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2023 Sustainability Report
published 2024/08/01

Our path towards the circular economy

Decoupling corporate growth from resource consumption and strengthening the circular economy are important keys to a climate-friendly future. In order to reduce the need for finite fossil resources, we are investing in the quality and recyclability of our products as well as in resource-saving and circular business models.

Our products are designed to be used in the great outdoors, and we aim to minimize their impact on the environment. To keep our ecological footprint low, we strive to act in a resource-efficient manner throughout the entire product lifecycle, including the phases of manufacturing, use, and disposal.



Transformation from linear to circular processes

Our focus is on transforming linear processes and business models into a true circular economy. Through circular systems, durable products, professional repairs, circular business models, and recycling of discarded products, we can prolong the use phase of resources already in circulation and utilize them as a basis for new products.


This allows us to reduce our dependence on finite, fossil resources. By doing so, we make a valuable contribution to climate and environmental protection.


circular economy
 
 

Nature is our source of inspiration

There is no better model for circular systems than nature itself. Our natural ecosystems operate in intricate, interconnected cycles. They follow the principle of reuse, where there is no waste or inefficiency. Instead, everything is kept in continuous circulation through endless cycles, utilization sequences, and optimally adapted interrelationships. Nature serves as the perfect prototype for true circular systems, which is why we draw our inspiration from it.



Circular economy in the product lifecycle

There are many opportunities for implementing circular systems in various stages of the product lifecycle. We focus on three phases: the "beginning of life," which involves the manufacturing of our products, the usage phase by stores and consumers, and the "end of life" phase, which refers to the product's disposal or recycling.


»The circular economy is one of the major challenges of our time. Even though the path ahead may be rocky and often unknown, it is incredibly important to embark upon it. We must use our limited resources more efficiently.«

Stefan Lörke, Head of Product Management Apparel at VAUDE
 
 

Material selection - biobased, renewable or recycled

The manufacturing process creates the foundation for whether a product can be repaired and recycled in the future. The choice of materials, how they’re combined in a product, design criteria, and processing technologies are crucial factors in this regard.



Processing - the foundation for future recycling

Ideally, for products to be effectively recycled in the future, they need to be made from a single material (monomaterial) to ensure purity. We recognized this in the 1990s and established our Ecolog Recycling Network in 1994. 


In most cases, products are not monomaterial but consist of multiple materials combined by spinning, sewing, welding, or bonding. Ideally, the different materials should be processed in a way that allows for efficient separation without quality loss during recycling. This enables optimal recovery and reuse. However, conflicts often arise regarding the desired functionality of the products. Like many others, we also use a mix of different materials in a significant portion of our products. This allows us to combine different material properties effectively or is necessary to fulfill specific usage requirements.


The criteria for recycling at the end of a product's life are defined in our Green Shape Standard. More about the Green Shape Standard can be found here.


In our VAUDE Material Policy, we assess all the materials we use based on their recyclability and the current state of recycling infrastructure. Any materials that are not (or only very difficult to) recyclable, such as elastane and polyurethane, are only used when their functionality is necessary for the product.

With our Rethink! Collection, we have been taking the next step towards a circular economy since summer 2024.



VAUDE products reimagined for circular concepts to reduce waste and enable recycling: the Rethink! Collection.

Rethinking - that's what it's all about with the products that are part of our circular concept. They are largely made of polyester; parts made of other materials, such as buckles, can be removed. Thus, the RETHINK! products are prepared to be returned to the textile cycle at the end of their product life, to be reused as raw materials in a true textile circular economy.

Recycling and keeping outdoor products within the circular economy is a significant challenge. However, we are changing our approach! With our RETHINK! products, we are taking the initial steps towards recyclability by transitioning our products in line with the principles of the circular economy:



  • Zippers and zipper tapes have been transitioned to PET polyester for recyclability.
  • Instead of using stretch-blend fabrics, we use specially sorted yarns made of recycled PET polyester.
  • For circularity, we have switched from typical polyamide to PET polyester for items such as Velcro fasteners.
  • Backpacks have a PET coating instead of TPU for material purity - an innovation.
  • Non-PET components are color-coded and easily replaceable.
  • Instead of a conventional backpack back panel made from various materials, we use a 100% PET back panel.
  • To ensure material purity, we avoid elastic fabrics made from polyamide and have outfitted side pockets and organizers with compression straps.
  • A simple 4-hole button made of recycled PET polyester replaces a metal snap button, making it easy to repair and in line with the principles of the circular economy.


Managing Director Antje von Dewitz is proud of the change in thinking at VAUDE
Managing Director Antje von Dewitz is proud of the change in thinking at VAUDE
 
 

Usage phase - for as long as possible

A significant portion of the ecological footprint of consumer goods is generated during the usage phase. Many products only become truly sustainable when they remain in use for as long as possible. The principle is simple: as long as a product can be used, there is no need to manufacture a new one. Shared usage is also ideal for items that are not frequently needed. For example, if a tent or backpack is used by more than one person, there is no need for each person to acquire their own – and this conserves valuable resources in many ways.


More about this can be found under "Never Ending Responsibility".



Circular business models: Rental service and second-hand

To prevent products from sitting unused in closets, basements, or attics because they may not be frequently used, we offer the option to rent them through the online VAUDE Rent program.


Buying used products also contributes to the reuse of items such as clothing that is no longer worn or children's clothing that has been outgrown. With our online shop, VAUDE Second Hand, launched in April 2024, we provide opportunities for eco-friendly shopping, as it avoids the need to purchase new products and their resource-intensive production. We also want to ensure that our products remain in circulation through second-hand distribution channels. Therefore, we are currently working intensively on establishing a re-commerce platform.

VAUDE Kreislauf

Care & Repair

We make sure that our products are of high quality so they’re durable as well as easy to maintain and repair if necessary. We have defined strict rules for this in our Green Shape environmental standard. For example, our products must be easy to maintain and may not require dry cleaning. We have a repair index that rates products according to their repairability. For the care and repair of our products, we offer instructions, spare parts and services such as a waterproofing and repair service and cooperate with external service providers, such as the Repair Cafés and iFixit. Read more here.

Upcycling

 When a material or product no longer serves its original purpose and can’t be repaired, we strive to give it new life in our upcycling workshop. Not everything that ends up in the waste bin is truly waste. We firmly believe that through creative ideas, valuable resources can be transformed from what may seem like trash into unique and remarkable creations. That's why we’ve established our upcycling workshop and with our new Upcycling Collection, we can rescue our remnant materials from ending up in the landfill. Learn more about it here.

End of Life - Recycling of discarded products

With the European Green Deal, the EU has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The accompanying roadmap for planned legislation introduces various measures, such as the "Circular Economy Action Plan," which focuses on sustainable product design and circular economy in production processes. For the textile sector, the EU Commission proposed the "EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles" at the end of March 2022. This strategy includes design requirements for textiles that are durable, repairable, and recyclable, with a high proportion of recycled materials. Additionally, it aims to promote circular business models and replace disposable clothing with circular textiles.


We welcome these measures because, unfortunately, most textiles, like many consumer goods, still follow a linear usage pattern. This means that when they reach the end of their life and cannot be reused through second-hand sales or clothing donations, they end up in the general waste stream.


In the EU, it is estimated that around 5.8 million tons of clothing are discarded annually, equivalent to 11.3 kg per person. Only about 1% of clothing is recycled into new textiles through textile recycling processes. This is mainly due to the requirement for textiles to be as pure as possible for effective recycling, and cross-industry collection and recycling systems are still being developed.


Currently, a portion of collected used clothing is repurposed as insulation in cars, cleaning rags, or painter's fleece. However, approximately 87% of textiles produced in the EU end up in landfills or are thermally treated in waste incineration plants. Valuable resources remain unused or are even destroyed. Thermal treatment releases the carbon trapped in fossil resources as CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, with negative consequences for our climate.



Project Partnerships: Accelerating Circularity & Textile Partnership

To accelerate the use of used clothing and textile waste as raw materials for new textiles, we are partnering with Accelerating Circularity, a US-based nonprofit organization that aims to achieve textile-to-textile recycling. Through industry-wide collaboration among partners across the textile value chain, from material manufacturers to textile producers and collection companies, a market-ready infrastructure for textile recycling is being developed using a digital platform. Initial trials using polyester textiles aim to provide insights into how textile recycling can be realized on a large scale through mechanical and/or chemical processes.


As a member of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles in Germany, we are also committed to industry-wide solutions that focus on textile recycling.

GRI:   103
Management approach
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Environmental impact textile production
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EU strategy for recyclable textiles
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Recycling Management Act (BMUV)
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