The animal protection organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has stepped up its efforts to address evidence of animal cruelty that it claims to have found among providers of the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and Responsible Animal Fiber-Sandards (RAF).
The organization filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Federal Competition Commission, alleging that labels created by certification body Textile Exchange “mislead and deceive consumers.”
This follows several revelations from PETA about the down industry, including a recent investigation into duck farms in Vietnam that allegedly sold “responsible” down but showed signs of cruelty to the animals housed there.
According to the Textile Exchange, the farms it controls are “independently audited.” However, PETA argues that such appointments are usually announced in advance, while some farms “may never be visited by independent auditors.”
PETA also named retailers such as Lululemon, Aritzia and Arc’teryx that use RDS and RAF certifications to persuade customers to purchase products under the assumption that the animals in the supply chain are being treated humanely.
With the complaint, PETA is asking the agency to require the Textile Exchange to remove all misleading statements from its marketing materials and to “provide corrective statements that demonstrate how animals are actually treated on its certified farms.”
Textile Exchange reaction
The organization confirmed to FashionUnited that it is aware of the complaint that PETA has filed with the competition authority and that it will await the assessment and “support the process wherever necessary.” “We recognize the role of animal rights organizations in driving necessary change in our industry. However, while organizations such as PETA take the position that the use of animals for human purposes is unacceptable, we believe that materials derived from animals should only be used when measures can be taken to prevent unnecessary harm to animals.” , the Textile Exchange said in a statement.
She added that “while certification to a standard is not a guarantee of specific practices, third-party verification through systems is [wie dem eigenen] “However, “reduces the risk of activities causing unnecessary harm” and creates an official platform to investigate and analyze complaints. It also noted that any allegations of non-compliance with certification requirements are taken seriously and that the company is willing to work with appropriate bodies to investigate cases where a standard is not met.
Regarding the allegations already made by PETA, the Textile Exchange highlighted that the videos from the animal rights group’s ongoing campaign do not provide “clear confirmation as to when and where the footage was taken.” The organization also stated that while some audits conducted by independent certification bodies are pre-announced and are common practice, some are “semi-announced,” meaning up to 72 hours in advance, while others are unannounced and without warning remain.
This article originally appeared on FashionUnited.uk. Translated and edited by Simone Preuss.