New transparency initiative links validated carbon footprint data to individual down lots
ALLIED Feather + Down has expanded its TrackMyDown platform to include validated, cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data linked directly to individual down lots. The initiative builds on the company’s traceability platform by adding environmental impact information alongside details on the origin and processing history of down.
Carbon footprint data added to TrackMyDown
TrackMyDown was developed to provide brands and consumers with visibility into the origin and processing of down used in products. With the latest update, the platform now also provides carbon footprint information associated with specific down lots.
“Transparency only works when the information being shared is credible, meaningful, and easy to access,” said Daniel Uretsky, CEO of ALLIED Feather + Down. “Our goal is to give brands confidence in the sustainability claims they communicate while giving consumers a clearer understanding of the materials inside the products they purchase. By adding validated carbon footprint data to TrackMyDown, we’re taking another step toward making environmental information more transparent and actionable.”
Audit measures carbon footprint of down processing
The new reporting capability follows ALLIED’s recently completed carbon footprint audit conducted in partnership with Green Threads DPP.
According to the company, data collected from its processing facility in Hangzhou, China, showed that down processing generated 0.48 kg CO₂e per kilogram processed, compared with 8.48 kg CO₂e per kilogram processed for polyester-based synthetic insulation. The comparison represents an approximately 95% difference.
The audit also found that ALLIED’s processing methods generated approximately 85% less carbon than the estimated industry average of 3.2 kg CO₂e per kilogram for conventional down, and 57.9% lower than the published figure of 1.14 kg CO₂e per kilogram for recycled down.
The company notes that these comparisons are based on different datasets and production stages, with specific upstream, downstream and end-of-life impacts excluded as detailed in the methodology.
Carbon data linked to individual down lots
The validated carbon footprint is calculated using facility-level consumption data and allocated on a per-kilogram basis. This allows the resulting carbon footprint information to be associated with individual down lots processed at the facility.
ALLIED has provided lot number 0000L25FN2266 as an example on TrackMyDown, where users can select the “ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT” section to view the associated information.
Supporting data-backed sustainability claims
The company said the initiative is intended to provide brands with more detailed environmental information as sustainability claims receive increased scrutiny from regulators, retailers and consumers.
By making carbon data accessible through TrackMyDown, ALLIED aims to connect supply-chain traceability with measurable environmental information and provide consumers with greater visibility into the materials used in products.
The company also pointed to the growing relevance of verified material-level carbon data as Digital Product Passport requirements develop and brands prepare to provide more detailed environmental information within product records.
Methodology and standards
ALLIED’s carbon footprint calculations use data gathered from its Hangzhou processing centre, including energy, water, wastewater and detergent consumption.
The calculations follow the requirements of:
- ISO 14067:2018 – Carbon Footprint of Products
- PAS 2050:2011 – Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services
- Product Category Rules – Apparel, Except Fur and Leather Apparel (PCR 2024:03)
ALLIED said its work on traceability and responsible sourcing builds on its involvement in the development of the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and the creation of TrackMyDown. The addition of carbon footprint information extends the platform from supply-chain traceability to environmental impact data.
Scope of the carbon footprint comparison
The comparison with polyester is based on ALLIED’s cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data for down processing and estimated carbon footprint data for polyester fibre production reported in Ecoinvent version 3.12, using the IPCC 2021 100-year global warming potential.
The comparison reflects the production stages included in the respective datasets and does not include upstream impacts associated with petroleum extraction and refining, transportation, downstream manufacturing or end-of-life impacts for polyester.
The recycled down figures do not account for impacts associated with the collection of post-consumer goods or industrial delivery and recycling centres. The recycled down carbon footprint figures are drawn from the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) database.