Energy conservation as an important priority

At the company headquarters in Tettnang-Obereisenbach, we have almost full control over how we deal with energy. 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 big role: all energy consumption is recorded and evaluated annually. From the results, we derive goals and measures. EMAS requires a commitment to a continuous improvement process in the energy sector.

We have been working consistently since 2008 in Tettnang-Obereisenbach for:

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

On both issues, we have already made great progress. Here are some examples:

• The electricity consumed by VAUDE in Tettnang-Obereisenbach electricity has comes from 100 percent renewable sources since mid-2009. These include wind, solar, hydro or biomass – see “100 percent renewable energy”. 
• Since October 2013, we have used biogas that comes 100 percent from sugar manufacturing waste. This goal was reached two years earlier than planned – see "Heating with Bio-Gas“.
• The photovoltaic system on the company roofs produces enough electricity for the entire facilities at this location – see “Solar Energy “made by VAUDE”.

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 a very high energy efficiency standard due to better insulation and clever lighting solutions.

Another of VAUDE’s important goal is climate neutrality of the entire company. Energy consumption contributes significantly to the production of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2).

To compensate for the negative impact of our energy consumption, we have been compensating for our total power consumption (in addition to other consumption such as for materials) at our headquarters in Tettnang-Obereisenbach through the myclimate organization since 2001. The entire VAUDE site in Tettnang-Obereisenbach including bag manufacturing there is considered "climate neutral." – see “Climate Neutral at the Tettnang Headquarters”.

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; preferred: Blauer Engel).
• Since 2012, the VAUDE company fleet has been in the process of conversion to low-fuel consumption vehicles. 
• The VAUDE Café is certified organic and purchases almost exclusively organic, regional products. These generally require less energy consumption for cultivation, production and transport.

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

The vast majority of our products are produced outside the company headquarters at Tettnang-Obereisenbach In contrast to the situation at the company headquarters, VAUDE has very little control over how the upstream supply chain handles energy.

The preparation of materials and components (fabrics or zippers), the production of chemical products (dyes) and substances which are required for the functionality of the products (water repellency, UV protection and the like), all require energy. Sewing the products themselves also requires energy.

As before, there are no statutory provisions relating to the designation of energy consumption in the manufacture of outdoor products, let alone legal requirements for their energy efficiency.

VAUDE commissions independent producers to manufacturer its goods. We do try to influence energy-saving production by stipulating which materials are to be used, for example with the bluesign® standard.

However, we must clearly recognize that our influence has been quite limited in the supply chain thus far. It has not been possible to obtain reliable data on energy consumption from producers and suppliers that would create a reference base for the manufacturing of VAUDE products.

We know that we have an urgent need for action on this issue, both in terms of creating data transparency, as well as in terms of energy management in the supply chain. We are pursuing these two strategic approaches: with the expansion of the bluesign® standard and by using the Higg Index to build a database that collects all environmental data – see "bluesign ®: Worldwide strictest standard" and "Higg Index ".