All down used by Patagonia is now traceable

Major outdoor brand Patagonia says it has achieved a milestone in ethical sourcing of the insulation used in its clothing.

The company announced it now used 100 per cent down and says other outdoor brands should also raise the bar.

Down, used in many insulated outdoor items, has a chequered reputation, with allegations of live-plucking of birds and also down and feather used from geese that have been force-fed to produce foie gras.

Patagonia, which has a reputation as an ethical company, admits it failed to set high standards in the recent past.

A spokesperson said: “In 2002 Patagonia reintroduced down into the product line not examining where it was coming from and how it was produced.

“In 2010, they were called out for animal cruelty in its down supply chain. Instead of playing defence, we met public criticism with transparency – taking a deep look at our failings and discussing openly our mistakes and intentions for fixing them.

“We poured resources into making it right – developing the highest standard for animal welfare in the business – and now we’re encouraging other companies to join us in meeting this same high bar.

“As a result of this tireless effort, all Patagonia down products now contain only 100 per cent traceable down.

“All of the down in all of our products can be traced back to birds that were never force-fed, never live-plucked – and we don’t allow blended down.”