An ethically-responsible down duvet

Our first priority is your comfort. This is the reason we use only the highest-quality goose and duck down in our down duvets. That said, while the quality of our products is our highest concern, it isn’t our sole concern. Social responsibility and ethical sourcing are also very important to us. This is the reason that every one of our down products bears the DownPass label, be it a pillow or duvet. This certification means that our down isn’t sourced from live-plucked animals or animals raised for foie gras. Moreover, the geese and ducks must live in humane conditions. Additional requirements that our suppliers must meet in order to pass the audit include “adequate housing, sufficient supply of food and water, protection from disease and natural predators, as well as the care by appropriately-trained personnel.”

Why are our goose and duck down duvets priced differently?

This is a good question! 

The size of a product’s down clusters is the most important factor in the product’s quality. The larger the down clusters, the higher the quality of the product, due to the fact that larger down clusters can capture more heat and therefore have a greater insulation capacity.  This means that goose down is of higher quality than duck down. Obviously, geese are larger creatures than ducks. Goose down clusters are thus larger, so their down provides greater insulation. 

This is not to say that our duck down duvets are not of good quality - the opposite is true! First of all, both our goose and duck down is sourced from Eastern Europe. Due to the cold, ducks and geese in Eastern Europe grow thicker, more insulating down than ducks and geese raised in temperate climates, like China, where most down on the market comes from. Second, our down filling is composed of 90% down and 10% feathers, which is typical for high-quality down comforters. This means greater comfort for you, as down is both softer than feathers; in addition, down has no quill, so you won’t feel like you’re being poked by a thousand needles while laying in bed at night.

Why you should choose a DownPass certified down duvet

By choosing a down duvet from Zizzz, you’re choosing quality and sustainability. Sustainability and animal rights are important principles to us, which is why the down used in our products comes from farms which have been passed inspections conducted using the DownPass standard.

How does a down duvet differ from a synthetic duvet?

The synthetic fibers contained in these duvets are made from plastic, which in turn is made from oil. When duvets are washed, they release long-lasting microfiber particles which can’t be filtered out of the waste water. These particles can in turn reach any nearby bodies of water, be they rivers or oceans, and can ultimately end up into our food chain. The textile industry is one of the world’s greatest polluters, as their use of synthetic particles increases the amount of microplastics in the environment. Microplastics can enter our bodies and our blood stream, where they can cause different types of damage, as these particles often contain toxic substances.

Moreover, synthetic duvets have a poor capacity to absorb moisture, which is a point you should not underestimate when buying a duvet. The average person loses roughly one fourth of a liter of fluid in bed per night. This fluid ends up in your bed, where it can remain and end up as a colony of mould. Due to their longer shelf-lives, synthetic duvets also have to be replaced more frequently, which in turn leads to more pollution. Natural materials are more environmentally friendly, as they are not only biodegradable, but also don’t contain toxins and come from renewable sources. Our down duvet can absorb a great deal of moisture and is very breathable.

Even more attractive is the fact that it is made from long-lasting environmentally-friendly materials. By choosing our product, you’re doing a favour for both the environment and your pocketbook.

How can I be certain that my down duvet is ethically sourced?

Although down duvets have many positive properties and are more sustainable than synthetic materials, down and feathers are often obtained under ethically-questionable circumstances.

Mechanical plucking or plucking by hand often causes the animals severe stress and often painful injuries. With the DownPass seal of approval, you can be assured that the down used in our duvets is not obtained from animals that have been live plucked or raised for foie gras. Poultry farms awarded a DownPass certificate are subjected to regular announced and unannounced inspections. Auditors from independent certification organisations check the conditions in which the geese and ducks are raised several times per year.

In addition, our product quality is also monitored in test laboratories. So, if you order a Zizzz down duvet, you can be certain that it has been tested according to the Zero Tolerance Standard. You can take comfort in the knowledge that you’re actively participating in animal protection and go to bed with a clear conscience.

We promise you:

• ethically-sourced filling materials
• eco-friendliness and sustainability
• regular inspections of our farms and suppliers
• no cages or chemicals
• no live-plucking no force-feeding