Global responsibility – down to the last detail
Globalization also has a
dark side. It often goes hand in hand with environmental pollution and unfair
working conditions. The outdoor outfitter VAUDE – with production involving the
global supply chain – is convinced that companies both can and should make a
positive contribution toward meeting these challenges. With this in mind, the company not
only implements sustainable goals at its headquarters in southern
Germany, but also at the production facilities that manufacture products on
behalf of VAUDE throughout the world. As a pioneer in the field, VAUDE is taking
this process one step further and has also started working with its suppliers to
achieve high environmental and social standards. The company wants to ensure
that VAUDE products are manufactured ecologically and fairly – throughout the entire
global supply chain.
One year ago, VAUDE launched the project
"Environmental Stewardship in the Supply Chain", to raise its
suppliers’ awareness of environmental and social issues and to provide them
with the know-how they need to implement change. Over the next two years, VAUDE
will offer training sessions for the suppliers of its product materials in
Asia. Knowledge and experience will be shared enabling local
stakeholders to make progress toward their own sustainable development – a
pioneering approach with great potential as a model for future projects.
An outdoor jacket consists of approximately 50 components,
such as linings, membranes, laminates, zippers, drawcords, buttons, thread and
labels. These items are
manufactured by many different and delivered to production facilities which
then use them to assemble jackets for VAUDE.
Supporting and challenging
VAUDE maintains direct business relationships with its
production facilities and has long worked to ensure that they are operating in
accordance with strict social and environmental standards. One example – VAUDE so
consistently pursued Leader Status in the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF), that 99
percent of its production volume is now made in facilities that have been
audited under the strict criteria of the FWF. Approximately 80 percent of the
VAUDE Apparel Collection features environmentally friendly production that
meets the Green Shape criteria – made from sustainable materials as well as
resource-conserving and fair production. In addition, the majority of its
material suppliers are already certified in accordance with the bluesign® System,
which is like an "Ecological Purity Law" – permitting only approved
materials. Now VAUDE is going one step further and is committed to implementing
comprehensive environmental and social standards among the suppliers of its
materials and components. The aim is to ensure clean production processes and safe
workplaces for these suppliers as well, and to avoid environmental pollution of
local areas.
As a pioneer, VAUDE is providing concrete assistance
to its suppliers, thereby creating not only more transparency, but also
promoting sustainable development. The company is voluntarily committed to
offering consumers a scrupulously clean and fair product.
Helping people help
themselves
VAUDE, together with external experts for
environmental, chemical and job safety management, is addressing this self-imposed
task at the local level. With training courses and workshops, VAUDE is working together
with the major suppliers of its production operations to develop viable
solutions. In addition, the facilities are receiving concrete assistance in
implementing measures for environmental protection and occupational safety as
well as social standards and the efficient use of resources in their
operations. At the same time, suppliers are also recognizing that such measures
can often reduce operating costs, which is a further incentive for management.
Role model as a result of consistency
Thanks to the voluntary participation of suppliers, 80%
by volume of the primary and lining materials that VAUDE processes have already
been included in the project. The goal is to roll out the project over the next
few years for all material suppliers. But the matter doesn’t end here; as a
founding member of the "Alliance for Sustainable Textile" VAUDE is
using this project to act as a role model for best practices, which could provide
momentum for the entire textile industry. VAUDE is a founding member of this
alliance, which brings together industry associations, civil society,
government and many manufacturers of the textile industry. The project "Environmental
Stewardship in the Supply Chain" is funded by the Federal Ministry of
Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Deutsche Investitions- und
Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) within the "develoPPP.de" program.
VAUDE’s ecological and
social commitment in the Sustainability Report: http://csr-report.vaude.com/
More on the pilot project:
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