For Writting Mania

Canada Goose and the Use of Real Animal Products

· Founded in Toronto in 1950’s

· Expanded to Winnipeg in 2010, increasing demand

· PBI- Polar Bear International Collection

· 2007

· Every purchase has donation to Polar Bear International

· The conservation of polar bear habitats

· Canada goose resource center

· 2009

· Centered in artic

· Provide sewing materials for Inuit sewers to continue tradition of making their own clothing

· Toronto global headquarters

· 2014

· Employs ~6% Canadian sew industry

This is a good company for Canada; they are a positive for the economy and participate in humanitarian and conservation work

BUT

Is this green washing? Is Canada Goose participating in some positive activities in order to shadow the negative effects that they participate in? Why are the gloves and mitts manufactured in China?

Canada Goose on Fur

· “We do not use fake or faux fur because it simply does not protect as well as real fur. Faux fur is only a fashion statement and does not act in the same way that real fur does to protect the skin from frostbite. Fur trim around a hood works to disrupt airflow and create turbulent (warm air), which protects the face from frostbite”

· Why do we need real fur if it is mostly removable from the hood?

· How is there not an alternative?

· “We only purchase fur from certifies Canadian trappers, who live close to land and maintain traditions that have been passed down through generations.”

· “…Canada is the world leader in humane trapping methods, providing the scientific basis for the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS), which establishes the required standards for approval and certification of animal trapping devices”

· “The agreement requires that at least 80% of animal trapped in restraining devices not show signs of poor welfare, leaving room for 20% to suffer severe injury” (CFHS)

· “Killing traps should cause instant death but the Agreement permits some animals to struggle for up to five minutes- and 20% are permitted to exceed that time” (CFHS)

· “Traps classified as inhumane can still be used while research is ongoing, which means their use can continue indefinitely” (CFHS)

· “The standard for the time between trapping and loss of consciousness or death for killing traps has not been decreased as was originally intended” (CFHS)

· “We have chosen to use real coyote fur because it is highly abundant. In fact, in many regions of North America, coyotes are considered a pest as they attack livestock, endangered prey species, pets and sometimes people”

· This is natural, there is a natural prey relationship in the wild to keep an environmental balance

· There is no way that Canada goose, roughly valued at 250 million is helping rather than hurting the population of coyotes

· Coyotes have to be trapped in a certain way to maintain their fur for the use of re-sale, the animals captured and used for fashion have not been killed as a result of self- defense against a person, property or livestock

· Canada Goose sold a majority stake in the company in 2013

· Why are Canadian resources being manipulated to serve the American economy

· “Canada Goose is deeply committed to the preservation of our global environment and the human treatment of animals. We never purchase fur from fur farms, never use fur from endangered animals, and only purchase fur from certified Canadian trappers”

· “The standards [in the AIHTS] apply to 12 Canadian wild terrestrial and semi-aquatic animals: beaver, muskrat, otter, weasel, marten, fisher, raccoon, badger, coyote, wolf, lynx and bobcat” (CFHS)

· “Feather Industries Canada Limited, our only supplier of down, has a longstanding corporate policy on NEVER purchasing any duck or goose down or feather materials that have been harvested by live-plucking”

· 115 Glen Scarlett Road, Toronto

· Support PBI, just like Canada Goose

· “We buy directly from duck and goose farm in Canada, Europe, and Asia- wherever duck and geese are raised for their meat as all feather and down are a by-product of the poultry industry” (FEATHERIND)

· This means that Canadian goose jackets could be filled with down from Asia

· Asia is not signed on to the same agreement as North America or Europe

· “All of the down insulation that Canada goose uses in its jackets comes as a by-product of the Canadian poultry industry. We do not use down from ducks or geese that are culled specifically for their down and there is no culture of live plucking in Canada”

Overview

· Canada Goose uses fur, yet the guidelines set by the province do not ensure fair treatment of the animals

· Canada Goose uses a company to get its feather that procures these feathers from Asia, which is not included in the same animal welfare agreements as Europe and North America

· Canada Goose is NOT a Canadian company anymore although its head office is in Toronto

· Canada Goose believes faux fur is NOT a substitute for real fur although the real fur they are talking about is located around the hood and is often removable

· Canada Goose participates in activities such as the PBI Collection and the Canada Goose Resource Center making it seem like an environmentally just company to consumers who many not be aware of the impacts

· Green washing

Sources

http://cfhs.ca/wild/trapping_standards

http://www.canada-goose.com/ca/en/faq/faq.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/canada-goose-sells-majority-stake-to-us-private-equity-firm/article15848715/

http://www.featherind.com/company_profile.htm