Luxury parka maker
The
"Canada Goose has a long-standing commitment to animal welfare, as outlined in our Transparency Standards we do not condone any wilful mistreatment, neglect, or acts that maliciously cause animals undue suffering, and we remain firm in our belief that animals are entitled to humane treatment," said a spokeswoman, in an email.
"Reclaimed fur, sourced through a customer buyback program would be subject to the same standards".
In its first sustainability report released Wednesday, Canada Goose said it has used wild coyote fur from
It notes people living in the North have worked with reclaimed fur for decades and the initiative was inspired by their resourcefulness.
"We believe we must operate sustainably. It's the right decision for our business, our customers and most importantly, our future," the report reads, which notes consumers today want more information about fur sustainability and animal welfare, and demand more transparency.
"Real fur is always cruelly obtained," it said.
The animal rights group has been writing to Canada Goose about its fur use since 2006, said
That included erecting a billboard near a
In the fall of 2018, the organization signed a deal with Astral Media to run two advertisements on
The ads were scheduled to run for four weeks, but Astral began to take them down the same day they were put up after receiving a single complaint from an advertising agency that works with Canada Goose.
The judge sided with Astral and the city, which argued the matter is between private companies based on a commercial contract.
In
The ban exempts used products, as well as some other exemptions.
Animal activists at the time said they were working with others to pass similar bills in other cities and expressed optimism that
Canadian animal rights group Animal Justice also noted the
The shift comes as "the result of shifting public attitudes and years of anti-fur advocacy targeting the company," it said.
However, it is still only a "partial victory," according to the group.
"It would be better for the company to abandon fur and down altogether," noting the switch to reclaimed fur doesn't help ducks and geese whose feathers are used for down.
The company addresses its use of down in the report, saying it chooses "natural down in jackets because it is the best natural source for warmth per weight ratio."
Last year, Canada Goose committed to the responsible down standard (RDS) and commits to being certified fully by 2021.
"The RDS aims to ensure that down and feathers come from animals that have not been subjected to unnecessary harm."
RDS prohibits down or feather removal from live birds and force feeding, according to its website. Its standards also include other measures, including auditing each stage in the supply chain by a professional, third-party certification body.
— With files from The Associated Press
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