30 percent fewer emissions since 2019

In 2023, VAUDE successfully reduced its worldwide greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent compared to the baseline year of 2019, while achieving a 32 percent increase in company revenue during the same period. This demonstrates VAUDE's ability to decouple resource consumption from corporate growth and lower CO2 emissions in alignment with science-based climate targets.

This page summarizes the most important key figures and correlations from our climate footprint assessment. The full document can be downloaded here.

At VAUDE, we have had over ten years of experience with climate accounting. Since 2019 we have created a reliable database in order to include not only all emissions "at home" at our company headquarters, but also the two largest emitters from the upstream supply chain:

• Materials (resources) from which VAUDE products are made.
• Energy consumed in the production of the materials.

The importance of this is illustrated by the following graph.

The vast majority of emissions arise from the materials (resources) used, as well as from the energy consumption during their production. Therefore, we focus our efforts and resources in these areas to minimize emissions to the fullest extent possible.

Compared to the previous fiscal year (2022), emissions from energy consumption by material manufacturers have been halved. This significant reduction was primarily achieved through a groundbreaking collaborative project within the outdoor industry and in partnership with selected suppliers. The most effective strategy for CO2 savings lies in the phase-out of coal.

Since 2021, VAUDE has been part of the Carbon Reduction Project led by the European Outdoor Group (EOG), joining forces with nine other outdoor brands to diminish greenhouse gas emissions originating from material suppliers.

In the initial phase, we conducted thorough assessments with selected suppliers to pinpoint areas offering potential savings and determine the scale of these opportunities. From there, we developed tailored measures and action plans for each supplier, complemented by comprehensive energy management training sessions. These efforts were guided by defined CO2 reduction targets and implementation timelines.

By leveraging collective efforts within the industry, we're able to achieve greater impact: Our systematic approach to reducing CO2 emissions not only advances climate protection but also proves economically lucrative and sets a forward-looking precedent for all stakeholders involved.

To learn more about our initiatives surrounding energy consumption in the VAUDE supply chain and the data driving our climate footprint analysis, click here.

The second largest portion of emissions at VAUDE arises from the choice of raw materials used in VAUDE products. Here, we adhere to the principles of the circular economy:

By incorporating recycled or renewable raw materials, we avoid the use of fossil resources and significantly reduce CO2 emissions. In the summer collection of 2024, over 70% of all VAUDE products consist of more than 50% recycled or biobased materials. By the summer collection of 2025, this figure is expected to reach nearly 90% of all products.

We have defined the system boundary for calculating emissions from material consumption as including the manufacturing processes up to yarn production for textile materials, and all process steps up to polymer production (granulate) for hard plastic components. At VAUDE, We measure determine material consumption through our product development database and the quantities produced. (gross material consumption per raw material category per product multiplied by the number of units produced). Materials not nominated (except Campo tents) and shoes are not currently included.

You can read about the materials/resources VAUDE consumes, where what country they are manufactured in, and what we are doing to reduce emissions from them here.

2019 serves as the baseline year for VAUDE's science-based climate goals (more information available here).

After a slight decrease in 2020, emissions increased significantly in 2021. The reason for this was the strong growth of the company without simultaneous implementation of emission reduction measures. This phenomenon is known as the "rebound effect": Despite lower emissions per ton of material consumed, emissions increased in absolute numbers due to the higher volume of material consumption and the corresponding energy usage in the supply chain.

In the fiscal year 2023, the significant progress in reducing emissions from energy consumption in the supply chain compared to 2022 is now clearly evident. Additionally, the transition to recycled and renewable raw materials is reflected in the decreased emissions from material consumption for VAUDE products.

Details regarding emissions from goods logistics can be found here.

The science-based climate targets that VAUDE has set for itself relate to Scope1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 respectively, in accordance with the requirements of the Science Based Targets Initiative.

The following graphs show the targets and target achievement:

SBT 1. VAUDE commits to reduce absolute Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2026, starting from the base year 2019.

Scope 1 emissions are generated at VAUDE by the gas heating system and the company vehicle fleet.

More about our savings from heating can be found here.

And here to the changeover of the company fleet to e-mobility.

SBT 2. VAUDE commits to continue sourcing 100% electricity from renewable sources annually until 2030.

As VAUDE has only used electricity from renewable energy sources since 2009, no Scope 2 emissions are generated. Of course, we want to keep it that way.

SBT 3. VAUDE commits to reduce absolute Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for purchased goods and services by 50% by 2030, starting from a base year of 2019.

Scope 3 emissions, as described above, are primarily caused by material/raw material consumption and energy consumption in the production of these materials. The savings visible in the graph result from reduction measures implemented in these areas.

However, Scope 3 also includes other emission categories such as packaging, goods logistics, and the daily commuting of employees. VAUDE focuses on these other Scope 3 emissions as part of its Net Zero Strategy. More information can be found here.

Here you can find out more about the emissions caused by VAUDE from merchandise goods logistics.

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