Information: This report is outdated – you can find the current sustainability report here.

 
 
 
 
DE
2013 Sustainability Report
About VAUDEStratgies and AnalysisOur Goals in Detail

Our goals in detail

We want to be a company that is sustainable to the core. We came a step closer to this goal in 2013. For 2014, we have other sustainability measures planned.

Seven business goals - key events and goal achievement

Once again, a great deal happened in terms of sustainability in 2013. By and large, we were able to achieve our goals.


In June an interdisciplinary team started to create the first GRI G4 report. By meeting these standards, we want to increase our transparency even further, and work with the indicators to identify areas where action is needed, so we can expand our continual improvement process.


2013 - a good year for sustainability at VAUDE

Awards such as that from the readers of the German magazines Outdoor and Panorama (DAV) show us that we are on the right path to becoming Europe’s most sustainable outdoor brand – see "Sustainable Communication “.


Our customers - the retailers – reported above-average satisfaction with our service, as was shown in the Benchmark Study. In the "Marketing and Positioning" category it became clear that retailers are aware of our positioning on sustainability and also see this as largely positive: "The sustainability strategy is very good at VAUDE, and has been well received by the customers. They are becoming more sensitive about production conditions and environmental issues”


There are, however, critical voices from our customers. We are happy to grapple with constructive criticism about our strategies, and accept input on improvement about our CSR performance, as well as about how to improve our communication.


GRI:   G4-1
Provide a statement from the most senior decision-maker of the organization (such as CEO, chair, or equivalent senior position) about the relevance of sustainability to the organization and the organization’s strategy for addressing sustainability.
Related Stories
About this report
Sustainability Report for 2013 first GRI-compliant report Read more
VAUDE - 100 percent family-owned business
Tettnang-Obereisenbach is the location of the headquarters of the family-owned business VAUDE Read more
Ethics and Integrity
Responsible business practices as a guiding principle Read more
Contact
Contact us

We are economically self-sufficient and positioned for a promising future

GRI aspect: Economic performance
Strategic measures Indicator Goal value 2013 Actual value 2013 Difference Goal 2014

Increase/stabilize equity ratio

Equity ratio

33,8%

36,4%

+2,6% 

35,5%

Increase sales

Sales

10%

7,3%

-2,7% 

8,4%

We have taken the following steps to achieve this goal:

  • We have increased our equity ratio. 
  • We have increased our sales by 7.3 percent. 
  • We have reduced our warehouse stock by 25.68 percent. 


See also:


We are transparent and authentic.

GRI aspects: advertising, identification of products and services, compliance (product identification), policy
Strategic measures Indicator Goal value 2013 Actual value 2013 Difference Goal value 2014

GRI Reporting

Publish

Fulfillment of “in accordance” core

Report available


Report 2014 available

We have taken the following steps to achieve this goal:


  • We have created a social economy balance. 
  • We have extended our sponsor contract with the WWF for another five years. 
  • We have started work on our first GRI G4 report.

See also:

Our products are sustainable and technical

GRI aspects: materials, products and services, health and safety of customers
Strategic measures Indicator Goal value 2013 Actual value 2013 Difference Goal value 2014

Increase total percentage of eco-friendly products 2015

Total percentage eco-friendly products in Apparel (Green Shape)


Range S13 Total: 38 %

-12%

S15: Total 48 %.


Total percentage eco-friendly products in Apparel (Green Shape)


Range S13: Apparel 69 %


S15: Aparrel 87 %


Total percentage eco-friendly products in Apparel (Green Shape)


Range S13: Hardware (backpacks and tents) 15 %


S15: Hardware 18 %,


bluesign®- percentage in Apparel


Range S13: Apparel 66 %


S15: Apparel 80%


Percentage organic cotton

100%

100 % except caps and mixed fabrics


Maintain


Percentage Recycling

New, no target value for 2013

Range S13 Total: 0.87 %

W13/14 Total: 1,45 %


Yet to be defined

Manufacture products with FC-free finishes (till 2020)

Percentage PFC- free products

100%

Range S13 Apparel 69 % PFOA / C8-free (new models, new colors)
37 % PFC-free

31%

SO 15:
100 % PFOA / C8-free, All products that are not waterproof are PFC-free
All waterproof products: C6

Manufacture products PVC-free (till 2017)

Percentage PVC- free products

100%

Somo + Trims, P&B with PVC


100%

We have taken the following steps to achieve this goal:


  • We have increased our percentage of Green Shape products in total by 38 percent. 
  • We have revised our Green Shape concept; the criteria are now even stricter than before. The criteria will come into effect in the Winter Collection 15/16. 
  • We created a new position for our Materials Team which is primarily concerned with the sourcing of environmentally friendly materials (our purchasing practices in materials.) 
  • We participated in a pilot project for the Higg index.

We could not fully achieve our goals in the following issues:


  • PVC: Despite strong commitment from our product managers, we have not been able to completely eliminate the use of PVC – there are still no alternatives that are comparable in price and functionally. 
  • Chromium VI: We voluntarily recalled two products from the market because an increased chromium VI level was found in random testing. 


See also:


Our company is holistically focused on environmental friendliness.

GRI aspects: energy, water, emissions, waste, transportation, biodiversity, wastewater, compliance (ecological), overall (environmental issues)
Strategic measures Indicator Goal value Actual value 2013 Difference Goal value 2014

Create an energy, water, and waste management system

Renewable (bio)gas (goal: 2015)

100%

100 % (since October 2013)

0% 

Maintain


Electricity OEB (goal: 2015)

20 % reduce (basis year 2011)

-14%

-6% 

20%


Waste per employee in kg(goal: 2015)

10 % less (basis year 2010)

+12%

+4% 

Will be documented after the remodeling project
i.e. 10 % by 2015

Implement Mobility Concept

Emissions from business travel OEB (goal: 2015)

Reduce by 20 % (basis year 2011)

+0%

-20% 

20 % by 2015 with basis year 2011


Bike commuting km

45.000

44.335

-665 

45.000


Emissions from commuting 

(goal: 2014)

10 % reduce (basis year 2011)

-26%

+16% 

Reduce 10 % reduce by 2014

Develop Fleet Concept

Average fuel consumption for company fleet (goal: 2014)


7,2l per 100km

 

Reduce by 5 % (basis year 2012)


Average fuel consumption as reported by manufacturer


5,8l per 100km

 

Reduce by 5 % (basis year 2012)

We have taken the following steps to achieve this goal:


  • We were able to reduce our emissions at our Tettnang-Obereisenbach location from 3,704 tons CO2e in 2011 to 2,911 tons of CO2e in 2013. 
  • We decreased our electricity consumption by 14 percent compared to 2011. 
  • We reduced our emissions from paper consumption by 36 percent compared to 2012. 
  • We have been honored with the "Green Fleet Award" (TÜV) for our mobility concept.
  • We had a transport cost accounting created by myclimate, with which we could examine the different transport options for their environmental friendliness. 
  • We successfully lobbied for a new bus line from Tettnang to Obereisenbach. Thus, our employees have another opportunity to leave their cars at home. 
  • Our café in Obereisenbach was certified organic. 
  • We were nominated for the CSR Award by the federal government.

We could not fully achieve our goals in the following issues:

  • Reducing emissions from business travel: Despite our ecological travel policy, we have not been able to reduce our emissions from business travel by 20 percent compared to 2011 figures. 
  • Residual waste: In general, we were able to reduce our residual waste compared to 2010. However, due to a major remodeling project at our company headquarters in Obereisenbach, the total amount of residual waste was higher than the year before. Not all waste could be classified properly, so we will continue to measure this again and determine a target value after the completion of the renovation project. 


See also:


We have high environmental standards in the supply chain.

GRI aspects: evaluation of suppliers in terms of ecological aspects, grievance procedures in relation to environmental aspects, grievance procedures regarding working practices
Strategic measures Indicator Goal value 2013 Actual value 2013 Difference Goal value 2014

Secure materials traceability

Leather certificate (proof of origin)

100%

0

100%

Yet to be defined


Wool certified (mulesing)

100%

100%

0

Maintain


Down (proof back to farm of origin)

100%

0

100%

100%


Down (proof of origin back to slaughterhouse)

100%

100%

0

Maintain


Recycling materials certified (bags)

100%

100%

0

Maintain

Secure environmental standards in the supply chain

Signed RSL- producers

100%

48%

-52%

100%


Signed RSL- suppliers fabrics

100%

71%

-29%

100%


Signed RSL- suppliers trims

100%

45%

-55%

100%

We have taken the following steps to achieve this goal:

  • We expanded the personnel resources for the management of harmful substances in our office in China

We could not fully achieve our goals in the following issues:

  • Restricted Substance List (RSL): Our goal is that all of our producers have signed the current RSL. So far we have only been able to achieve 48 percent. Some producers refuse to sign because they currently do not yet have sufficient information available.

See also:


Our employees are satisfied and we are an attractive employer.

GRI aspects: employment, employee-employer relationship, education and training, diversity and equal opportunities, equal pay for women and men, equal treatment, compliance (socially), indirect economic performance
Strategic measures Indicator Goal value 2013 Actual value 2013 Difference Goal value 2014

Support the balance of career and family

Return rate after parental leave


To be summarized in 2014

 

Yet to be defined

Support work satisfaction

Improved results in employee satisfaction survey ,


2,2 (2011: 2,2)

 



Turnover rate


10,66%

 

Yet to be defined


Absence rate


5,35%

 

Yet to be defined


Average hours of training/education (Academy Program)


Men average: 7.85 hours, women

 

Yet to be defined


Percentage of employees with disabilities


0,85%

 

Yet to be defined


Increase percentage of women in management positions (per category)


Total: 35 %
First management level: 14.3 %
Second management level: 23 %
Third management level: 53 %

 

Yet to be defined

We have taken the following steps to achieve this objective:

  • We were recognized in the Top 3 for the "Family Net Award" (balancing work and family in companies) 
  • We had 20 births and 45 instances of parental leave in 2013. 
  • We continue to have good results in the employee survey.


See also:


We have implemented high social standards in the supply chain.

GRI aspects: market presence, procurement, employment, employee-employer relationship, health and safety, diversity and equal opportunities, equal pay for women and men, evaluation of suppliers in terms of work practices, equal treatment, freedom of association and right to collective bargaining • child labor • forced labor or compulsory labor • evaluation of suppliers with respect to human rights • grievance procedures regarding human rights violations
Strategic measures Indicator Goal value 2013 Actual value 2013 Difference Goal value 2014

FWF: Audit of production facilities and control of CAP

Results of Brand Performance Check FWF (goal: 2015)

90%

72%

18% 

90%


Results of Brand Performance Check FWF (goal: 2015)

Leader Status (Level 1 von 3)

Good (Level 2 von 3)

1 Level 

Leader

We have taken the following steps to achieve this goal:

  • We expanded the personnel resources to meet the FWF requirements in our office in China.

In the following issues we could not fully achieve our goals:

  • "Fair Wear Foundation" We wanted to have 90 percent of our producers audited in 2013, however, were only able to achieve 72 percent. We have difficulty at this point, because we have many producers who produce less than one percent of their total output for us. This makes it financially difficult to implement the "Corrective Actions Plan" (CAP). For several years we have been working to consolidate our producers-structure and have already achieved quite a bit. For 2014, we plan to have 90 percent of all enterprises audited in the supply chain.

See also:

Partner DAV FAIR WEAR
Brand alliance VAUDE EDELRID