VAUDE CSR-Report – Vaude Ecosystem

Sustainability throughout the entire product lifecycle

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!

Roll'em! The Green Thread

Economic Activity for the Benefit of All

Our conviction to do business in balance with people and the 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 have published a sustainability report in accordance with the GRI Standard – see About this Report.
Economic sustainability: We are an independent, medium-sized, family-owned company – with no extra-familial shareholders demanding high investment returns – see Sustainable Management is Worthwhile.
We rely both internally and externally on an active dialog on an equal footing with our stakeholders – see In Constructive and Active Dialog.
We are politically committed to socio-political issues – see Political Work.

VAUDE Environmental Management: Since 2008, our environmental management has been audited annually by an independent auditor in accordance with EMAS and has been ISO 14001 certified – see more at EMAS Index..
Ecologically responsible work in all departments from Green IT to the exclusive use of recycled paper, construction in accordance with DGNB, substituting 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. In addition, we produce approx. 550,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year – see Energy – Preferably Renewable.
Reducing and compensating for our emissions with the annual climate audit – see Climate Neutral at our Tettnang Location.
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 the 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 family is ensured with flexible work models, home offices and on-site childcare – see VAUDE as Employer.
Trust and appreciation as the basis of our unique corporate culture – see Trust as the Foundation
Organic canteen and company 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 canteen – see Health Promotion.
Accepting social responsibility at our headquarters in Tettnang as a leaseholder of the local outdoor swimming pool, operation of the VAUDE Kinderhaus childcare center and initiator of a local public transport route – see Actively Creating Added Value.
Integration of refugees into the labor market: VAUDE carries out numerous measures to make it easier for refugees to start their professional and everyday lives in Germany – see also Committed to Refugees.

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: Our Green Shape criteria include not only the selection of materials but also the entire product development. The focus is on the repairability and longevity of the products - see “VAUDE Green Shape”.
Revision of the design guidelines: Sustainability aspects are an important part of our design guidelines and are therefore fundamentally anchored in the product design - see “Sustainable Design”.

Sustainable materials: our material selection

Green materials and technologies as a criterion for Green Shape products: We use certified environmentally-friendly products and components for our Green Shape products. In addition, we use environmentally-friendly printing processes for large area prints and motifs - see "VAUDE Green Shape".
Avoidance of controversial technologies and materials:In the VAUDE Material Policy, VAUDE voluntarily agrees to use Best Available Technology (BAT), to refrain from using controversial technologies and materials and to ensure maximum traceability of all materials to their origin - See "VAUDE Material Policy".
Environmental Stewardship Program for Material Suppliers: In relationships based on partnership, we work together to minimize environmental impact - see "Suppliers as partners"

Fairly produced: our selection of producers

Environmentally certified production facilities: Clean production from using bluesign®, the strictest environmental standard for textiles - see “Suppliers as partners”.
Fair working conditions in the supply chain by the strictest social standards in the textile industry - see "Social responsibility in the supply chain".
Founding member of the Partnership of Sustainable Textiles: VAUDE joined the German Government's alliance for sustainable textiles as one of the first companies. We actively promote the implementation of environmental and social standards in the textile value chain - see “VAUDE – Founding member of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles”.

Ecofriendly transport: Transport and Commuting at VAUDE

Low emissions from the transport of VAUDE products by ship: By far the majority of our products travel the largest distance by container ship. This results in very few emissions per individual product - read more here
Climate neutral products “Made in Germany” – we calculate and compensate for our emissions that arise from the transportation for our production site at Tettnang - 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 emissions – read more “Climate neutral transport”.

Good advice: Sales and retail

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 clearly linked to each item – see “Sustainable communication”.
Experts on sustainability: We regularly offer sustainability training courses for our sales employees, the specialist trade and for the sales staff in shops – see also Interactive Dialog with Retail.
Sustainable trade fair and shop construction: Sustainable trade fair booths and shop construction: we use exclusively natural materials such as untreated, local ash wood, linoleum or stainless steel – see Responsible Communication and Action.
Development of new sustainable product use systems: with iRentit VAUDE offers gear for rent instead of for sale – see iRentit - Renting Gear.

Durable and repairable: Use and care of VAUDE products

Environmentally friendly use and care as a criterion for Green Shape products: Our Green Shape criteria include material selection as well as the recycling and disposal. Green Shape products can be washed at low temperatures and do not require dry cleaning – see "VAUDE Green Shape".
Comprehensive information on use and care through detailed care information on the product and in our VAUDEpedia app. See more here
Repair, don't replace: The VAUDE repair service and the cooperation with iFixit increases the service life of our products – more information here
Collaboration with ecological partners and networks, above all, close collaboration with the WWF and the DAV as our direct contact to outdoor-oriented consumers and as mediator of sustainable conduct in nature – see "Stronger together".

Recyclable and re-usable: VAUDE products at the end of 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. For Green Shape products we use recyclable materials and enable second hand use with 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 – read more here.
Upcycling - from old make new: In our Upcycling Workshop we use remnant materials and products which can no longer be used in their original function and create new products and with new uses - see Upcycling.
VAUDE donates to FairWertung: In our collaboration with FairWertung, our products get a second chance at life as second hand clothing or gear – see "Recycling and Disposal".

GRI:

102-14