The luxury fashion brand Moncler is well known for their jackets, which focus on a blend of style, quality, and warmth. They are prized by fashion-savvy individuals who seek these features and can afford the premium price that comes with them.
Moncler jackets utilize down and feathers in their insulation, as well as occasionally featuring fur trim. While Moncler has implemented strict protocols for responsibly sourced down, the use of these animal products means its jackets are not vegan.
For a jacket to be vegan, it needs to be free of any animal products. Though Moncler has strict sustainably and supply chain initiatives in place, the brand’s use of down and fur means their jackets cannot be classified as vegan.
Moncler’s DIST Protocol and use of down
Down is the soft feathers closest to the bird’s skin. These feathers are excellent at trapping heat, hence their popularity as insulation in jackets.
Moncler is known for using down and feathers in their jacket insulation, most commonly featuring a combination of 90% down and 10% feathers which result in top-quality insulation. However, Moncler is committed to ensuring the down is responsibly sourced throughout the supply chain.
Down suppliers need to comply with Moncler’s DIST Protocol (Down Integrity System and Traceability).
Moncler verifies that suppliers follow this protocol, which was implemented in 2015 and regulates farming standards, animal welfare, and down traceability quality.
Down is sourced exclusively from white geese that are raised for and as a by-product of the food chain. Additionally, suppliers are not allowed to force-feed or live-pluck animals.
Animal welfare is assessed through factors such as the animals’ environment (considering factors such as food and water availability and sufficient space).
The protocol also uses Animal-Based Measures (ABMs) to observe the individual animals, monitoring welfare indicators that highlight unusual behavior or features such as feather-pecking, unusual beak color, or twisted/broken wings.
Moncler carries out independent audits in the field throughout their supply chain, paid for by Moncler and not the suppliers. Veterinaries and zootechnicians train the auditors who carry out the certification process, who in turn are audited by an accredited external body.
All Moncler jackets include a ‘down certified under DIST’ tag, so consumers can feel confident that the down in their jacket has been responsibly sourced.
Fur trim in Moncler Jackets
The most prominent use of animal products in Moncler jackets is the down and feather insulation. However, some of Moncler’s jackets feature a fur trim, which is usually removable.
The fur is sourced from coyotes and coyote fur is well known for its softness, with the fur trim designed to provide protection from cold wind. Not all of Moncler’s jackets use fur but that doesn’t change the fact that some do, even if the fur is removable.
Moncler’s sustainability initiatives
Moncler set out and reached a variety of sustainability targets in 2019, while also specifying future targets it aims to meet. For instance, it has compensated 1572 tons of CO2 emissions generated in Italy and Romania by the company car fleet.
Moncler has also seen a reduction of 21% fewer CO2 emissions from electricity at their Romanian production site versus 2018 emissions. In 2019 100% of the electricity consumed at its Italian offices, stores, and logistics hub came from renewable sources.
The brand has set a 2021 target to be carbon neutral in its own operational sites worldwide including its offices, shops, production sites and logistics center. Additionally, it’s aiming for 100% of its electricity consumption worldwide to come from renewable sources by 2023.
It’s clear that Moncler is committed to pursuing more sustainable business practices, both in terms of sourcing materials in their supply chains and reducing their environmental impact. For many consumers it’s a step in the right direction, though arguably for vegan consumers, not far enough.
A question of personal ethics?
Moncler does strive to ensure animal welfare and responsibly sourced materials in its supply chain. Its quality down is sourced through strict measures, from suppliers that have been certified by external audits.
However, no matter how well animals might be treated in the supply chain, it doesn’t negate the fact that animal products are used in Moncler jackets.
Whether it’s removable fur trim or down insulation, the presence of these animal materials means that Moncler jackets are not vegan and purchasing decisions will ultimately come down to the personal ethics of consumers.