Down feathers used in jackets, duvets and pillows are primarily sourced from ducks and geese, with welfare implications ranging from live-plucking to force-feeding.
Down production welfare depends critically on how the birds were kept and whether feathers were harvested live or post-slaughter. Live-plucking, where feathers are pulled from conscious restrained birds, causes acute pain, distress and skin tearing - a practice that should be eliminated from supply chains. Foie gras byproduct down is associated with the severe welfare problems of force-feeding. RDS-certified down provides some assurance of origin but the audit trail from farm to consumer is complex. Synthetic fill alternatives have improved dramatically in warmth-to-weight ratio and moisture management, and choosing certified synthetic alternatives avoids all concerns about live bird welfare in down production.