Down Material LCA Confirms that Down has Lower Environmental Impact on Earth
NEW YORK, NY (April 11, 2023) – A global Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted and found that down fill in our bedding, outerwear and camping gear has 18 times less of an environmental impact than 100% polyester fill. The assessment analyzed the impact of down vs polyester in five environmental areas: human health, ecosystems, resources, cumulative energy demand, and climate change. It was concluded that, on a per ton basis, down has 85%-97% lower impacts than 100% polyester in all the aforementioned categories that were studied.
Long Trail Sustainability, an independent third-party firm specializing in LCAs and sustainability reports, was commissioned by the International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB) to conduct a life cycle assessment to provide a comprehensive, scientific method understanding down fills lower environmental footprint compared to its alternative.
“The data from this study demonstrates down fill to have superior sustainability and further emphasizes why down and feather are the better choice”, says Brandon Palmer, the Public Relations Chair of IDFB and the American Down & Feather Bureau (ADFC), an IDFB member. “Today’s consumers are more inclined to buy products that are authenticated, eco-friendly and sustainable. Down is a natural resource that provides warmth without the weight and is both ethically sourced and biodegradable.”
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, 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.
About the International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB)
IDFB is the international trade association of the down/feather industry (processors of raw material and/or producers of finished articles, filled with down/feathers), the down/feather trade and independent testing institutes for down/feather as filling material.