VAUDE Greenpeace Detox Commitment
Detox Index / Status Report 2018
VAUDE Detox Voluntary commitment involves three major challenges:
1. Releasing no harmful chemicals into the environment
2. Actively contributing to new, responsible business models with more sustainable products and consumption
3. Transparent public reporting on all results, progress such as challenges and unresolved issues.
Read on to find out how far we have come with the 1st and 2nd challenges. The entire Sustainability Report covers the 3rd challenge.
Section 1: Chemical Management
1. Publish a list of all producers and suppliers (primary fabrics and linings) - by 01.08.2016:
suppliers
2. Dispatch of new VAUDE MRSL with accompanying letter to all producers and suppliers – by 01.10.2016:
3. Revise purchasing conditions for producers and suppliers – by 31.12.2017:
VAUDE has revised its Vendor Management and will present it at the Vendor Meeting in Tettnang in June 2018, in which all applicable producers and suppliers will participate.
4. Phase out of APEO: performance and preparation of tests within the scope of the Environmental Stewardship Project - by 01.12.2016
The issue of APEO is still a major challenge for us due to inadequate legal regulations in many production countries. APEO is used as a detergent in the textile manufacturing process and is usually washed out directly in the factory before the finished product is sold. Although they are not detectable in the product, they cause enormous environmental damage during the manufacturing process.
After the introduction of the new VAUDE Vendor Management in Summer 2018, we will work harder on this issue with our suppliers.
Management of harmful substances
5. Perform and publish MRLS tests for at least 80 % of our suppliers using wet-chemical processes (by volume of primary fabrics and linings)
As part of the VAUDE Environmental Stewardship Project, we have been conducting wastewater tests in accordance with MRSL since 2015 and know the wastewater quality of 95 % of our suppliers.
We are discussing the publication of the test results on the IPE platform with our suppliers, but many have reservations about the platform. An alternative to IPE could be the ZDHC Gateway, which is increasingly becoming a new standard tool in the industry. VAUDE also works with the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines in the supply chain.
6. VAUDE will set itself clear time targets for phasing out additional hazardous chemicals in addition to the 11 priority groups of substances - by 31.12.2016
VAUDE initially concentrated on the work on the 11 priority substance groups from the Detox Commitment. We have therefore not yet formulated any binding timetables for further exit plans.
We will work on this in the coming years on the basis of the wastewater tests carried out as part of the Environmental Stewardship Project and in coordination with our suppliers.
7. Publication of case studies on the withdrawal from the nine priority substance groups in addition to PFC and APEO and their substitution by safer alternatives
PFC:
Other substances:
Management of harmful substances
8. Phase-out of fluorocarbons - by 2020
With the Summer 2018 Apparel Collection, VAUDE has succeeded for the first time in completely eliminating the use of fluorocarbons.
9. Include VAUDE licensees in the VAUDE Detox Commitment, set measures, monitoring, deadlines - by 31.12.2016
Since the VAUDE Detox Commitment was signed, we have been talking to our licensees to raise their awareness of environmental and social issues. Thus far, however, we have initially focused on our own direct supply chain. We will keep working on this and include the issue in future reports.
10. Cooperation with competitors
VAUDE is always open for constructive cooperation, even with direct competitors. In continuing our Environmental Stewardship project, we actively approached other brands in the industry and were able to win some for a joint follow-up project. We will continue to report on this.
Suppliers
Section 2: Extended Producer Responsibility / Slow Fashion / Circular Design
1. Product analysis and evaluation of pre-consumer product waste and post consumer returned product waste
- For the VAUDE Manufaktur, we already show the material efficiency as an EMAS indicator. More information and EMAS core indicators for download here:
- We process material waste from the Manufaktur in the VAUDE Upcycling workshop. Read more about it here:
- For all other producers that are not VAUDE's own companies, we are currently working on recording and optimizing material efficiency for the manufacture of our products. We will report on progress here.
- All (used) products donated by VAUDE to FairWertung are assessed annually according to type, quantity and value. FairWertung informs us annually about all products that our customers donate to FairWertung in the VAUDE stores and outlets. More about working with FairWertung here:
2. Introduction of a return system for used VAUDE products
VAUDE already had its own return system for products over 20 years ago – the VAUDE Ecolog Recycling Network. Read here to find out why it didn’t work:
Instead, we have been working with FairWertung in Germany and Gift your Gear in the UK since 2012. Read more about it here:
We also intend to enter into collaborations of this kind in other European countries. We will report back here.
3. Initiate at least two new ownership models for products such as 2nd hand platforms, rental or upcycling
- Rent VAUDE products with iRentit by VAUDE:
- Use 2nd hand VAUDE products:
- VAUDE Upcycling Workshop:
- VAUDE Repair Service and cooperation with iFixit:
4. Promotion of circular design and recyclable product development to slow and close material and production cycles
- More about it in the VAUDE Design Policy:
- And in the VAUDE Green Shape Concept:
- Another component in our VAUDE efforts is the VAUDE Repair Index, which we are currently working on. We will report on this in the next CSR Report.
5. Publish detailed instructions for sustainable use, maintenance and repair of VAUDE products in order to extend the service life as far as possible:
- 31 sets of instructions and special spare parts kits for VAUDE products at iFixit:
- Lots of tips & tricks for use, maintenance and repair in the VAUDE Help Center, approx. 40,000 contacts annually: https://help.vaude.com/
- Collaboration between VAUDE and Repair Cafés:
- Over 100 spare parts sets for VAUDE products in stores.
6. Raising awareness of the general public and among all stakeholders
VAUDE CEO Antje von Dewitz and nearly all members of the VAUDE CSR team are sought-after speakers for technical lectures, workshops and panel discussions.
Here are just a few examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtJYrzjLDAw
https://www.animalfair.at/ee-eintraege/vaude/
https://www.zdf.de/politik/frontal-21
https://www.swr.de/landesschau-bw/pendeln-im-suedwesten/
https://www.vaude.com/de-DE/Unternehmen/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/
https://nachhaltigkeitsbericht.vaude.com/gri/news.php
In addition, we are currently setting up a VAUDE Sustainability Academy in order to be able to communicate the various sustainability topics more effectively and in a more target-group-oriented manner.
