It's unbelievable how full our closets and basements are. One million tons of used clothing is generated each year in Germany alone. Used clothing! Products we want to get rid of!
Do we really need that much ‘stuff’? To keep up with every trend? Ever thought about what is involved in terms of resources, how much energy and water it wastes, how many toxic chemicals are involved? And where does it all end up?
Wouldn’t it be much better to carefully select a beautiful new product and then protect it and cherish it for years?
We feel we are responsible for our products – even long after they have left the stores. We want to work with you, our customers, to make the world a bit better. Sometimes less really is more.
It’s clear that like any business, VAUDE has to make a profit to exist – we have to sell our products. However, our VAUDE products are designed for long-term use, making them ideal for new business models like our rental service, VAUDE Rent. We want them to last a long time, be easy to repair, and even if you no longer need them, you can sell them second-hand or they can serve a social purpose.
VAUDE products are timeless and leave flash trends by the wayside. We are constantly looking for innovative sustainable solutions that reduce the environmental footprint of our products, while also adding to your fun in the outdoors.
Our products spend a good part of their "lives" with you. At the end of the day, you have a direct influence on how sustainable they really are – depending on how good a life they had at your place...
If you take good care of your products, they’ll be there for you the next time you head out on an adventure in the mountains or on your bike. If something is broken, don't just toss it – repairing things can be fun, it's good for the environment – and it’s good for your wallet.
Many people appreciate a well-preserved
second-hand product, whether bought used or received as a donation. VAUDE products are often still in excellent condition for second-hand use and bring joy as donations, gifts, or second-hand items. As users, we all contribute to extending the lifespan of these products—and thereby enhancing their sustainability.
Or why not rent instead of buying? With our new rental service and second-hand shop, it's even easier to enjoy nature, try out new outdoor activities, and save both resources and money. We offer functional and sustainable outdoor gear for your adventures, such as tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, backpacks, and bike bags.
Fun, creative new upcycling products can be made from used goods and other residual materials.
At VAUDE, we no longer take back products or packaging for direct recycling. Long before the concept of a circular economy became widely known, we established the “VAUDE Ecolog Recycling Network”: the first recycling system in the industry for pure polyester products, with take-back and recycling. This was back in 1994.
Today, our products increasingly remain in circulation by extending their usage phase. This is achieved through our rental service and the sale of VAUDE second-hand products. Returns and items from complaints that can no longer be sold as new go through a refurbishment and quality control process before being sold in our second-hand online shop. Starting in 2025, we will also introduce a buy-back option, allowing consumers to sell their used products back to VAUDE.
Closing the VAUDE material loop in practice remains one of our most important challenges for the coming years. We are building on the experience of the VAUDE Ecolog Recycling Network.
VAUDE is committed to the principle of a circular economy. Therefore, we primarily use recycled or renewable materials: By 2030, our aim is for 90% of all VAUDE products to contain a minimum of 90% recycled or renewable materials.
