Responsible Down Standard (RDS) — detail
Also known as: RDS, Responsible Down
Certification standard by Textile Exchange for goose and duck down — prohibits live-plucking and force-feeding, ensures traceability along the entire supply chain.
Description
The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) was developed in 2014 by outdoor brand The North Face together with Control Union and Textile Exchange and is now a global reference standard for animal-welfare-friendly down and feathers. Prohibited in particular are live-plucking and force-feeding for foie gras production; farms are audited annually by independent certification bodies.
A central element is the seamless chain of custody: every tier (farm, slaughterhouse, pre-processor, down refiner, garment manufacturer, brand) must be RDS-certified and evidence both physical and documentary flow. RDS goods are traded with a Transaction Certificate; the final product carries the RDS logo with a note such as „Certified by Control Union CU 819840". Comparable, in part stricter, standards are the Traceable Down Standard (TDS, Patagonia) and the German industry's Downpass 2017.
- No live-plucking, no force-feeding — slaughter by-product only
- Annual farm audit by independent certifier
- Chain of custody across all processing stages
- Transaction certificate per shipment, visible RDS logo on product
Properties
| Standard owner | Textile Exchange (USA) |
|---|---|
| Prohibits | Live-plucking, force-feeding |
| Audit cycle | annual, independent |
| Chain of custody | All tiers certified, transaction certificate |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Textile Exchange: RDS Textile Exchange https://textileexchange.org/responsible-down-standard/
- Control Union: RDS certifications.controlunion.com https://certifications.controlunion.com/en/certification-programs/certification-programs/rds-responsible-down-standard
