Since 1981, Assopiuma has promoted awareness of natural down fillings produced with respect for the environment. It brings together companies that offer high-quality products, fully traceable at every stage of processing, to safeguard consumers.
“Down represents an ethical choice,” says Agostino Molina, a member of the association, “because it does not derive from petroleum: it originates in nature, returns to it without generating waste, and can be reused as compost, becoming a resource once again.”
But what is its life cycle? In full respect of animal welfare, companies use only materials sourced from suppliers certified by RDS and DOWNPASS, ensuring the complete absence of any live-plucking practices.
The raw material, obtained from geese and ducks raised for the food chain, undergoes rigorous hygienic and sanitary treatments in accordance with Italian regulations. After washing and sterilization, it is safe and non-allergenic, as allergies are generally caused by dust mites. Careful selection and processing result in a natural fibre that is light, pure, and versatile, suitable for a wide range of applications—from fashion to interior design. Thanks to its structure, it traps air and provides thermal insulation and temperature regulation, ensuring comfort both in garments and in bedding products, as well as in upholstered seating.
Labels marked 100% BIODEGRADABLE attest to its high quality and certify the raw material’s complete ability to decompose naturally. At the end of its life, down transforms into nitrogen-rich fertilizer beneficial for agriculture, reintegrating into the biological cycle. Even if dispersed in the environment, it decomposes within a few months without polluting soil or groundwater. Assopiuma guarantees transparency and traceability for every product made by its members through two labels: the manufacturer’s label, which specifies the qualitative and quantitative composition of the product, and the association’s label, which certifies—through periodic checks on products on the market and on production processes—the accuracy of the information declared by licensed companies.
All the illustrations featured in this newsletter were created by Raikhan Musrepova and accompany, with sensitivity and visual coherence, the narrative of the down life cycle.