LUBBOCK – Textile Exchange has released version 3.0 of its Responsible Down Standard (RDS), representing its first substantial revision since 2014. The standard covers more than 500 million birds ensuring brand and retail partners, of which it counts 60 including RDS co-founder The North Face, Adidas and Patagonia, adopt humane animal welfare practices.
Revisions made for iteration 3.0, a process which began in 2017, encompasses a myriad of changes and updates. Notably, euthanasia of sick and injured birds is now mandatory from compliant brands, as will be stunning the animal prior to slaughter.
Stronger criteria has also been enforced relating to handling, record keeping and training of workers in an effort to ensure more thorough, professional undertakings are executed throughout brand supply chains. This is reaffirmed in amends which will serve to offer clarity on good practices to farms, suppliers and certification bodies.
