CSR team as a driving force for sustainability

“Upward”, “downward” and “outward” effects

Jan Lorch, Member and Sustainability Representative from the Management as well as Chief Sales Officer states clearly: “We see the term CSR as meaning our corporate responsibility towards people, society and nature, with which we want to establish a healthy balance between our economic, environmental and social objectives. We are convinced that environmental protection always serves people. In the long run, humans will only be able to survive in a healthy, intact environment.”

The members of the VAUDE CSR Team are a point of contact for all employees and business partners for sustainability issues. The team sets priorities and coordinates projects. The team members are well connected with professional associations and working groups within and outside of the Outdoor Industry, as well as having close contacts with experts and academia.

The CSR Team is integrated in company divisions

Team members act as sustainability ambassadors in their segment. Frequent and regular team meetings guarantee close coordination and timely implementation within the company both “upwards” and “downwards”.

The VAUDE CSR Team members are representatives from the following company segments:

Management
Environmental Management
Quality Management
Material Development
Product Development
Production
Sales
Corporate Development
Communication

GRI:

G4-34

All VAUDE colleagues are involved in the environmental improvement process

VAUDE colleagues can be involved in the continual environmental improvement process in three ways:

Direct contact with the Sustainability Team: Sustainability Team members are often spoken to directly or notified of an issue via email. They always have an open ear for concerns about sustainability.
The employee’s own team: The VAUDE company is structured into teams; each person at VAUDE is integrated within a specialized team. At least once a year, one of the regularly scheduled team meetings is dedicated to the issue of sustainability. In these meetings, colleagues can directly express their ideas for ongoing improvements to their environmental management representative.
The VAUDE internal company suggestion plan – “innovation@vaude”: All eco-ideas, large or small, are viewed with an open mind. Many of these are implemented – with a bonus for the contributor. Our transition to 100% fair trade, organic coffee in the administration building in Obereisenbach was a successful innovation@vaude idea!