Downlite, a leading expert in down processing, will be introducing new down fills and sustainability initiatives at the forthcoming 2018 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market and ISPO trade show, which take place this winter.

“Years ago, buyers’ primary concerns when purchasing down and feather for bedding and outdoor gear were that it was clean and delivered to factories on time,” said Chad Altbaier, VP Downlite Outdoor. “Today there are many additional factors involved in the buying decision, such as where and how the down is sourced, a supplier’s stand on environmental and sustainability matters, product innovation and cost. We continually need to be pro-active and rigorously evolve on each of these fronts.”

Downlite has developed new down-fill innovations involving natural and recycled materials, which aim to offer the dual benefit of enhancing the performance of the material, while being grounded in its core value of environmental stewardship.

Performance fills

GRS certified re/charged down is said to provide unprecedented performance levels for 100% recycled down due to its ability to ‘boost’ the down to a higher cluster and resulting fill power, the company reports. re/charged down is offered in both white and grey colours and can be combined with Downlite’s performance-enhancing technologies, such as its proprietary PFC-free DWR treatments and Pur-Down anti-microbial solution.

Repreve-down blend is a blend of Repreve GRS certified post-consumer recycled fibre made from plastic bottles and virgin down and/or Downlite’s GRS certified recycled down blends.

Wool-Down HALO is a proprietary blend of nature’s best insulating materials. Wool-Down HALO uses a traceable wool sourced in the US and has achieved new laundry durability standards, the manufacturer reports. This fibre is said to bring the temperature and humidity control benefits of wool together with the loft, softness, and compressibility of down.

Finally, the company will highlight its PFC-free DWR treatment enhancements offering increased wash durability and performance in PFC-free DWR treated down and down blends.

Sustainability initiatives

A little over one year ago, Downlite installed an advanced waste water recycling system, which allows Downlite to dramatically reduce the amount of water needed to cleanse down and feathers to hypo-allergenic levels – two times governmental standards. To date, the system has recycled 36MM gallons of water. “That’s enough water to fill nearly 55 Olympic size swimming pools,” the company explains.

One percent of the sales of Downlite’s GRS certified re/charged down, in addition to 1% of sales of the company’s eco-friendly Evolution of Comfort bedding collection from its Home Division featuring organic and recycled materials, earth-friendly components and chemistries, will be donated to 1% For the Planet.

Downlite also engages with an outside organic recycling company to utilise the large waste feathers that traditionally end up in landfill and, instead, treat them for soil compost. The dry feathers help make the compost more manageable when mixed with other matter. Due to feathers added pore space, they also degrade the organic matter of the compost more efficiently. Lastly, feathers are rich in keratin, a protein that slowly releases nitrogen when added to compost. The slow release of nitrogen allows for long-term plant growth stimulation.

Brand partners

Downlite is America’s premiere manufacturer of down and feather, and synthetic bedding products. Its products – comforters, pillows, mattress pads, and feather and fibre beds – are sold under private label and national brand names in leading department stores, specialty stores, and catalogues, as well as to the Hospitality Industry.

Downlite supplies its performance down fills to the following prestigious brands: Patagonia, The North Face, Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Hardwear, Ralph Lauren, lululemon, REI, Cascade Designs, Jack Wolfskin, Berghaus, Helly Hanson, Nemo, Mammut and Bergans, among others.

www.downlite.com