Responsible Down Standard (RDS) Certification Explained
International · Established 2014
Cruelty-Free Certification Down and feather products
Audit Level: Third-Party Audit
An independent third party conducts an audit of the brand's facilities or documentation. More rigorous than self-declaration.
Supply-chain verified: Yes.
| Supply Chain | Verified |
| Cost for Brands | Third-party audit fee. Full supply chain certification required. |
| Recognized In | Global — used by North Face, Patagonia, H&M |
Editorial Analysis
Certifies that down and feathers come from birds that have not been live-plucked or force-fed. This is an animal welfare standard — not a vegan certification. RDS-certified products still contain animal-derived down and are not vegan. Vegans should look for products explicitly labelled 'synthetic fill' using materials like PrimaLoft, Thinsulate, or THERMOLITE.
Summary
Type
Cruelty-Free
Established
2014
Origin
International
Scope
Down and feather products