For Writting Mania

Canada Goose and the Use of Real Animal Products

Is this our Canada?

Canada Goose was founded in Toronto in the 1950s. In the turn of the millennium the company expanded to Winnipeg meet its demands. Currently at their Toronto global headquarters they employ approximately six per cent of the Canadian cut and sew industry. In 2007 they created the Polar Bear International collection where the proceeds of the purchase of this PBI collection went to the conservation of Polar Bear Habitats. In addition, Canada Goose founded the Canada Goose Resource Center, established in the artic, aimed to provide sewing materials for Inuit sewers to continue the tradition of making their own clothing.

Issue

The issue of this social movement will address the use of animal products and the treatments of animals in the process of making Canada Goose jackets. Coyote fur, used as an accent, as well as down which composes the filling of the jackets are in question. Canada Goose says;

“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.”

The justification of real fur claiming to be more efficient than faux alternatives is not justified. The coyote fur trim is in most cases removable, in effect, creating a ‘fashion statement’ rather than the claim to ‘disrupt airflow.’

Furthermore, Canada Goose claims to “only purchase fur from certified Canadian trappers, who live close to land and maintain traditions that have been passed down through generations.” Although these trappers follow the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards, there are still plenty of loopholes, which allow the inhumane treatment of trapping animals. For example the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies states; “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,” furthermore “traps classified as inhumane can still be used while research is ongoing, which means their use can continue indefinitely.”

Regarding the filling of jackets Canada Goose states; ““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.” This simply means that any goose or duck feathers that are used to insulate the jackets were harvested when the animal was dead. This does not take away the harm that is done to these birds, rather just ensures that their feathers are plucked after the animal has been killed.

Of important note is the fact that Canada Goose sold a majority stake of the company to a buyer in the United States in 2013. Canada Goose is no longer a Canadian company yet Canada’s wildlife is being manipulated for the profit of a now foreign company.

The use of coyote fur alongside the down filling of duck and goose feathers is an issue that must be addressed. The humane treatment of animals for product is of the utmost importance. Moreover, the need for animals to be used as product altogether must be regarded as avoidable and uncivilized.

Work Cited

Canada Goose. n.p. n.d. Web. January 16, 2016.

Feather Industries. n.p. n.d. Web. January 16, 2016.

Marlow, Iain, et al. “Canada Goose sells a majority stake- with a made-in-Canada guarantee.” The Globe and Mail. December 10, 2013. Web. January 16, 2016.

‘Trapping Standards.” Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. n.p. n.d. Web. January 16, 2016.