100% ethically sourced down
H&M has achieved its goal to only have down from farms that are certified according to the Responsible Down Standard in their products.
The Responsible Down Standard, RDS, certify the source of down, ensuring it does not come from animals that have been subject to any unnecessary harm, such as live-plucking or force-feeding. It also provides other strict requirements on several other animal welfare issues such as food, housing and outdoor access. All RDS certified farms are verified by a third party.
Animal welfare is very important to H&M and the achievement of integrating RDS certified down across its products goes in line with the company’s ambition to improve their requirements on animal fibers and to raise the level on animal welfare in the industry.
The certified products will hit H&M stores from the autumn/winter season 2016 and onwards.
"We believe that animals are entitled to a humane treatment and want to push for improved animal welfare in the industry as a whole. The Responsible Down Standard safeguards the welfare of birds and we are happy to be able to integrate RDS down across our products", says Madeleine Ericsson, Sustainability Business Expert at H&M.
The RDS was developed by Textile Exchange, Control Union and North Face.