From the beginning of our activity, we attach great importance to animal welfare. Our ethical standards are confirmed by the RDS certificate. We are proud to be part of an elite group of brands producing in the center of Europe, exclusively from certified, ethically sourced down.
What is an RDS certificate?
RDS, or Responsible Down Standard, is a certificate confirming the responsible sourcing of bird down and feathers. This standard belongs to the Textile Exchange, a non-profit organization that cares about improving the fate of the animals from which the raw materials used in the clothing industry come from. RDS is said to be a voluntary, independent and global standard, which means that companies anywhere in the world that choose to comply with it follow exactly the same principles. The RDS was established by the independent certifying authority Control Union. What for? So that you can be sure that the down that goes to your sleeping bag or jacket is of the best quality, and nature was not harmed during its acquisition.
What defines RDS?
The RDS certificate defines, above all, restrictive standards for the treatment of geese and ducks bred for their down and feathers. The main assumption is appropriate breeding conditions, from hatchling to slaughter, without exposing the birds to unnecessary stress or without forced, brutal tube feeding. Importantly, down and feathers with the RDS certificate are not obtained from live birds and thus do not condemn them to suffering and fear. This standard also ensures traceability of the product at every stage, starting from the farm, through a sustainable supply chain, and ending with the product itself. Only products containing 100% down or feathers from a certified source can carry the RDS symbol.
Why is RDS so important?
The textile industry is increasingly understanding its great responsibility to protect nature. Especially animal materials are on censorship today. That is why certificates such as RDS are becoming extremely important, and products bearing them are sought after by conscious consumers. It is worth noting that the RDS certificate is not common so far and is not imposed by any legal acts, and applying for it is fully voluntary. However, the outdoor world, keenly and sincerely interested in nature conservation, actively joins in promoting compliance with the standards it defines.
Does RDS certified
affect the quality
of the down?
Despite numerous, artificial substitutes, no one has yet invented a filling that would match natural down in terms of insulating properties. Nothing is as light and compressible either. Duck and goose down - the smallest, most delicate feathers located right next to the body - were created by Mother Nature to store heat and create a barrier against cold. No wonder that natural down also protects mountaineers, Himalayan mountaineers and other lovers of outdoor activities so well.
Two basic parameters are used to determine the quality of the filling of down clothing. The first is elasticity, expressed in CUIN, and the second is the ratio of down to feathers (as you can easily guess, the more pure down, the higher the level of thermal insulation). Although the RDS is not a specification parameter nor does it determine the physical properties of the insulation, it does affect the tightening of farming standards, which obviously translates into the quality of the down offered.
Polish goose down is a raw material valued in the world for its quality, but also for high breeding standards. It is with the Biała Kołudzka geese farm in Kujawy, bearing in mind the respect for animals and its customers, that Pajak cooperates with. By purchasing products with the RDS certificate, you can be sure that you get the highest quality insulation, obtained in a responsible way!
