Not So Ducky....

Did you know that it takes the chest feathers of 34 ducks or geese to make one down pillow?  Did you also know that those feathers are harvested while these animals are still alive?  Ouch!  Do we really need pillows, parkas and gloves stuffed with down to keep warm this winter?  Consider some cruelty-free alternatives and save a living creature some agony. 
                                                       Better Pillow Options

    - Eiderdown:  Harvested by hand from the nests of Eider ducks instead of plucked 
                          from the chest of live ones.  More expensive, of course, but worth it.

    - Polyester:  Can be made from recycled plastic bottles.  This method does  
                        require a large amount of water for cooling, but no greenhouse
                        gas emissions.

    - Cotton:  This procedure does not require petrochemicals.  Make sure your  
                    cotton pillow says 'organic cotton' to avoid cuddling up with some  
                    nasty pesticides.  And who doesn't love good old cotton?

Listed below are a few companies who are going out of their way to produce 
cruelty-free down:  Check them out, and if you purchase a down product 
from them, maybe drop them a letter letting them know that you appreciate 
what they are trying to do.

    - Patagonia:  This company only purchases feathers from birds raised for meat.
                        
    - IKEA:  Ikea is developing animal welfare standards and works with Compassion in
                 World Farming.

    - Bask Company:  A Canadian outwear company the uses only Eiderdown.

Sources:  Sarah Murray and Whole Living Magazine/Martha Stewart Omnimedia 2013