Biodiversity in the Supply Chain

Within the textile supply chain, negative impacts on biodiversity are pervasive, spanning from fiber production and textile manufacturing to garment assembly, logistics, distribution, and product disposal.

The focus lies on detrimental impacts in three key areas:

• Land use practices and their extent
  
• Environmental impact / pollution
• Direct overexploitation of natural resources

Our goal is to mitigate these detrimental effects on biodiversity throughout our supply chain. 

In 2023, we launched our inaugural biodiversity pilot project within the supply chain. Our primary objective was to gain insight into regions posing a heightened risk of biodiversity loss. To this end, we conducted an in-depth analysis of conditions in key production countries, namely Taiwan, Vietnam, China, Portugal, and Italy.

This risk analysis conducted by kuyua revealed a spectrum of biodiversity situations across our production network. Focused on a 50 km radius around each facility, the assessment unveiled striking differences. Notably, Taiwan, Italy, and Portugal exhibited significant biodiversity richness, with Italy and Portugal also harboring the most endangered species within this range. Moreover, Taiwan boasted the highest concentration of keystone species—those pivotal for ecosystem equilibrium.

The next phase will involve gathering additional data, including through the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter, interpreting these insights, and formulating a comprehensive VAUDE Biodiversity Strategy for our supply chain.

Safeguarding biodiversity within our supply chain is intricately linked with other environmental initiatives we are already undertaking, such as our chemical management, wastewater management, and projects aimed at enhancing water efficiency. In addition, concerted efforts will be made in collaboration with our supply chain partners to mitigate or eliminate production-related impacts on biodiversity. Measures may include initiatives like rooftop greening or site desalination.

As with our other environmental endeavors within the supply chain, we will continue to emphasize collaborative projects with fellow brands. Further details will be outlined in our next Sustainability Report. 

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