"I am thrilled to be a recipient of this award, which clearly shows that protecting our planet is becoming increasingly important on a global level. We are seeing that more and more people around the world want to live and consume in a way that does not harm the planet or its people. I would like to use the opportunities afforded to me as an entrepreneur to find solutions to global challenges such as climate change and microplastics, and at the same time show that we can change the world. Our level of engagement involves a great deal of effort, but it has now become a driver of innovation, which is helping us make great progress as a company," said Antje von Dewitz.
The jury emphasized that VAUDE encourages people to both think about whether products feature fair and eco-friendly manufacturing and to align themselves with these values when considering their purchases. Furthermore, there was much praise for the fact that VAUDE created its own strict Green Shape sustainability label and also contributed to the introduction of the cross-industry textile label, the Grüner Knopf (Green Button). Innovative concepts that VAUDE uses to extend the life of its products and contribute to recycling management also received great recognition. These include cooperation with the repair platform iFixit, the VAUDE Second Use Shop on eBay and the VAUDE Upcyling Workshop. Antje von Dewitz received enthusiastic applause for the fact that her company has been climate-neutral since 2012 and now wants to extend this goal to worldwide production.
In addition to Antje von Dewitz, four other award winners were honored for environmental and sustainable tourism projects in Bolivia, Myanmar, Denmark and India. The awards were presented by the editorial staff of the British magazine Vanity Fair with the support of the sponsors Leica and Anantara.
All award winners are presented in the current issue of Vanity Fair:
https://www.vanityfair.com/london/photos/2020/02/vanity-fair-changing-your-mind-travel-awards-2020
More about VAUDE’s commitment to sustainability:
https://csr-report.vaude.com/