Since 2015 Moncler has a strict program for down traceability and animal welfare. The Group demands and verifies that all of its down suppliers comply with stringent requirements set out in the Moncler DIST (Down Integrity System and Traceability) Protocol.
The Protocol regulates farming standards, respect for animals, down traceability, and down technical quality. Moncler only purchases down that is DIST-certified.
Among the Protocol’s key requirements which must be met at every level of the supply chain are:
- Down must be derived exclusively from farmed geese and as a by-product of the food chain;
- No form of live-plucking or force-feeding is permitted.
The DIST Protocol is the result of an open and constructive dialogue within the scope of a multi-stakeholder forum established in 2014, involving experts from renowned universities, research institutions, certification bodies and an NGO dedicated to the welfare of farm animals.
The Protocol considers the expectations of the various stakeholders involved and takes a scientific approach to the issue of animal welfare and product traceability.
The DIST Protocol takes an innovative approach to assessing animal welfare. Alongside traditional methods, which focus on an animal’s environment (availability of food and water, space to pasture, etc.), it also provides for a careful evaluation of an animal’s well-being through so-called Animal-Based Measures (ABMs)*, in line with the latest European Commission guidelines.
ABMs allow for a direct assessment of an animal’s conditions by observing how it responds to various factors within their environment (outcome approach). Another important and innovative indicator introduced by the Protocol is the evaluation of the human-animal interaction, which is assessed via a specific test (HAR test, Estep and Hetts, 1992).
*Animal-Based Measures are indicators that rely on direct observation of the animal to assess its actual conditions and its ability to adapt to specific farming environments. These measures include physiological, pathological, and behavioural indicators.
Moncler’s supply chain is nuanced and complex, ranging from geese farms, to processing the raw material and the sewing phase. Every element of that supply chain is subject to regular audits conducted by qualified and experienced independent bodies, which verify our suppliers’ compliance to best practices for traceability and animal-welfare.
All down suppliers must comply with strict DIST Protocol requirements to ensure full traceability, animal welfare, and the highest quality standards throughout the entire down supply chain. Moncler is fully committed to verifying Protocol compliance in the field.
To ensure utmost impartiality, the certification process is carried out by a qualified independent body, whose audit results are in turn subject to the verification by another accredited external body.
