RDS
RDS is an international certification standard that ensures consideration for the welfare of waterfowl involved in the harvesting of down and feathers, and verifies management and traceability from raw material to finished product.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Overview
RDS is a certification standard intended to ensure responsible sourcing with consideration for the welfare of ducks and geese raised for down and feathers. It is not a system for certifying the performance or safety of the fabric itself; it covers the origin and management system of the quilt batting raw material.
The certification covers the supply chain from raw material production through washing, processing, product manufacturing, and distribution. At each step, it is important to identify certified materials and manage mixing with non-certified materials.
Approach to Scope and Standards
RDS places importance on avoiding unnecessary suffering for waterfowl. In general, the standard centers on the idea that feather plucking from live birds and down derived from force-feeding are not permitted.
It also requires management that can confirm certified materials are carried through to the next stage. For this reason, a high blend ratio of down alone is not enough to justify claiming RDS certification.
What to Check in Procurement and Product Development
When procuring fabric, the outer fabric and lining do not normally mean they are RDS certified. When handling down-filled quilt fabric or finished products, confirm with the supplier which component's down or feather is covered by the certification.
To label a product as certified, confirm not only the filling material but also the certification scope of the company and processing steps that manufacture the product. Link purchase records, usage quantities, inventory, and production quantities for certified materials, and retain the required documents.
- Certificate validity period and applicable facilities
- Certification status of the down or feathers and the blend ratio
- Transaction documents and quantity control from raw material to product
- Whether approval procedures required for brand labeling have been completed
Notes on Labeling and Certificates
An RDS certificate is a document showing the scope of the business, factory, raw material, or transaction. Even if your trading partner has obtained certification, the materials or products you purchase are not necessarily certified, so confirm with documents identifying the applicable lot.
RDS certification does not guarantee warmth, fill power, down ratio, or wash durability. Its purpose differs from care tag blend ratios and country-of-origin labeling, so prepare the required evidence for each separately.
Differences from Similar Terms
RWS is a certification standard for wool, covering sheep welfare and land management. RDS differs in that it applies to down and feathers from waterfowl. Non-mulesing wool is also a sourcing consideration related to wool, and is not a down certification.
GRS is a certification for recycled content and management, and the characteristics of the raw materials it covers differ from those of RDS. Even when a down product uses materials related to both certifications, confirm the applicable components and basis for labeling under each certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I use RDS-certified down, can I label the finished product as RDS?
Not necessarily. To label a finished product, in addition to using certified down, you must confirm that the company and processing steps involved in manufacturing are within the certification management scope, and that transaction documents and quantity control are in place.
Does RDS guarantee the warmth or fill power of down?
No. RDS is a certification for responsible sourcing with consideration for waterfowl welfare and management for traceability of raw materials. Warmth and loft must be confirmed separately through fill power, down ratio, fill weight, product construction, and other factors.
Do I need to check RDS when procuring only outer fabric?
Ordinary outer fabric and lining are not normally subject to RDS. However, for quilt fabric filled with down or feathers, or composite materials containing feathers, confirm with the supplier the certified component, the scope of the certificate, and whether product labeling is permitted.
