New transparency initiative gives brands and consumers access to validated carbon footprint data tied directly to individual down lots.
ALLIED Feather + Down, a longtime leader in supply chain transparency and responsible sourcing, today announced the integration of validated, cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data into its TrackMyDown platform, providing brands and consumers with access to carbon footprint data tied directly to individual down lots.
Building on more than a decade of leadership in traceability and transparency, ALLIED is expanding the information available through TrackMyDown, the company’s public-facing platform that allows users to trace the origin and processing history of the down used in their products. Originally created to give consumers visibility into where their down comes from and how it is processed, TrackMyDown is now expanding that transparency to include carbon footprint data.
“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.”
The new carbon reporting capability builds upon ALLIED’s recently completed carbon footprint audit, conducted in partnership with Green Threads DPP. The data gathering found that down processing in ALLIED’s China facility generated 0.48 kg CO₂e per kilogram processed, compared with 8.48 kg CO₂e per kilogram processed for polyester-based synthetic insulation, a difference of approximately 95 per cent.
The audit also found that ALLIED’s processing methods generated about 85 per cent less carbon than estimated industry averages (3.2 Kg CO2e per Kg) for conventional down and 57.9% lower than published figures (1.14 Kg CO2e per Kg) for recycled down.
The validated carbon footprint is calculated using facility-level consumption data and allocated on a per-kilogram basis, allowing the resulting carbon footprint to be associated with individual down lots processed at the facility. Follow lot number 0000L25FN2266 on TrackMyDown.com and click on “ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT” to see how it works.
As sustainability claims face increasing scrutiny from regulators, retailers, and consumers, brands are seeking ways to support environmental communications with verifiable, data-backed information. By making carbon data accessible through TrackMyDown, ALLIED aims to help bridge the gap between sustainability efforts and consumer understanding, giving brands greater confidence in the information they communicate while giving consumers a clearer view of the materials inside the products they purchase.
And, as Digital Product Passport requirements take shape, access to verified, material-level carbon data is becoming increasingly important for brands needing more detailed environmental information for their product records.
The announcement further reinforces ALLIED’s longstanding commitment to transparency. As a co-creator of the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and the company behind TrackMyDown, ALLIED has consistently worked to provide greater visibility into the down supply chain. The integration of carbon footprint information marks the next step in that mission, moving beyond traceability alone to include measurable environmental impact data.
ALLIED’s carbon footprint calculations are based on data collected from its processing center in Hangzhou, China, including energy, water, wastewater, and detergent consumption. The calculations follow the requirements of the following standards and rules:
- 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)
The comparison is based on ALLIED’s cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data for down processing and estimated carbon footprint data for polyester fiber 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 the industrial delivery and recycling centers. Recycled down carbon footprint numbers are drawn from the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) database.