Our Sustainability Memberships and Affiliations
The Responsible Down Standard
The Responsible Down Standard (independently) certifies down against animal welfare requirements and tracks it from the source to the final product.
RDS certification follows the chain of custody from farm to the final product, with each step in the supply chain undergoing annual audits. Upon passing the audit, each facility is awarded a Scope Certificate that verifies compliance with the expectations set forth by RDS. In addition to the Scope Certificate, Transaction Certificates (TC’s) are also issued with each sale and purchase of RDS down and feathers as it goes from slaughter-house to processor, to bulk down supplier, to factory, to retail- providing a verifiable paper trail and reinforcing the integrity and traceability of the program.
Long before RDS was established as the standard for ensuring the ethical treatment of birds, SDS (then Down Decor) voluntarily underwent annual, third-party audits to ensure that no live-plucking or force-feeding occurred in the supply chain. SDS is fully committed to the ethical treatment of birds and we only buy down and feathers from verifiable sources.
While it is a very small percentage of the world’s down supply that comes from live-plucking, it is nonetheless a serious issue and requires serious attention. SDS is proud to be RDS certified and to offer RDS certification for our regular bulk down, DownTek Water Repellent Down, and DownTek ZeroPFC.
SUSTAINABLE APPAREL COALITION /HIGG Index
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition is a unique and extraordinary alliance comprised of :
Companies of all sizes from all sectors of fashion, manufacturing, and retail
NGO’s dedicated to environmental, social, and trade issues
Sustainability experts
Affiliated trade organizations
This unprecedented collaboration has resulted in an equally unprecedented plan for sustainable production in the apparel, footwear, and home textiles industries. Central to the plan is the Higg Index, a suite of assessment tools that allows brands, retailers, and manufacturers to measure the environmental, labor, and social impact they are making at every step of the supply chain. These self-assessment tools enable members to evaluate areas of risk, areas of strength, and areas where improvements can be made.
SDS is a proud member of SAC and has implemented use of the Higg Index at both facilities in the USA, with plans to begin modules for assessment of our Taiwan and Nanjing facilities in 2016.
By using the Higg Index, we were able to quantify our impact in a way that was not previously available to us. As a result of our findings we have undergone facility renovations for cleaner air emissions and minimized use of electrical power, as well as implemented employee engagement and health initiatives, and developed a rigorous recycling program to minimize the amount of waste to local landfills.
SAC is making a significant impact on the sustainability efforts in manufacturing and retail and SDS is excited to be part of a coalition comprised of individuals who understand that large scale and lasting change can only be achieved by working together.
BLUESIGN
As a bluesign® system partner, SDS is committed to applying the bluesign® system which unites the entire textile supply chain to jointly reduce its impact on people and the environment. The Input Stream Management ensures that approved chemical products and raw materials are used in all steps of the manufacturing process. Substances posing risks to people and the environment are hence eliminated from the very beginning. On-site inspections verify the proper application of such chemical products and raw materials in controlled processes and ensure the responsible use of resources.
bluesign® system partners are responsibly acting parties of the textile supply chain committed to applying the bluesign® system. They aim to continuously improve their environmental performance and are focused on a sustainable future.
OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
The Outdoor Industry Association is a non-profit trade association for the outdoor industry with members ranging from suppliers and manufacturers, to distributors and retailers.
OIA is committed to not only promoting the growth and success of outdoor industry consumerism and retailers, but also plays an important role in government affairs, working directly with policy makers to stimulate conservation efforts and American manufacturing, as well as a role in environmental and social responsibility by identifying best practices and reducing the overall footprint.
SDS has been a member of OIA since 2012 and actively participates in the Chemicals Management, Corporate Responsibility, and Sustainability Working Groups.
European Outdoor Group
Founded in 2003, the EOG has grown into a high profile, dynamic organization that fully represents the outdoor sector. The outdoor industry is one of the major players in the sporting goods sector. In order to maintain and strengthen this position, the EOG undertakes a number of projects for the benefit of the whole European outdoor industry.
International Down and Feather Bureau
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. Their goals include providing consumers with clear, simple and easily understandable definitions, and developing International Standards for down/feather testing.