Non-Species-Specific Animal Welfare Requirements

Any new animal-based fiber supply chain that is not covered in Species-Specific Standards will be measured against the Non-Species-Specific Animal Welfare Requirements. All Patagonia suppliers must meet local legal animal welfare requirements as well.

The Five Freedoms, developed by the UK’s Farm Animal Welfare Council, forms the framework for all of our animal welfare guidelines. The OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Chapter 7.1 provides more detailed guidance on further criteria that must be met, including:

1. Mutilations: We do not support avoidable and painful mutilations where they can be substituted by less painful methods. But, current commercial food-production systems do not allow every animal to remain entire and intact. We believe these procedures must be carried out correctly by fully trained staff and that the procedures must be documented in each company’s standard operating procedures, featuring clear justification for why these are necessary. We will work with the supply chain to increase the use of pain relief for these procedures or to reduce the frequency of mutilations.
2. Confinement: We believe that close confinement for livestock should be avoided wherever possible, and we are particularly opposed to the practice of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations due to animal welfare and environmental impact.
3. Responsible Use of Medicines: The health and welfare of animals is of top importance. We accept that the use of medication is a core part of the farming process. There is an expectation that suppliers will offer animals appropriate and timely veterinary care and intervention as needed. We also expect farmers to reduce antibiotic use. We believe that the use of routine antibiotics for prophylactic purposes should be minimised and avoided.
4. Harvesting of Fiber: The process of harvesting fibers should be carried out in a humane manner by trained staff with prior expert advice. If equipment is used, this must be well maintained, and any injuries that occur during fiber harvesting must be recorded and dealt with appropriately in a timely manner. Suppliers must produce and maintain evidence to illustrate full traceability throughout the process.
5. Nutrition: We believe all animals should have access to sufficient feed and water suited to the animals' age and needs, to maintain normal health and productivity and to prevent prolonged hunger, thirst, malnutrition or dehydration. When food or water withholding is unavoidable due to specific and limited procedures, this must be done under expert advice and kept to a minimum so as not to cause serious stress to the animals.

6. Handling: The handling of animals should foster a positive relationship between humans and animals and should not cause injury, panic, lasting fear or avoidable stress. We do not tolerate mistreatment and/or abuse of any animal on the farms we work with.

   Stock people are trained in the compassionate care and handling of animals. They possess and practice the ability, knowledge and competence necessary to maintain the health and welfare of the animals.

7. Housing: For housed animals, air quality, temperature and humidity should support good animal welfare. Where extreme conditions occur, animals should not be prevented from using their natural methods of thermoregulation. The physical environment, including the substrate (walking surface, resting surface, etc.), should be suited to the species to minimize risk of injury and transmission of diseases or parasites to animals.

8. Transport: We encourage our suppliers to commit to keeping animal transport times to a minimum, which requires keeping accurate logs and records. Our goal is to move toward an 8-hour maximum transport time for all animals.

   We believe vehicles used for the transport of animals and facilities should be designed, constructed and fitted as appropriate for the species, size and weight of the animals that are being transported. Special attention should be paid to avoid injuring the animals, and secure, smooth fittings should be used that are free from sharp protrusions. Drivers should also be instructed in driving methods that will avoid injury and stress of the animals.

9. Slaughter: We believe all animals should be humanely stunned prior to slaughter, which includes commercial slaughter, emergency slaughter at the farm and at the end of life.
10. Supply chain processing: The supply chain that processes the fibers would also have to adhere to a chain of custody standard such as the Content Claims Standard.
11. Education and Training: We think all employees working with animals should be appropriately trained in key concepts of animal welfare and handling procedures. Clear communication and robust stakeholder training are needed for the successful implementation of animal welfare standards. We commit to working with our suppliers to continue to improve animal welfare wherever we source our fibers.