We get involved and take a position

Our economic activities, including the production of goods and the provision of services, always involve the consumption of resources and energy. The resulting negative environmental impacts, such as CO2 emissions or inadequate handling of chemicals, need to be minimized. This requires responsible actions as well as clear and binding legal frameworks.

We are in favor of a rapid transition to clean, environmentally friendly and safe energy so that we can limit the impact of climate change on people, the environment and the economy, and therefore on our business to a manageable level. In addition to climate protection, this also involves minimizing dependence on fossil energy supplies and ensuring energy security. This includes the rapid development of renewable energy, investment in energy efficiency, energy conservation and energy storage, as well as in the modernization of current networks. In our opinion, this is a prerequisite for the future viability of Germany as a business location.

We support the goals of the international Framework Convention on Climate Change and would like to see the German Federal Government play an active, pioneering role in its implementation in Germany. We support global climate protection movements such as Fridays for Future and Scientists for Future and are a supporter of the corresponding Entrepreneurs for Future initiative. We have also joined the Science-Based Targets (SBT) initiative and set science-based climate targets for systematically reducing CO2 emissions that are in line with the requirements of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 °C or well below 2 °C.

Our stance is that companies have complete responsibility for the impact of their business activities. We therefore invest both human and financial resources in the development and manufacture of environmentally friendly and ethically made products, for example, through the use of resource-efficient materials, environmental management training in the supply chain, climate balancing and by taking our due diligence obligations in the supply chain seriously. In addition, we actively participate with industry partners in projects such as the EOG Carbon Reduction Project, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain. In doing so, we voluntarily exceed legal requirements. However, this also means that our commitment incurs higher costs and potential disadvantages compared to competitors.

This is why we advocate for strict legal requirements for climate protection, environmental conservation, and the safeguarding of human rights in global supply chains. Examples of this include an appropriate carbon tax, the German Supply Chain Act, and the European Supply Chain Act (CSDDD), binding regulations in chemical legislation such as the planned PFAS ban, clear standards like the CSRD for sustainability reporting. You can learn more about our environmental management in the supply chain here, and you can read about how we fulfill our social responsibility here.

Textiles, like many consumer goods, typically have a linear pattern of use. This means that when no secondary use, such as resale or clothing donations, is possible anymore, they end up in the residual waste and often get incinerated. This harms our climate and the environment in multiple ways and wastes valuable resources.

The goal is to transition from linear processes to functional circular systems, aiming for the best possible use of existing resources already in circulation. In our case, this means using renewable or recycled materials for product manufacturing and establishing a true circular economy by creating new high-quality textiles from used textiles through textile-to-textile recycling.

As part of the European Green Deal and its accompanying roadmap for planned legislation, the EU has launched the "Circular Economy Action Plan," which includes approaches to sustainable product design and circular economy in production processes. For the textile sector, the European Commission proposed the "EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles" at the end of March 2022. This strategy involves design requirements for durable, repairable, and recyclable textiles with a high percentage of recycled materials. Additionally, circular business models will be promoted, and circular textiles will replace disposable clothing. We welcome these measures and actively participate in initiatives such as the Alliance for Sustainable Textiles or partner with organizations like Accelerating Circularity to drive industry-wide solutions aimed at textile recycling. You can learn more about our involvement here.

Nature and species conservation are close to our hearts, and we value environmentally friendly practices in the mountains and for biking activities. As a partner of the German Alpine Club (DAV), we support their goals for the protection and sustainable development of the Alpine region, as well as environmentally conscious mountaineering.

In light of the loss of biodiversity and species diversity, we see an urgent need to rethink and take action. We therefore welcome demands and legal regulations aimed at preserving protected areas and increasing biodiversity in our animal and plant life. Decisions such as the International Framework Agreement for the Global Protection of Biological Diversity, adopted by the global community at the World Nature Conference (COP 15) in Canada, must be implemented.

With a comprehensive biodiversity concept at our German headquarters, we aim to preserve species diversity and work together with industry partners and suppliers in the supply chain to avoid negative impacts on biodiversity. An important focus is also on land use and the avoidance of deforestation.

Learn more about biodiversity at our German headquarters and in the supply chain, as well as our commitment to deforestation-free supply chains.

We believe that business activity involves responsibility for actively assuming responsibility for the social and environmental impacts of one's own actions and contributing to the public good. Entrepreneurial success should be measured not only in terms of financial profits, but also in terms of its contribution to the environment and society.

Our current economic system, however, rates companies primarily by their financial success. The result is that, generally speaking, companies are oriented toward short-term profit maximization. In many cases, this is at the expense of society and the environment. In view of the extent of global environmental destruction and exploitation, we recognize an acute market failure that requires political action. We therefore advocate for minimum social and ecological standards the supply chains. We also advocate that corporate action should be measured holistically, such as on the basis of economic, ecologic and social aspects. Such an approach will contribute to a long-term, stable and fair economic system in which human rights and the environment are protected.

We at VAUDE are closely examining the issue of business activity geared toward the public good. The Economy for the Common Good is an exciting and meaningful approach. We are a pioneer company in the Economy for the Common Good with an audited Common Good Balance Sheet.

Here you can find the VAUDE Economy for the Common Good Balance Sheet.

Our global economic system is too often based on social exploitation, injustice and environmental destruction. As a result, we as an economy are also contributing to the causes of immigration, such as social inequality and the effects of the climate crisis, which contribute to more people being forced to leave their homes than ever before. A new addition in 2022 is the great wave of refugees in Europe as a direct result of the Ukraine war and Russia's violations of international law.

We are committed to integrating refugees into the workforce as part of our responsibility as employers. Populist, nationalist, and extremist movements that propagate hatred against foreign citizens and refugees, offering simplistic solutions to complex issues, concern us deeply. It is crucial for the economic landscape of Germany and for us as employers to remain attractive to foreign skilled and labor workers. For many years, we have been experiencing a significant shortage of skilled workers, which will dramatically increase in the coming years due to demographic changes alone. Therefore, we aim to demonstrate how successful refugee integration can benefit everyone in our society and contribute to maintaining social harmony. Read more here

We are convinced that diverse teams make better decisions and that innovation is most strongly unleashed where gender differences no longer play a role. We therefore focus on diversity regardless of gender, age or nationality.

In the years when Antje von Dewitz took over leadership of the company, we specifically addressed women and encouraged them to apply for management positions. Many rejected the idea at first because they had the feeling that they wouldn’t be able to balance their professional and private lives in a management position or they were wary of the harsh tone of a male-dominated management culture. Therefore, we gradually implemented a variety of changes in our operational environment and modified our corporate culture to attract women to management positions. With success: since 2016, over 40 percent of our managers have been women.

The intensive and continuous establishment and maintenance of our family-friendly, inclusive and equal opportunity corporate culture is also now one of our company's strongest success factors. This is why we support initiatives and advocate for equality and diversity.

Diversity and Equal Treatment at VAUDE

We are fans of the European Union and convinced that we need the EU as a strong community of values and economic community. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and the protection of human rights are the foundations for a respectful and peaceful coexistence in Europe. The events of recent years, such as the euro crisis, Brexit or the influx of refugees, the impact of global challenges such as climate change and the Corona pandemic, as well as the consequences of war in Europe, are putting the EU to the test. We believe that we can overcome these challenges only by working together.

We support the European Union in its efforts to implement the European Green Deal and achieve the goal of becoming climate-neutral in Europe by 2050. Therefore, we actively engage in political advocacy when it comes to the implementation of EU legislative processes. For instance, we take proactive positions on the EU Supply Chain Law, the Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), or the planned PFAS ban. We also welcome planned directives such as the EU Green Claims Directive and EU Empowering Consumers Directive, which aim to empower consumers who actively support the ecological transition through their purchasing decisions.

 
The following applies to many German companies and also to VAUDE: the EU is our most important export sales market – read more at Our Markets. We therefore advocate for a strong and stable European market. The free movement of workers – the right of all EU citizens to freely choose their place of employment within the EU – is something that we view positively, as we hold immigration to be a chance to counter the skills shortages and demographic changes in Germany.

The EU is facing major challenges and even if the individual member states often disagree with each other, compartmentalization and isolation are not solutions. We call on politicians to engage in a constructive and joint effort to find the best solutions in the spirit of European values and believe that only as a strong European community with shared responsibilities can we overcome the great challenges currently facing us.

In an era marked by multiple crises—ranging from climate change to conflicts in Europe, along with the complexities of refugee movements—certain trends are emerging. These trends, often offering purportedly simple solutions, are causing widespread unease among the populace. They contribute to a growing distrust of our democratically elected leaders, fostering a crisis of confidence. Consequently, right-wing populist parties, some harboring anti-EU and anti-establishment sentiments, are gaining traction.

As a company, we are committed to countering these trends and championing the protection of one of our most cherished assets: democracy. Through our business practices, we exemplify how meaningful transformation can be achieved. We aspire to inspire others, both individuals and organizations, to join us on this journey. In doing so, we aim to bolster the unity and resilience of our economy and democratic institutions.

Our message is resolute: let us embrace our shared responsibility within Germany and across the EU. Let us act as catalysts for courage and agents of hope amidst the turbulence of our times!