At MACVAD, we want to bring transparency to our supply chain. We want consumers to know about the materials and craftsmanship used to create our unique brand. Animal welfare is important to us, and no animals should be harmed in the making of our products. We are committed to improving animal welfare across our supply chain and we are working to source all animal-derived materials from farms with good animal husbandry.
The following is our commitment to animal welfare. It will guide MACVAD, as well as our suppliers and manufacturers, to act responsibly when sourcing materials on behalf of MACVAD.
Suppliers must source leather, wool, feather and down, or any other animal-derived product, from processors that use sound animal husbandry, humane animal treatment, and humane slaughtering practices.
Suppliers must ensure that when animal products including skins are used, they are:
They must be by-products of the meat industry or other industries, not obtained by live skinning or plucking, and not a product of induced abortions.
We define sound husbandry as the internationally recognized Five Freedoms:
- Freedom from hunger or thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
- Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to express (most) normal behaviour by providing enough space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind; and
- Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
Use of angora in any MACVAD products is prohibited.
We support only sustainably sourced cashmere, which helps communities that rely on its production to implement improved standards of cashmere production.
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) aims to ensure that down and feathers come from animals that have not been subjected to any unnecessary harm.
The Responsible Down Standard is an independent, voluntary global standard, which means that companies can choose to certify their products to the RDS even if there is no legislation requiring them to do so. MACVAD will only use feather and down that is RDS certified.
MACVAD does not accept leathers from animals that have been slaughtered exclusively for their pelts or skinned alive. We require in every circumstance the leather to be a by-product.
When faux fur is specified MACVAD requires a fibre content test which must be included in the pricing of the product. The product will be rejected if any animal fibre is found to be present.
MACVAD support growers working using Responsible Mohair Standard which recognises the best farming practices, ensuring that mohair comes from goats that have been treated responsibly and on farms with progressive approaches to land management.
MACVAD will only use responsibly sourced Mohair.
MACVAD supports the goals of the Responsible Wool Standard. The goals are to provide the industry with a tool to recognize the best practices of farmers; ensuring that wool comes from farms with a progressive approach to managing their land, and from sheep that have been treated responsibly.
MACVAD does not support the practice of mulesing. We have a strong preference to source wool and sheepskin from non-mulesed flocks and expect suppliers to prioritise certified non-mulesed or ceased-mulesed wool sources wherever available. Where non-mulesed supply is not available, suppliers must be transparent about sourcing and provide details of the animal welfare standards and traceability measures in place. More information can be found by accessing the RWS standard: https://responsiblewool.org/
