This year is likely to be the hottest on record, but this "hottest" only refers to the global average temperature. As the global average temperature rises, there will be more extreme weather for most regions, including extreme cold. Recently, waves of cold air have hit, and friends in the south have finally felt the winter of 2023 and have put on thick down jackets. The puffer jacket is filled with goose down or duck down, but why not use chickens, which are more commonly farmedSo, what exactly are the feathers of the down jacket filling?
The down feathers of down jackets mainly grow under the front feathers of birds, and they are composed of keratin, which effectively blocks air convection and makes an ideal warm filler. Due to the diverse functions of birds' feathers, down feathers also have the function of providing buoyancy in addition to warmth. Birds tend to have fluffier, richer down feathers, making them more suitable as a down jacket filler.
Goose down and duck down are common fillings, and they are both migratory birds, and their down feathers are superior to those of chickens, which are more commonly farmed. The reason goose down is slightly better than duck down is that geese are herbivorous, while ducks are omnivorous, and duck down may contain more impurities. However, not all down jackets are filled with goose or duck down, and some brands use discarded chicken feathers as filling. Although "chicken down" is not much different from duck down and goose down in terms of warmth, it has a relatively short service life due to its rough structure and low elasticity.
However, the phenomenon of live poultry stripping in modern aquaculture has attracted attention. In Europe, there are special feathering teams that grab the legs and wings of the geese and pluck all the down feathers. This method of plucking hurts the goose, and its body is covered with small wounds and oozing spots, sometimes even requiring stitches. Plucked geese are often bred for foie gras, and they are plucked twice in their short lifespan.
Some well-known down jacket brands now claim to have abandoned the use of down feathers taken from live birds. This move is the result of increased consumer concern about animal welfare. However, consumers, as the ultimate buyers, often only focus on the final goods and lack understanding of the processes behind the production of goods.
The social impact of the whole incident is to raise awareness of animal welfare. People are starting to pay attention to down jacket fillings** and refuse to buy products that may come from the peeling of live birds. Some brands are also starting to change their production methods to be more friendly to down**.
At present, there are still padded "chicken down" down jackets on the market, which contrasts with consumers' concern for animal welfare. However, there are still doubts about the sustainability and comfort of such products. Consumers need to be more rational in their choices and support brands that have improved their production methods.
In response to this problem, we can think about the following questions, how to better improve consumers' awareness of down jacket filling**Should the brand label the ** of the filler be indicated on the product?Are consumers willing to pay a little more for a friendlier filler**Further, we can** other alternative filling materials to provide better options for the environment, animal welfare and consumers.
This year's cold winter has made people wear down jackets. The down that fills a down jacket usually comes from goose down or duck down. Goose down and duck down are the feathers of migratory birds, which have better warmth and buoyancy functions. However, some brands use discarded chicken feather-filled down jackets, but "chicken down" has problems with comfort, longevity, and construction. In addition, the phenomenon of live poultry stripping has raised social concerns about animal welfare, and some brands have changed their production methods and abandoned the use of down feathers extracted from live birds. Consumers need to be more rational in their product choices, pay attention to the fillers, and support those that are friendly to the way they are produced. Limiting live poultry stripping, increasing consumer awareness of fillers** and supporting the development of alternative materials are key to future development.