VAUDE ranks among Europe's leading mountain sports brand names. The company has achieved continuous growth in all sectors. VAUDE products are sold worldwide.
Legal form
VAUDE Sport GmbH & Co. KG
Company is 100 percent family-owned
Executive director
Dr. Antje von Dewitz
VAUDE Brand Divisions:
Mountain Sports: Functional Apparel, Shoes, Backpacks, Tents, Sleeping Bags, Children’s Clothing, Children’s Gear, Accessories
Bike Sports: Bike Apparel, Bike Shoes, Backpacks, Bike Bags, Accessories, Bike Apparel and Backpacks for Children
Packs ‘n Bags: Bags, Backpacks, Travel Bags, Children’s Backpacks and Bags
Employees:
VAUDE Germany (Headquarters: Tettnang): 500 Employees
Brand Alliance
with the climbing brand EDELRID
Awards
2016 VAUDE wins the environmental and business prize, GreenTec Award in the category “Green Office by KYOCERA” for the sustainable remodelling of the company headquarters.
2016 The German Council for Sustainable Development awards VAUDE with the “Werkstatt N” seal of quality. The Second Use Program was honored with which VAUDE, together with eBay, supports the private resale of VAUDE products using a “re-commerce platform” to extend the lifespan of its products.
2016 VAUDE is the recipient of the German Business Ethics Network (DNWE) Award for corporate ethics.
2016 VAUDE is honored with the Ecosport Awards in Paris in the category “Sustainable Management”. This award is presented by the largest French associations of sporting goods manufacturers under the auspices of the Ministry of Sport as well as the Ministry of Sustainability.
2015 VAUDE received the highest honors at the prestigious German Sustainability Award and is elated with being named “Germany's Most Sustainable Brand”. This prize, which ranks among the most prestigious awards of its kind in Europe, is awarded by the German Sustainability Award Foundation e.V. in cooperation with the federal government under the patronage of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
2015 VAUDE receives the Green Controlling Prize 2015 awarded by the Péter Horváth Foundation in recognition of fully integrated green controlling in its corporate management process.
2015 VAUDE is honored for its successful, sustainable business strategy with the Axia Award 2014 by the auditing firm Deloitte. "We really appreciate business activities that balance man and nature. In order to engage in value-driven business, we must be economically excellent. We are showing that this is feasible and appreciate the fact that we are contributing to a rethinking of the economy", says Erwin Gutensohn, VAUDE CFO.
2015 VAUDE is nominated for the international "Boldness in Business Awards 2015" in the category "Corporate Responsibility / Environment". The prize is awarded by the Financial Times. Antje von Dewitz, VAUDE CEO, attended the awards ceremony in London: "It is a great honor and a great recognition in a global environment to be among the top 6 companies nominated in this category."
2013 VAUDE among the three best companies for the FamilyNET Award given to family-friendly companies by the State of Baden-Württemberg.
2013 VAUDE nominated for the CSR Award of the German Federal Government.
2013 VAUDE founder Albrecht von Dewitz is named OutDoor Celebrity 2013, an award presented by the European OutDoor Trade Fair honoring a personality who has made a significant contribution to the outdoor industry.
2013 VAUDE receives the Green Fleet Award from TÜV Süd for its commitment to reducing greenhouse gases in its corporate activities as well as employee commuting.
2013 In the German “Outdoor” magazine readership survey, VAUDE won 1st place in the category "Green Innovations" and was chosen most environmentally-friendly brand.
2013 VAUDE receives the title "Familienbewusstes Unternehmen" (Family Friendly Company) from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Finance and Economics, The Employeers' Associations Südwestmetall and Chemie Baden-Württemberg, and the State Council for Family Affairs.
2012 “VSF Ethikpreis 2012” (Ethics Award 2012) from the German biking branch as recognition for the company’s social activism.
2012 Nomination for the German “CSR Award 2012” as recognition for the company’s contribution to climate protection.
2012 Finalist in the business competition “Erfolgsfaktor Familie 2012” (Success Factor Family 2012) from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs which honors Germany’s most family-friendly businesses.
2012 Dr. Antje von Dewitz receives the “B.A.U.M. Umweltpreis 2012” (B.A.U.M. Environmental Award 2012) from the hands of the German Environmental Minister Peter Altmaier and is received by Federal President Joachim Gauck.
2012 The German trade magazine “outdoor.markt” honors VAUDE as the best outdoor brand of the year.
2012 "Landespreis für junge Unternehmen" (national prize for young companies) (Top 10) from the State of Baden-Württemberg and L-Bank.
History
2015 VAUDE inaugurates the completely renovated office building at its head-quarters, which offers employees healthy, future-oriented working stations, an organic canteen, and a climbing wall. The thoroughly sustainable building is DGNB-certified (German Association for Sustainable Building).
2015 For its commitment to achieving fair working conditions worldwide, VAUDE attains “Leader” status by the independent organization Fair Wear Foundation (FWF). VAUDE is producing 96 percent of its total production in facilities that have been monitored in accordance with FWF requirements.
2015 As the first company in the outdoor industry, VAUDE publishes an audited Common Good Balance Sheet, which not only evaluates economic factors, but environmental and social factors as well. VAUDE is a pioneering company in the Economy of the Common Good (ECG), an initiative that works toward a rethinking of the economy for the common good.
2015 As an additional component of its sustainability strategy, VAUDE is launching the “VAUDE Second Use Shop” (www.ebay.de/vaude) in Germany. The shop is a platform where private sellers can resell their used VAUDE brand products. This prolongs the life cycle of the product and prevents quality products from ending up in a landfill.
2014 VAUDE is a founding member of the “Bündnis für nachhaltige Textilien” (Alliance for Sustainable Textiles), which the Federal Government launched in October 2014. The aim of this alliance between the Federal Government, textile and apparel industry, commerce, trade unions and civil society is to implement recognized environmental and social standards in the entire value chain of textile production worldwide.
2014 VAUDE publishes its environmental report in accordance with the international GRI standards (Global Reporting Initiative) for the first time. Its economic, ecological and social performance have been clearly and transparently presented based on comparable indicators at the new website: http://www.vaude-nachhaltigkeitsbericht.com
2012 Climate neutrality: The VAUDE company headquarters and all products manufactured there are climate neutral. All company generated greenhouse gases emissions are quantified, systematically reduced and compensated for by climate protection projects of the non-profit organization myclimate.
2012 VAUDE joins forces with Fairwertung: Responsible collection and marketing of used products to benefit non-profit organizations.
2012 VAUDE signs the German Sustainability Code in Berlin, making VAUDE one of the first companies to use the code for sustainable development.
2011 WWF Germany and VAUDE seal a cooperation for environmental protection. VAUDE supports WWF Germany and works together with the WWF experts on environmental issues.
2010 The VAUDE production facilities at the company headquarters in Obereisenbach and in Vietnam are certified under the strict bluesign® environmental standard.
2010 VAUDE joins the Fair Wear Foundation, underscoring its CSR objectives for fair working conditions and transparency.
2010 Launch of “Green Shape”, the VAUDE guarantee for environmentally friendly and resource-conserving products.
2009 Antje von Dewitz, daughter of the company founder, Albrecht von Dewitz, takes over the company management.
2008 EMAS und ISO 14001: VAUDE is the first European Outdoor company to be certified under the EMAS and ISO 14001 regulations
2006 The VAUDE Kinderhaus childcare center opens facilitating the balance between work and private life for the employees.
2006 VAUDE takes over the management of the local outdoor swimming pool in Obereisenbach/Tettnang where the company headquarters are located in order to prevent the pool from closing down.
2006 VAUDE forms a brand alliance with the climbing brand EDELRID (Edelmann + Ridder GmbH & Co. KG, Headquarters: Isny/Germany).
2005 VAUDE earns the “Beruf & Familie” (Career and Family) seal of quality for its family friendly policies.
2002 VAUDE becomes an official partner and sponsor of the German Alpine Club (DAV).
2001 Ecological bluesign® Standard: As the first sporting goods manufacturer to do so, VAUDE start producing according to the strict bluesign® environmental standard.
2001 Opening of the company’s on-site Kinderhaus childcare center.
1998 VAUDE founds the product division Packs´n Bags, a stylish-functional bags and backpack collection which makes a fast breakthrough in the lifestyle market.
1994 The Ecolog Recycling Network is created: functional high-tech apparel can be 100% recycled for the first time.
1992 VAUDE founds the product division Bike. Today VAUDE is a leading manufacturer of bike accessories such as bike backpacks, bike bags, and functional apparel for mountain bikers and bike travellers.
1980 VAUDE moves the company headquarters to to the company premises in Tettnang-Obereisenbach, where “Made in Germany” products are still produced.
1974 Albrecht von Dewitz founds VAUDE which sells mountain sports gear and produces its own backpacks.
