The unit in which emissions are measured is called CO2e: "carbon dioxide equivalents". When calculating the carbon footprint, not only are all upstream and downstream processes in the value chain included, but other climate-damaging gases such as methane are also converted into carbon dioxide equivalents.

We derive targets and measures to further reduce emissions from the results of the carbon footprint.

The VAUDE carbon footprint includes the entire VAUDE value chain and all VAUDE products. The only exception: The products manufactured by our sales and license partner Kailash in China are not yet included in the carbon footprint.

Carbon footprint for the company or for the product?

VAUDE works with climate accounting at company level. So far, we have not calculated a climate footprint for individual products. Even though it would be wonderful if we as consumers could all see directly from the product how high its climate-damaging emissions are:

So far, there is not enough reliable emissions data for the entire product life cycle. It is already difficult enough to obtain data of meaningful quality from the supply chain. When it comes to the use phase of products, or even their disposal, we would have to make so many assumptions and work with so many unknown parameters that we are convinced that it would not be possible to derive a truly reliable statement.

In addition, there is currently no standardized methodology for the calculation. However, if different manufacturers use different data bases and calculation methods, the results are not comparable. So who benefits from such a "climate footprint"? The risk of greenwashing is quite high.

One methodology that will hopefully produce comparable results in the future is the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF). The PEF has been developed by the EU for several years on the basis of standardized calculations of the environmental impact along the product life cycle. Find out more here.

VAUDE climate compensation until 2023: Climate protection with social added value in Vietnam

VAUDE has offset all unavoidable emissions up to the 2023 financial year (including the Summer 2024 collection) through a Gold Standard-certified carbon offset project run by the myclimate foundation.

This climate protection project has helped to combat climate change effectively, whilst at the same time enabling communities in rural Vietnam – our main country of production – to access clean energy through the construction of biogas plants.

With our science-based Net Zero climate strategy and a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment, we are working continuously and transparently to prevent and reduce emissions throughout the entire value chain.