Down Council Launches Labeling Effort

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/6/2006 12:00:00 AM

New York — —

New York — The American Down and Feather Council has created a quality certification and labeling compliance program comprising an ADFC Seal of Approval based on products meeting testing standards set by the International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB) as well as federal and state laws.

The Council encourages the industry to apply the label to down and feather bedding products such as pillows, comforters and feather beds. The Bureau standards include these factors: down cluster, species identification, filling power, oxygen number and turbidity (these two are sterilization measures), filling weight and thread count.

Government regulations specify that products labeled as down-filled must contain a minimum of 75% down cluster; items labeled as being filled with waterfowl feathers can include no more than 5% land fowl feathers; and those labeled as specifically goose or duck must contain 90% goose or duck plumage.

Only IDFB-certified laboratories may be used when testing. Information is available at downandfeathercouncil.org.