Organic Bedding

Many top of the line bedding companies use down feathers as the main filling inside of their pillows and comforters. We have grown so familiar with the word “down” that we rarely think to ask ourselves what it means. What is down? Where does it come from and how it is produced on an industrial level? These are questions that you may have never asked before. The following is a brief description of where down comes from, how it is processed and its pros and cons.

What is down? Down feathers come from ducks and geese, and is under plumage taken mainly from the breast region of the bird.

How does one get the feathers? Down harvesting was originally a byproduct of the meat industry. With the exception of Hungarian geese, birds were killed for meat and the plumage plucked off and processed. Now, demand for down feather products has created a separate, and incredibly cruel industry in which birds are, in some regions, raised specifically to stuff bedding. Feathers are ripped from living birds, then allowed to grow back 4 to 5 times before slaughter.

It would be a sad but interesting research project, from an animal activist's point of view, to find out how many ducks or geese it takes to make just one pillow or comforter. One duck or goose yields how many ounces of feathers?

Who are the main producers? The majority of the world’s down is supplied by the Far East. China, with often drastically different humane standards, is by far the leading producer of down for the last 20 years. China not only supplies raw down, but also processes and manufactures finished products of comforters and pillows.

Europe, North and South America and even the Caribbean are all producers of down as well. Europe has a reputation for high quality goose down mostly coming from Eastern Europe in Poland and Hungary.

Bird Lifespans: The older the birds, the bigger the size of down clusters.

The minimum life span is now only two weeks. Therefore, the quality of down has decreased over the years. The highest quality down comes from certain parts of Europe where geese are reared in colder climates and allowed to live longer lifespans.

Processing: Converting wet, plucked, smelly plumage into a fluffy, warm, soft material is a complex process. Down is first washed thoroughly because it is very smelly. This stage can deteriorate feathers if processors are not careful. Then feathers are dried using special equipment.

All feathers are then hand sorted. Sorting begins by separating each piece into categories of down, down fiber, down feathers, feathers. Dust is removed continually throughout many of these processes. Finally, the different qualities of downs are blended to get the desired final products.

Washing Down: It is well known that down’s main “down” fall is its poor performance once it gets wet. Down can lose up to 90% of its isolative qualities when soaked through. Many people either cover their comforters with a duvet cover or take them to the dry cleaners who use a chemical cleaning solution. (One can find specialty dry cleaners these days that use biodegradable and non-toxic chemical washes.)

Hypollergenic or not? Many down brands advertise their products as being hypo-allergenic. This is achieved by extensive washing...sometimes up to 15 washes...to remove the dust and odor. Down product is then “ozonated,” a safe process that further removes impurities. Then it is treated with an FDA approved chemical called an “anti-microbial treatment” that basically kills anything else that is remaining alive.

(However, the FDA has approved over 2000 food additives that are all known carcinogens, so we must heed caution on this point.)

When the down bedding arrives packaged on the shelf it definitely is a hypo-allergenic product, but once it is brought home and used, it will eventually revert back to harboring dust mites unless bedding is thrown out and replaced frequently.

How does Wool Bedding Compare? Wool is comparable in terms of warmth, and can even be warmer than down, depending on the amount of fill, and energetically is very cozy and inviting. Even better, organically raised and sheared sheep do not suffer, nor are they killed, for their wool. Wool is naturally non-allergenic, naturally resists dust mites, moisture, mold and mildew, and is naturally flame resistant.

In contrast, down absorbs and holds moisture; and provides the perfect environment for growth and reproduction of dust mites, unless put through extensive washing and treated with anti-microbial chemicals.

Unlike birds who suffer in the down harvesting process, sheep grow a coat of wool annually and are sheared without harming anyone. When you support products that use wool you support small rural American sheep farmers whose economic industry is in need of our help. This is in contrast to the down feather industry whose manufacturers are primarily overseas in China and Asia.

On the whole, wool adds up to having a smaller ecological footprint than down.

Honestly, if you are in love with the way down squishes and you can’t live without that quality either stick with down, or try eco-friendly kapok. Wool is definitely soft and fluffy but it does not have that squishable character the way down does. However, wool just plain feels homey, warm, and good. Try it once and you won’t go back!

• Benefits of Organic Wool


• Carbonization of Wool


• Sulfuric Acid Facts


• Down Bedding vs. Organic Wool