Recently, the American outdoor product company, The North Face, released the completion of its Responsible Down Standard (RDS), a tool that will provide a global standard through which any organization can evaluate and certify its full down supply chain. In partnership with Control Union Certifications, an accredited third-party certification body, and Textile Exchange – a global non-profit dedicated to sustainability in the textile industry, the RDS will allow the retailer to audit and ensure the ethical treatment of all animals in its down supply chain and validate all claims through an established process.
“The North Face brand’s dedication to improving animal welfare and traceability by creating a credible, holistic standard was the driving force that made certain that the RDS would be comprehensive and address the entire supply chain for down,” told Gyorgyi Acs, Program Manager at Control Union Certifications. The North Face has also announced its plan to gift the ownership of the RDS, full rights to distribute and update the RDS, to Textile Exchange. “We are giving the Responsible Down Standard to the public in order to provide a holistic tool for any organization seeking to source down more responsibly,” informed Adam Mott, Senior Manager, Corporate Sustainability, The North Face.
