VAUDE CSR-Report – Second hand and donations

Loved, used, donated

We want VAUDE products to be used for as long as possible – with clever design, careful choice of materials and environmentally-friendly production processes.

When they're eventually really "finished", they should be recycled. This is one of the reasons that we don't use PTFE membranes. Read more here

FairWertung: A “second life” for VAUDE products

And if your closet is overflowing? VAUDE products usually make excellent second hand goods and are gladly seen by second or thirdhand users as donations, gifts or used clothing sales. As users, we can contribute to extending the usage phase of the product – and therefore its sustainability.

FairWertung: Used clothing collection with guaranteed social benefits: Fairwertung and its members are 100% non-profit.

Donate clothing - but not to black sheep

Did you know that every year in Germany alone about one million tons of used clothing are donated? Wouldn't it be great if it all ended up for social projects? Unfortunately, the used clothing market is highly competitive and there are quite a few "black sheep" involved who are anything but non-profit. Dubious doorstep collections and illegal containers make life difficult for charitable organizations.

If you want to know who to give your clothes to, FairWertung offers advice on social donations.

FairWertung is a nationwide network of German nonprofit organizations that have called for more transparency in the textile recycling market. FairWertung has developed standards for the fair collection and marketing of secondhand clothes. 130 charities are working nationally in accordance with FairWertung guidelines, including church institutions, non-profit associations, as well as employment promotion and qualification companies. Many of them operate their own thrift stores. More information at: www.fairwertung.de

In the UK, VAUDE supports Gift your Gear, another nonprofit organization. Read more here
Your VAUDE product receives a second life as second hand clothing or gear. Anything that the non-profit organization can't use is sold to a textile recycling company to finance social projects.

VAUDE donates to FairWertung

VAUDE also donates products that cannot be repaired but essentially still “work” (such as when a zip on an inside pocket no longer functions but the jacket is otherwise in good shape).

This adds up to several thousand products every year, which people in need are truly thankful for – whether they are a part of Germany’s homeless community, have been affected by natural disasters or people living in refugee camps. Learn more about repair here

Unlike other brands, we don't have a problem with used VAUDE clothing being sold in thrift stores at discounted prices. We are proud that our products can be used as long as possible and create a social benefit.

Where FairWertung containers can be found (Germany):

Find used treasures on eBay

VAUDE supports the private resale of used products at an eBay Re-Commerce platform. If you want to be a sustainability conscious shopper, you can find used outdoor clothing and mountaineering gear at lower prices. With their purchases or sales, buyers and sellers extend the life cycle of outdoor articles and avoid having still-usable quality products end up as waste.

»The VAUDE Second Use Shop on eBay is another important part of our holistic sustainability strategy. We are pleased to be able to show our commitment to the environment even beyond the eco-friendly production of our merchandise. Because the longer a product is used, the lower its ecological footprint.«

Antje von Dewitz, CEO VAUDE

VAUDE is the first outdoor brand in Germany to create a shop for used products on eBay. (Antje von Dewitz, CEO VAUDE ) Check out the VAUDE Second Use Shop on eBay.