Animal Welfare
Duvets and pillows are among JYSK's core products, many of which contain down and feathers from geese and ducks. We have a handful of feather and down suppliers for our products at JYSK. The selection of this small group of suppliers for such a large product area is based on two factors: ethical and quality considerations.JYSK does not tolerate animal abuse. JYSK suppliers bind themselves by contract to only supply down and feathers from dead birds. This item is also a permanent part of the agenda whenever we enter into dialogue with our suppliers. Inspections, trade documents, certifications and supplier visits ensure that our suppliers do not purchase down and feathers plucked from live fowl. We consider it a breach of contract if a supplier does not meet this requirement.
The issue of plucking feathers from live geese and ducks has featured in the media several times in recent years. JYSK, has never encountered evidence indicating that our products contain feathers plucked from live birds. The best live plucking inspection system was developed by the International Down and Feather Laboratory (IDFL), which is an initiative stemming from a call by JYSK and other companies. JYSK also acknowledge the European Down & Feather Association, for taking the initiative to develop a standardised inspection system for the industry.
The live plucking of geese and ducks is often a problem area, as many believe that live plucking is the rule rather than the exception. However, according to the IDFL, 99 percent of the world's down and feather are by-products from the food industry and as a consequence come from slaughtered fowl. Read more in this message from IDFL.
Sadly, there is a small market for down and feather plucked from live birds, which is said to provide better insulation, although production is considerably more expensive than that using industrial methods. However, higher cost of feathers plucked from live birds makes it unlikely that suppliers would cheat and sell JYSK down and feathers from this source.