I just thought I'd ask this question here before I wasted a bunch of work time researching the topic. How is down harvested? From what birds? Are they in captivity? Are they bred strictly for their down feathers? Is there any controversy with the process such as hazardous chemical use, animal mistreatment, etc?
My eco, green, veegan, hippy friends started spouting off these questions when I was bragging about my wicked cool down insulated gear?
Pretty much, is it a sustainable practice?
Thanks.
Palm made products a portrait of modern triumph
Sustainable? Mankind has been harvesting down for centuries and yet we have not run out. Seems pretty sustainable to me.Originally Posted by 2eez4life
Last edited by Law Dawg (ret); 12-09-2013 at 12:20.
One of my friends sent me a picture of a plucked duck to shame me about my down use. I unapologetically wear leather, eat meat, sleep in down and probably lots of other things that have the potential to offend someone.
Keep movin', keep believing and enjoy the journey!
Yeah, I agree. I wonder if the infamous Club of Rome book "limits to growth" set prediction rate for when we run out of Down feathered birds. It is kind of funny to look back on their predictions for peak oil and other resource shortages like aluminum and stuff.Sustainable? Mankind has been harvesting down for centuries and yet we have not run out. Seems pretty sustainable to me.
Palm made products a portrait of modern triumph
I believe 2eez4life is asking if it is sustainable without destroying the environment--not whether we will run out of birds.Sustainable? Mankind has been harvesting down for centuries and yet we have not run out. Seems pretty sustainable to me.
I don't know about that, but I believe most down is a by-product of the food industry.
"Pips"
Mountains have a dreamy way
Of folding up a noisy day
In quiet covers, cool and gray.
---Leigh Buckner Hanes
Surely, God could have made a better way to sleep.
Surely, God never did.
I do too, however I think sometimes there should be considerations about such products such as how/where it was produced and the ethics involved with that. Case on point being Dolphin safe Tuna.
Palm made products a portrait of modern triumph
Cool, that is good to know. I definitely support the concept of trying to make use of every part of the animal, like the Native Americans did. If we are eating duck, and being insulated by its down feathers that duck is providing warmth in two very different ways!I believe 2eez4life is asking if it is sustainable without destroying the environment--not whether we will run out of birds.
I don't know about that, but I believe most down is a by-product of the food industry.
Palm made products a portrait of modern triumph
There are certainly a number of animal rights groups that have objections to the down collection process (at least some methodologies). I think those can be found easily enough with a Google search.
This is certainly a topic that has a high likely hood of becoming a political/emotional hot button, so I hope it does not go too far as a hammock forum discussion.
We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. - Ben Franklin
(known as a win-win on this forum)
I work for a animal live haul and processor. If most people were really aware of how there meat got to the table they would seriously question being vegetarian!
Yeah it just seems to be a lot of gray area. Where do you draw the line? How many earth worms are killed when a home builder digs a hole for a basement? Yes, that is absolutely rediculous to me, but only as rediculous as killing a deer to someone else, or plucking feathers to another.
I like to think it's done humanely as possible.
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