VAUDE CSR-Report – Vaude Ecosystem

Sustainability throughout the entire product life cycle

Sustainability is complex. It is more than the sum of individual measures. The VAUDE Ecosystem is our holistic sustainability strategy that runs like a “green thread” through all phases of the product lifecycle. It shows how we perceive our social and environmental responsibilities.

The VAUDE Ecosystem is based on our mission statement and our corporate values. From this we derive our sustainability goals that spell out clearly what we want to achieve in practice – more at "Corporate Philosophy" and "Our Goals".

The VAUDE Ecosystem: Our “green thread” for your green product!

Watch it! The Green Thread

Economic Activity for the Benefit of All

Our conviction to do business in balance with people and environment is the origin of the VAUDE Ecosystem.

Sustainable Corporate Strategy: All sustainability aspects are integrated in our corporate strategy – see "Sustainable Corporate Strategy".
Honesty and transparency as fundamental values: for the fourth time, we are publishing a sustainability report under the GRI standard - see "About this report".
VAUDE Environmental management: since 2008 our environmental management has been certified annually by an independent verifier in accordance with EMAS and ISO 14001 - see "CSR team as a driver of sustainability".
Ecologically responsible work in all departments , from Green IT to the exclusive use of recycled paper, construction in accordance with DGNB, substitution print with digital solutions, ecological trade fair and store solutions, right up to our organically certified café - see "Recycled paper" and "Sustainable communication".
Renewable energy: 100% green electricity and biogas. We also produce about 550,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year - see "Energy - preferably renewable".
Reducing and compensating our emissions by making an annual carbon footprint - see "Climate neutral at our headquarters in Obereisenbach".
Climate-neutral mobility: We have developed a mobility concept to reduce emissions from commuting and business travel - see "Climate-neutral mobility at VAUDE"
Business & Biodiversity: active implementation at our headquarters – see "Why biodiversity is important to us".
Sustainable and future-oriented working environments: modern, environmentally friendly office concepts, a green campus, a climbing wall, an organic canteen and much more have been created with the aim of realizing future-oriented and healthy jobs for around 500 employees - see "Future-oriented working environments".
Balancing career and private life is ensured by flexible working hours, home offices and in-house childcare - see "VAUDE as an employer".
Organic canteen & occupational health management: the health of our employees is important to us. That is why we have introduced an occupational health management system and have our own organic cafe - see "Health Promotion".
Taking on community responsibility at our headquarters as a tenant of the local swimming pool, the VAUDE Kinderhaus childcare center or as initiator of local public transport connections - see "Creating value through commitment".
Integration assistance for refugees with work and recreational opportunities: in 2016, VAUDE carried out numerous measures to make it easier for refugees to work and live in Germany - see "Commitment to refugees".
Economic sustainability: we are an independent, medium-sized family-owned company – with no non-family shareholders with high investment returns- see "Sustainable management is worthwhile".

Numerous activities run like a “green thread” through all phases of the product lifecycle and contribute to making our products sustainable.

Clever development: our product development

Durability and reparability as criteria for Green Shape products: In addition to material selection, our revised Green Shape criteria now also cover the entire product development where repairability and durability of the products are key - see “VAUDE Green Shape”.
Revision of the design guidelines: We are currently revising the design guidelines for all products to anchor sustainability issues in product design - see “Sustainable Design”.

Sustainable materials: our material selection

Green materials and technologies as a criterion for Green Shape products: for our Green Shape products, we use certified, environmentally friendly materials and components. We also use environmentally friendly printing processes for surface and motif prints - see "VAUDE Green Shape".
Avoidance of controversial technologies and materials: in the "VAUDE Material Policy", VAUDE voluntarily commits itself to applying "best available technology" (BAT), excludes controversial technologies and materials and ensures the greatest possible traceability of all materials to their origin. See "VAUDE Material Policy".

Fair production: our selection of producers

Environmentally certified production sites: Clean production from the use of the strictest environmental standard for textiles bluesign® – see “Suppliers as partners”.
Fair working conditions in the supply chain using the strictest social standard in the textile industry and progressive work-life balance measures at the Obereisenbach production site - see "Social responsibility in the supply chain" and "VAUDE –100 percent family company".
Founding member of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles: as one of the first companies, VAUDE joined the German Government's alliance for sustainable textiles. We are actively involved in the implementation of environmental and social standards in the textile value chain - see “VAUDE – Founding member of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles”.

Eco-friendly transporation: Transporation and Commuting at VAUDE

Low emissions from the transport of VAUDE products by ship: by far the largest quantity of our products travels most kilometers per container ship; per product these emissions are very low - see more here
Climate neutral products “Made in Germany” – we annually calculate and compensate for the emissions caused by transport from production at the Obereisenbach location - see “Product range Made in Germany”.
Green Logistics Project, in which, together with our logistics service providers, we optimize transport with regard to sustainability and emission aspects – see “Climate neutral transport”.

Well-advised: sales and specialist dealers

Product and sustainability information at a glance:: Sustainability information is given a central placement on our homepage and on the product so that sustainability aspects are clear linked to each item – see “Sustainable communication”.
Sustainability experts : we regularly offer sustainability training courses for our sales employees, specialist trade and salespeople in shops – see “VAUDE Economy for the Common Good report”.
Sustainable trade fair and shop construction: we only use natural materials such as untreated Ash wood from regional cultivation– see “Sustainable communication”.

Durable and repairable: use and care of VAUDE products

Environmentally friendly use and care as a criterion for Green Shape products: in addition to the material selection, our Green Shape criteria also include the phases of use and care. Green Shape products can be washed at low temperatures and do not need dry cleaning - see "VAUDE Green Shape".
Comprehensive information on use and care with detailed care information on the product and extensive training courses in stores as well as the distribution of the environmentally friendly products from Nikwax - see more here
Repair rather than throw away: the VAUDE repair service and a cooperation with iFixit increases the service life of our products - More Info here
Collaboration with ecological partners and networks, in particular the close cooperation with the WWF and the DAV, our direct contacts with outdoor consumers and supporters of a sustainable approach to nature - see "Stronger together".

Recyclable and re-usable: VAUDE products at the end of their product life

Recyclability and high-quality product quality as a criterion for Green Shape products: Our Green Shape criteria include material selection as well as the recycling and disposal phase. For Green Shape products, we use recyclable materials and enable second-hand use through high-quality products - see "VAUDE Green Shape".
Second Use - as good as new – just better for the environment: VAUDE supports the private resale of used products with the VAUDE Second Use Shop on eBay - see "Recycling and Disposal".
Upcycling - from old make new! In various projects, we use remnant materials and products which can no longer be used in their original function and create new products and uses - see "Upcycling".
VAUDE donates to FairWertung: by cooperating with FairWertung, our products receive a second life as second-hand clothing or gear - see "Recycling and Disposal".

GRI:

G4-1