable.
3


Issuance of the Certificate of Conformity.
Issuance of the Certificate of Conformity on the basis of the information and data collected as part of the evaluation and verification process.

DOCUMENTS AND ATTACHMENTS