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:
Management of harmful substances
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.
Our supply chain
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.
We are currently working intensively with our supply chain on a substitution and have already started to make progress.
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 and some have already used it to upload their results. However, many have reservations about the platform. An alternative to the IPE could be the ZDHC Gateway, which is increasingly becoming a new standard tool in the industry. VAUDE is also working with the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines in the supply chain and using the ZDHC Gateway.
Management of harmful substances
suppliers
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.
Due to the action we took in our supply chain and our partnerships such as that with the bluesign system or our collaboration with the ZDHC, we have no longer been able to detect 7 of the 11 priority substance groups in wastewater tests and therefore assume that these have been successfully substituted.
Management of harmful substances
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:
Water repellent materials
Other substances:
Management of harmful substances
ZDHC Impact Report
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.
Water repellent materials
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 to constructive cooperation, even with direct competitors. We have actively approached other brands in the industry for the continuation of our Environmental Stewardship project. Unfortunately, a follow-up project could not be started because some brands had to cancel their participation due to capacity reasons. VAUDE will now use the resources provided to push ahead with its own supply chain projects from 2019 onward. We will continue to report on this.
Suppliers
