PETA says a poll it commissioned shows that a vast majority, or 80 percent, of outdoor sports enthusiasts are happy to choose products with synthetic insulation rather than duck or goose down and would shop at stores that don’t offer any down products.
The number rose to 88 percent after respondents were informed that down is sometimes obtained from birds force-fed for foie gras, in addition to the birds who are pinned down and have their feathers ripped out while they are still alive.
Similarly, after reading a description of the down industry, 82 percent of these outdoor enthusiasts said that they are likely to choose synthetics over down. Even prior to reading the description, 81 percent said that synthetic insulation works as well as down.
PETA urges people to shift to synthetic down and even recommended specific brands and products. It noted The North Face’s new Thermoball technology “is constructed with low-weight, individual high-loft clusters that mimic down and offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any synthetic on the market-are light, packable, machine-washable, and animal-friendly. They also keep their insulating power even when wet.”
Also called out was Outdoor Research’s Halogen jacket, which earned Outside magazine’s prestigious Gear of the Year Award.
“It’s easier than ever to be kind when skiing, camping, or backpacking,” PETA advised. “When you’re gearing up for your next outdoor adventure, choose synthetic fibers that can withstand the elements and won’t cause birds to suffer.”
PETA's survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of PETA USA between September 5-11, 2013 among 307 outdoor enthusiasts, defined as US residents age 18-45 years who participated in hiking/backpacking, camping, mountain climbing/mountaineering, or snow sports at least twice in the past year, own insulated outerwear or a sleeping bag for outdoor recreation and have spent at least $100 on these items, shop at outdoor specialty stores, and identify as someone who leads an active lifestyle and enjoys the outdoors. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. Complete survey methodology, including weighting variables are available upon request at AnneK@peta.org.
