Ecology
The down used in Joutsen products is always a by-product of the meat production industry. Therefore, the collection of down and feathers does not require the establishment of production plants, as the raw material is collected as a part of the meat production process.
Down is a natural product and a renewable natural resource. As raw materials, down and feathers are not the processed products of oil refining, as are synthetic fibres, which are often used as filling in mass-produced bedding and down coats.
Joutsen down products are designed to endure time and hard wear. They are wash-proof and maintain their shape from one wash to the next. For this reason, their useful life is long. Many regular pillows will lose their shape as soon as the first wash. The same applies to duvets made from other natural materials, such as wool and silk. The Joutsen down coats are wash-proof, unlike many mass-produced down coats which may be ruined by the first wash.
Joutsen down products promote sustainable development and a circular economy. Due to their long useful life and the minimal environmental load from the production, the carbon footprint of our down products is relatively small. Down can be returned to the natural cycle. Down duvets and pillows are manufactured with cotton fabrics, which means that they are made almost entirely of natural materials. Our down coats can be passed on from one generation to the next, or a coat may find many new homes during its life cycle.
From the perspective of energy efficiency, a down duvet is the optimal choice for bedding: research shows that we sleep best at a room temperature of 18–19 degrees Celsius. When you buy a warm down duvet, you can lower the bedroom temperature. Even a decrease of one degree will bring savings of 5% in the energy bill, and it is also ecologically sensible.