The best energy is that which you don't use

In 2008 VAUDE introduced an operational Environmental Management System and has been certified according to EMAS and ISO14001 since that time. Energy management plays a central role: all energy consumption is recorded and evaluated annually. From these results, we derive goals and measures. EMAS requires us to make continual improvements in the area of energy. We have been working consistently since 2008 in Tettnang-Obereisenbach toward:

• continuous reduction of energy consumption
• conversion of energy consumption to renewable sources 

Energy is an essential aspect for VAUDE because the production of VAUDE products requires energy, as does the all the rest of our business activities: goods transport,office heating, the company fleet, employees’ daily commute and computer electrical consumption.

This applies to the company headquarters at our Tettnang-Obereisenbach site, but of course, especially to the production of the VAUDE products and all the materials needed for the rest of the supply chain.

All energy consumption causes harmful emissions. To compensate for the negative effects of our energy use, we have been compensating for this (and for other resource consumption, such as materials) since 2012 at the company headquarters in Tettnang Obereisenbach with the myclimate organization. This makes the entire VAUDE headquarters in Tettnang-Obereisenbach including the bags produced there "climate neutral" – see Climate Neutral Business.

VAUDE has renovated a part of the building that had been used as a warehouse in accordance with DGNB- standards (German Sustainable Building Council) to make offices. The entire administration building was modernized and energy efficiency played a prominent role in this process. The building has attained a very high energy efficiency standard due to better insulation and clever lighting solutions.

VAUDE has made internal commitments to keeping upstream energy consumption as low as possible for goods and services that we procure at our headquarters in Tettnang-Obereisenbach.
Here are a few examples:

• All office equipment such as computers, printers, coffee makers and so on meet a high energy standard (minimum: Energy Star, preferably Blauer Engel.)
  
• Since 2012, the VAUDE company fleet has been in the process of conversion to low-fuel consumption vehicles.
  
• The VAUDE Café and the canteen are certified organic and purchases almost exclusively organic, regional products. These generally require less energy consumption for cultivation, production and transport.
  

VAUDE is subject to applicable legal regulations regarding energy in Germany.
These are in particular:

• Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) - relates to buildings
  
• Energy Saving Act (EnEG) - concerns office remodeling in particular
  
• Federal Emission Control Act (BImSch and 1. BImSchV) - relates to heating systems
  
• Renewable Energy Act (EEG) - relates to the supply of the photovoltaic electricity produced and fed into the public grid
  

Energy is also needed throughout our entire value chain. All upstream and downstream activities of product manufacturing, the related machines required, transport resulting from shipping, business travel and commuting, the use of the product during their product life and even waste disposal also require energy in the form of electricity, fuel, etc.

As this energy consumption causes harmful emissions, we also report in regards to climate protection – see "Emissions".

VAUDE is subject to applicable legal regulations regarding energy in Germany. These are in particular:

• Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) - relates to buildings
• Energy Saving Act (EnEG) - concerns in particular office remodeling
• Federal Emission Control Act (BImSch and 1. BImSchV) - relates to heating systems
• Renewable Energy Act (EEG) - relates to the supply of the photovoltaic electricity produced and fed into the public grid

Unlike at our headquarters in Tettnang Obereisenbach, VAUDE has very little influence on how energy is handled in the upstream and downstream supply chain. How we are still trying to meet our responsibilities is reported upon here.