Down Fill is Environmentally Superior
NEW YORK, NY (April 15, 2024) – In celebration of Earth Day, the American Down and Feather Council (ADFC) is spotlighting the environmental superiority of down fill material over polyester. The International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB) has released three informative videos based on findings from a global Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that compared the impact of down vs polyester fill in various environmental areas. The videos emphasize that down fill in our bedding, outerwear, and camping gear products have less of an environmental impact than 100% polyester fill – making down the sustainable choice. The data presented in the videos highlight down’s positive contribution to the following environmental areas studied: Human Health, Ecosystem and Climate Change.
“The three videos provide a more comprehensive and scientifically grounded perspective of down fill’s lower environmental footprint over polyester”, says Brandon Palmer, the Public Relations Chair of ADFC and IDFB. “Down is a bi-product of the food industry, ethically sourced, biodegradable, a natural resource, and most importantly, environmentally friendly and sustainable when compared to synthetic fill material.”
The three new videos can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/41w7nDV
The LCA was commissioned by IDFB and conducted by Long Trail Sustainability, an independent third-party firm specializing in LCAs and sustainability reports. It was concluded that, on a per ton basis, down has 85%-97% lower impacts than 100% polyester in all the environmental categories studied. The report adheres to ISO 14040 and 14044 guidelines which outline the principles and framework for LCAs. For more information about the LCA and its findings, please visit www.downandfeathercouncil.com/sustainability/.
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About the American Down and Feather Council (ADFC)
The ADFC, a section of the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA), is a voluntary association of manufacturers of natural fill bedding products, as well as dealers, buyers, sellers, and processors of feathers and down for use in home fashion products. The goals of the ADFC are to further the common interests of the down and feather products industry, and to both maintain and improve product quality. For more information, visit www.downandfeathercouncil.com.