Animal Aid

Duvets and Pillows: a nightmare for geese

Many people are unaware of the extreme suffering that is inflicted on geese and ducks whose down feathers – the softest layer closest to the birds' skin – are used to stuff duvets, pillows and jackets.

While some down and feathers are removed from birds during slaughter, many birds – primarily geese – have their feathers plucked while they are still alive. Ripping out birds' feathers is extremely painful and distressing, and can cause them to bleed from their follicles. This cruel method is used because it is more productive, as a live goose can be plucked over and over again.

There is no justification for such cruelty. There are plenty of synthetic alternatives to down available from most retailers, so make the compassionate choice and avoid all feather and down products.

Household Products

It is not just animal-tested cosmetics that you have to watch out for, many household products such as paint, washing-up liquid and glue, or their ingredients, are tested on animals or contain animal products. Such testing is not only unnecessary but also unreliable, because the numerous biological differences between humans and animals – and different species of animals – mean the risks to people cannot be established through the use of animals. For example, bleach only causes mild irritation to rabbits' skin, but severe irritation to human skin. Luckily, there are a multitude of products available that have not been tested on animals, such as Ecos paint and Clear Spring household products by Faith in Nature, so it is really easy to go cruelty-free!