Slow fashion versus the throwaway society

With the VAUDE Greenpeace Detox Commitment, we have committed ourselves to making an active contribution to a system change towards more sustainable design and consumption. Specifically, this includes:

• The promotion of Circular Design and circulatory product development to slow down and close down material and production cycles
• Analysis and evaluation of production waste
• Introduction of return systems for used VAUDE products
• Development of new models for products such as secondhand use, renting or upcycling
• Publication of detailed instructions for the sustainable use, care and repair of VAUDE products in order to extend the utilization phase as far as possible
• Raising public awareness and awareness among all stakeholders
  

Of course, this doesn't happen at the touch of a button, but we're working on it. You can help us.

VAUDE is currently not accepting products or packaging for recycling. However, VAUDE was a pioneer in this issue long before the "Green Wave" hit the industry: as early as 1994, the “VAUDE Ecolog Recycling Network” was established – the first recycling system in the industry for pure polyester products with collection and recycling. Ecolog products were technically engineered to be easily returned into the polyester fiber cycle. The “Ecolog Recycling Network” was equipped with the infrastructure needed. However, because too few products were returned to make the system “sustainable”, we had to end the program. 

From various studies, we know that the amount of collected products must be large enough to compensate for the logistical effort. We also know that a single brand with its own recycling system can only ever remain a niche, and has a very low impact on the overall consumption of raw materials and customer behavior in returning products. 

Closing the VAUDE material loop in practice remains an important challenge for the coming years.