We have been using the VAUDE Green Shape criteria to evaluate our products in light of environmental-friendliness since 2010. The VAUDE CSR team is continually monitoring the use of the highest standards possible.
Once again, we have further developed the VAUDE Green Shapecriteria – the concept is now even stricter, safer and entails the entire product lifecycle.
Green Shape products are now even “greener” making VAUDE a pioneer for the entire branch.
Here you can read more about the Green Shape criteria.
Green Shape product life cycle
The bluesign® system is the world’s strictest standard for environmental protection, consumer safety and resource efficiency of textile products. It works like the German “purity law” for beer – but is designed for textiles: only verified and certified components may be used. This guarantees that finished VAUDE products are safe and clean. VAUDE has been working together with bluesign®technologies ag since 2001.
More about the bluesign® system and its partnership with VAUDE here.
How sustainable a product can be is often already determined in the design process. The course is set on which materials and components will be selected, whether a product can be repaired, and how it must be disposed of after the usage phase.
More about VAUDE product design here.
The manufacturing of materials used for outdoor products often has significant effects on the environment: most materials used by VAUDE are made from synthetic fibers.
These are produced from petroleum and processed with high energy, water, and chemical expenditures, processed into fabrics, dyed and usually chemically treated again to produce the desired technical performance such as waterproofness or UV protection.
When selecting materials, we always act according to the precautionary principle, when we have alternatives with comparable technical performance available. For example, we do not use materials with nanotechnology, since its impact on man and natures has not yet been unequivocally established.
If there is concrete evidence of negative environmental health or environmental hazard aspects, we try to be proactive - even before there are legal regulations – in order to find solutions and alternatives. We work in different committees and working groups, for example, to find alternatives for the use of fluorocarbons (see also Strategy Against Too Many Chemicals.)
All information on the VAUDE Material Policy.
The VAUDE Green Shape criteria are strict, comprehensive and safe. Nevertheless we continue to have a great need for action in order to make our products even more environmentally friendly – especially in the global supply chain. We are working together with many other agents in the textile and outdoor industry on an instrument with which we can measure the impact of a product on the environment and compare it: the Higg Index. In the Higg Index, all stages of the product life cycle are assessed – from design and materials, product, packaging, transport, use and maintenance, to disposal.
Details on the Higg Index as a branch solution here.
The Economy for the Common Good, an initiative that analyzes corporate responsibility, has rated VADUE in the category “Ecological design of products” as exemplary. VAUDE’s influence on the “Increase in social and environmental industry standards” across the entire industry is also positive – see "Economy for the Common Good".
