To raise awareness of the down as a natural quality product – that is the declared aim of the international alliance Pro-Down Initiative. The 10 founding members of the feather and down industry aim to create an open dialogue on the core values of animal protection, transparency and the promotion of down and feather as natural products. The new website of the alliance is to go online soon.

Berlin, 16 May 2011 – Today the international alliance Pro-Down Initiative was founded in Berlin. Among the founding members are 10 leading companies of the feather and down industry from six countries.

The members of the alliance are campaigning for continued improvements regarding animal protection, and for increased transparency in the procurement and production of down and feathers. Moreover the alliance wishes to address the many advantages of down and feather products with regard to the environment. Thereby, the alliance is seeking a transparent and open dialogue with consumers, interest groups and politics.

“We would like to raise awareness of the numerous advantages of the down as a natural product. It is underestimated how often down and feathers are considered to be a waste product. Through our know-how and our daily work we create the basis for high quality natural products, which are environmentally friendly. We hope for broad support, from current and new members, that may wish to join the alliance in the future,” said Susanne Schenavsky from Rohdex, one of the founding companies.

The international website of the alliance will be launched in May. It will inform about the lifecycle of down and feathers and show the benefits of this natural product. Current information on the alliance as well as comprehensive information material will also be available for download. Interested companies can sign up as new members in a dedicated section of the website.

The participation in relevant trade fairs but also ongoing dialogue with the media, politics and other societal actors will be key to the continued outreach efforts by the alliance. The press office of the Pro-Down Initiative in Berlin will mainly drive these efforts.

About the Pro-Down Initiative:
The alliance Pro-Down Initiative (http://www.feather-down-initiative.com) was founded in spring 2011. It represents leading international companies from the feather and down industry. Among the founding members are companies from Germany, the USA, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain and Hungary. The aim of the alliance is to raise awareness of the down as a quality product through transparent and open dialogue, and to establish animal protection, transparency and sustainability in feather and down production.

Contact information:
Pro-Down Initiative / Initiative Pro Daune
c/o APCO Worldwide GmbH
Friedrichstraße 186
10117 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0)30 / 59 000 20 22
Fax: +49 (0)30 / 59 000 20 20
Email: press@feather-down-initiative.com

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Feathers and down are never out of fashion but are sometimes a matter of discussion due to their production processes. Founded by ten mid-sized companies, the new international alliance Initiative Pro Down aims to educate consumers, the media and politicians about the production of one of nature’s miracles – down. Transparency and animal protection are of the highest importance.

Feathers and down in particular have been appreciated as a premium natural product for centuries, whether as filling for sleeping bags, duvets or cushions and outdoor apparel. There is no material that has such a rich tradition and versatility in the textile industry than down. The earliest mention of the extraction of feathers from live geese can be found some 2000 years ago.

Historically, the extraction of feathers and down is a natural process rooted in culture, comparable to the shearing of sheep. The fact that down has been so appreciated throughout centuries is due to the environmentally friendly nature of both its extraction and processing and, most of all, to the versatile characteristics of this wonder of nature: Down is breathable, resistant, light and durable and does not lose its form, even under extreme pressure. It warms when it is cold and cools when it is warm, which even the most advanced synthetic fibers cannot do. Down is a naturally renewable, environmentally friendly resource that is completely biologically degradable. Even the waste from the production process can be used as fertilizer or in the feed industry.

The Alliance Initiative Pro Down, an international network of mid-sized companies in the down and feather industry, was founded in May 2011 with the goal of furthering the education about the production and uses of down and feathers. The companies involved are united in their enthusiasm for this natural product and aim to effectively widen the circle of friends of down.

The alliance aims to promote a transparent and open dialogue with consumers, interest groups, media and politicians and to balance the debate about some of the controversial subjects that have made the headlines several times, such as concerns about animal rights and feather and down production methods. Members of the alliance are calling for a continual improvement of animal welfare and are advocating the greatest possible traceability during production and manufacturing. For the Alliance Initiative Pro Down, down is a unique gift of nature whose qualities are under-promoted.

With this conviction, the Alliance Initiative Pro Down takes the first step today in terms of education and sincerely believes that the circle of the ten founding members will soon be enlarged. Once the foundation stage has been completed, and the website created, an active media campaign will be undertaken, combined with a presence at fairs and other industry trade shows. The common and ongoing goal: Getting ‘Down and Feathers’ all the possible attention that such high quality natural products merit.

For further information on the alliance Initiative Pro Down and more detailed materials on these topics please visit www.feather-down-initiative.com.

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