Down forms a natural insulation layer for waterfowl such as geese or ducks. The colder the climate, the "fluffier" and warmer the down of the birds that live there. Technically this is called loft and it's measured in "cubic inches" (Cuin).
To ensure that birds can fly despite their thick thermal insulation, down is also ultra lightweight. No other material achieves such high thermal insulation at such a low weight.
Down is a natural product, a "renewable resource" that is biodegradable. At the same time, it is also a waste product of the food industry. Above and beyond its outstanding technical qualities, this makes it ecologically very efficient as well.
However, like any "industry" the procurement of down also has its dark side. The welfare and feeding of geese and ducks hasn't always met the values that correspond to our understanding of animal welfare.
VAUDE has a clear commitment: We use only down from slaughtered animals that were neither live-plucked nor bred for foie gras.
VAUDE is certified by the Responsible Down Standard. Since the launch of the Summer Collection 2016, VAUDE has used exclusively down that has been certified in accordance with the RDS.
The RDS is owned and maintained by the independent nonprofit organization, Textile Exchange. A test institute accredited by theTextile Exchange audits the entire supply chain of our down; from the parent farms to the slaughterhouses and distributors, and through to the processing of the down.
