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EDFA helps to reduce CO2 emissions
Global warming and consequently climate change are a worldwide problem. One of the main causes is the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere all over the world; however, also the shrinking of the rain forest through slash-and-burn land clearance contributes to the rise in emissions. Politicians as well as environment protection groups demand unanimously to reduce the CO2 emission. The EU i.e. concluded the step-by-step outlawing of the normal light bulb. But also surfing the internet and the provision of information, which are placed on servers, need electricity and therefore emit CO2.
Every computer, the one at home with which you read this webpage, consumes electricity. Every click on a link consequently produces CO2. Market research institutes estimate that about 2% of the global greenhouse gas emissions are produced by the IT and communication branch.
Nobody wants to turn off the internet because of these emissions. Eventually, the return to the “old-school” print media would cause enormous costs. Additionally, this measurement would also not be void of CO2. How can you then neutralize the CO2 emission of webpages? EDFA therefore joined the initiative “CO2-neutral webpage”. The goal of this Danish initiative is to compensate on a deliberate basis the CO2 emissions that are caused through the internet. This works in to ways
Neutralizing CO2
EDFA placed itself under the obligation to reduce the CO2 emission. With an annual membership fee that is based on the hits of our webpage, we help neutralize the CO2 emission. This fee helps to reduce CO2 quotas (according to EUA standard). The buying in and destroying of quotas is dealt with in the EU by government institutions.
Projects of sustainable energy generation
Moreover, the initiative is involved in projects that foster sustainable energy production. This can be wind power plants or projects to increase the energy efficiency.
Further info: www.co2neutralwebsite.com
Down and feather beddings for asthmatic patients
Patients with asthma should prefer down and feather beddings rather than synthetic beddings. This has been shown in a study recently published in ‘Journal of Asthma’ (1). Scientists of New Zealand revealed that beddings with natural down and feathers contain lower concentrations of Beta-Glucan than synthetic beddings.
Glucanes are non-allergic fat-soluble cell wall components of fungi and can account for up to 60% of the dry weight of the cell wall, the main glucan being ß-(1,3)-glucan. In humans, inhalation of ß-(1,3)-glucan can cause lung function changes, including peak flow variability. Dose-response relationships have been demonstrated between levels of airborne ß-(1,3)-glucan and throat irritation, dry cough, itching skin, nose irritation and tiredness.
Dust samples from mattresses, duvets, pillows and floors of 35 domestic residences were collected in the greater Wellington region of New Zeeland. Synthetic pillows were shown to have a two- to threefold higher level of ß-(1,3)-glucan than feather pillows. Synthetic duvets even had seven- to eight-fold higher levels of ß-(1,3)-glucan than feather duvets. This has also previously been demonstrated for house dust mite allergens (2). In addition various studies have shown that synthetic bedding is asso-ciated with more asthma symptoms compared to bedding articles filled with the natu-ral material down and feathers.
(1) Heyes J., et al., ß-(1,3)-Glucan Levels and Its Determinants in New Zealand Bedrooms, Journal of Asthma, 46:1, 64-66
(2) Siebers R., Fitzharris P., Crane J.: Feather bedding and allergic disease in children: a cover story?, Clin. Exp. Allergy 2002; 32: 1119-1123
Press statement about the subject „feather harvesting“
11th February 2009
We have increasingly received inquiries about harvesting of down and feathers lately. We take this information need very seriously, since it is reasonable, comprehensible and absolutely in our interest.
We learn from these inquiries that the consumers want to inform themselves more precisely of the provenance of the filling material down and feathers in order to make sure that it was harvested properly and does not originate from unacceptable live plucking that caused harm to the animals.
However, we can appease the consumer, since almost all feathers and down processed by our members have been obtained from slaughtered animals. This means that the filling material was obtained after slaughtering.
Our industry processes approximately 98% down and feathers originating as a by-product from meat production, since according to our surveys among the members, only about 2% of the world-wide annual volume is obtained from the live animal, and this only applies to geese.
To our knowledge, however, duck down and feathers always derive from slaughtered animals, i. e. they are obtained after slaughtering and not from the live animal.
Thus, the members of the EDFA process by-products (down and feathers) resulting from poultry production. Down and feathers are natural products during the production of which no existing raw materials are exploited. Basically, they do not contain any pollutants, are suitable for house dust allergy sufferers, are breathable and offer without much weight optimum insulation to the one who is sleeping. They are recyclable a hundred per cent – thus they are very well qualified to correspond to the present sustainability trend.
Down and feathers are not an anonymous mass product. The bedfeather company, where the material is processed, has previously inspected and evaluated the material.
As manufacturers of bedding products, our members are not interested at all in filling material plucked in a manner inflicting harm on the animals. Furthermore, it is not an advantage to them either, since material obtained in such a manner contains elements which are absolutely useless to our members. From our point of view animal abuse is even counter-productive.
For this reason, we have been advocating for more than 13 years now that violations of the Animal Protection Act are complained and prosecuted. As an association we initiated the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes which was originated in cooperation with members of parliaments and commissioners for animal welfare.
We are and will be prepared in future to cooperate with all interest groups and partners to stop and prevent the abuse of animals that cannot fight against it.
Dr. Juliane Hedderich
Director
Association of the European Bedfeather and Bedding Industries (registered association)
Thomas-Mann-Strasse 9a
55122 Mainz
Germany
Statement
1st February 2009
Although the harvesting of down & feathers from live geese has a very long and widespread tradition going back several thousands of years, this practice is now mainly found in Eastern European countries.
It has come to light, however, that some goose farms in some countries been harvesting feathers and down from geese in a manner which is not acceptable, and may have been harmful to the geese.
All EDFA members strongly condemn the harvesting plucking practices which constitute cruelty to geese, and all EDFA members unanimously decided to confirm their decision not to use feathers and down in their production of bedding articles which is found to or suspected of origination from farms, where unacceptable plucking and animal welfare practices take place.
EDFA will continue to strengthen its efforts regarding the certification of goose farms, which has now been in force for more than 13 years.
Dr. Juliane Hedderich
business manager
Association of the European Bedfeather and Bedding Industries (registered association)
Thomas-Mann-Strasse 9a
55122 Mainz
Germany