What is RDS certification?

The RDS Responsible Down Standard is a standard for documenting animal welfare information and ensuring traceability of down products, which is led by TextileExchange, a global non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable clothing and textiles.

Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is responsible down standard because down used to fill consumer products comes from production and processing supply chains all over the world. As a result, retailers and consumers are unable to fully understand the source of production and production conditions. This situation has recently raised concerns about the welfare of waterfowl and the lack of traceability of down products. In order to ensure the accuracy of the final product life, it is necessary to form the traceability of down from the source to the final product.

RDS Certification: Responsible Down Standard

The RDS Humane down standard was developed by VF Group's The North Face in cooperation with the Textile Exchange and the Dutch Control Union, a third party certification body. It was officially launched in January 2014 and issued its first certificate in June. The development process worked with leading suppliers Allied Feather&Down and Downlite to analyze and verify that all aspects of the down supply chain are compliant.

Brands have joined RDS TextileExchange, a global non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable clothing and textiles, and announced that their responsible down standard RDS is now gaining traction in the outdoor and even casual fashion industries. In addition to early adopters such as The North Face, Marmot, Mammut, Helly Hansen, Outdoor Research, Eddie Bauer, and H&M have all committed to this standard, as have several other fashion and bedding brands.

What are the main standards involved in RDS certification?

Part I: Five key points of RDS social responsibility

1: the auditor audit to see the wage hours only to see the latest half year (half real, but not lower than the minimum requirements)

2: Training, equipment (RDS training, RDS equipment special)

3: Fire safety (fire hydrant, fire extinguisher, completion acceptance, fire inspection, fire drill, alarm bell, etc.), water quality report, first aid worker safety certificate

4: Environmental manual, program files

5: The raw materials of the product must be certified by CU

Part Two: The environment

1: Energy required detection (water, electricity, gas)

2. Invoices and usage records of water use

3. Steam contract

4: Sewage treatment certificate (inspection certificate of sewage treatment plant)

5: sediment, silt discharge permit

Part Three: Chemicals

1. MSDS (Chemical Instruction Manual)

2. Management system of chemicals

3. Use records of chemicals

4: Chemicals need a separate warehouse and secondary containers

5: Employees shall wear labor protection supplies and record professional operation training

Part Four: The scene

1: Fire hydrant, fire extinguisher, medical kit, alarm bell, etc

2: RDS production area division, all RDS production should be separated separately.

3: The RDS device shall be affixed with a special RDS identifier

4: All RDS, raw materials, auxiliary materials and finished products should be classified separately

Part Five: Documents

1: All RDS raw materials and auxiliary materials have traceability documents and must pass the CU certificate.

2. All RDS contracts, invoices, procurement, production process and warehousing shall be recorded (entire purchase record to shipping record, purchase invoice, supplier record).

Balance Sheet: All RDS orders are from purchasing - manufacturing - shipping, not outgoing. The total amount of production and loss is spread equally to each product. Consistent with all contracts, invoices, purchase invoices, shipment records and supplier records)

What modules does RDS certification consist of? How long is the certificate valid?

RDS certification is retrospective certification. The module consists of four parts, and each module has its corresponding principles to be followed. (RDS validation is valid for 12 months, and certificates can be renewed annually by re-evaluation.)

1. Breeding farm module

Principle One: Force-feeding is prohibited

Principle two: Live down plucking is prohibited

Principle 3: Abide by local laws

Principle four: Prohibit parallel production

Principle five: Feed and water

Principle 6: House, stock density and outdoor activities

Principle 7: Health

Principle 8: Health, pest and carnivore control

Principle 9: Handling and management of waterfowl

Principle 10: Traceability, identification and isolation

2. Slaughterhouse module

2.1: The premises shall comply with local animal welfare laws

2.2: Personnel responsible for unloading, stun and slaughter shall receive training

2.3: Training records shall be retained for at least five years

2.4: Upon arrival at the slaughterhouse, waterfowl should be carefully and restricted as little as possible

2.5: Waterfowl shall be unloaded and slaughtered within two hours unless the slaughterhouse has a waiting area and appropriate facilities

2.6: In industrial slaughterhouses, waterfowl can be unloaded in dark rooms to minimize psychological stress and panic. If slaughtering is taking place in the open, other pressure relief measures should be taken.

2.7: In industrial slaughterhouses, waterfowl should be killed immediately after being stunned.

2.8: If electrocuting is administered, each waterfowl should use a current of at least 130 milliamps when 50 Hz AC is used.

2.9: The frequency of electric shock should be checked 3 times a day and the results recorded.

2.10: Supplier's farm verification inspection shall be conducted to confirm compliance with Down Liability Standards.

3. Transport module

3.1: Transportation shall comply with local animal welfare laws

3.2: Transport plans shall ensure that waterfowl reach their destination as soon as possible, in any case up to 8 hours.

3.3: Waterfowl shall be transported in a vehicle that can provide adequate ventilation and protect them from wind, rain, snow and high temperatures.

3.4: Waterfowl should not be overcrowded during transport.

3.5: The transport vehicle shall be clean and dry before loading waterfowl.

3.6: Every mortality-related transport to the slaughterhouse must be recorded. Records shall be retained for five years or, for the length of their validity, whichever is longer.

4. Small farmers group module

4.1: The community of small-scale farmers shall consist of a group of members who are of the same character in terms of agricultural production, geographical area and economic conditions.

4.2: Down Liability Standards do not accept feathers that have been used or recovered.

4.3 A small breeder group shall have the following documents: a detailed list of villages, registered veterinarians, wool traders (including more than one), estimates of the quantity and type of waterfowl per stock, veterinary certificates listed in line G4 below, quantity and type of down sent by wool trafficking.

4.4: Registered veterinarians and wool traders shall be able to understand this standard in detail.

4.5: The wool seller shall provide the following documents: village of origin and quantity of down.

4.6: The wool seller shall meet the following requirements and sign the letter of commitment: Only transporting certified down and certified down from small farmers' villages shall be separated and identified. Once certified households violate this standard, they shall report immediately.

4.7: The Scope certification holder shall have procedures in place to punish and expel members in the event of non-compliance.

4.8: When a certifying body visits a farm, what it sees should not differ significantly from the veterinary statement and small group farmer's documentation.

5. Textile Exchange content declaration standard CCS

6. Breeding and poultry plant certification module