Double success: Two awards for VAUDE

• VAUDE: Germany's most sustainable textile company
• Special prize "Value chain"

27.11.23 - At the German Sustainability Award (DNP) ceremony on November 23 and 24 in Düsseldorf, VAUDE received two of the coveted silver balls. The outdoor brand won the DNP 2024 in two categories: Value Chain and Textiles. With the special award for the transformation field "Value Chain", VAUDE prevailed against numerous winners across all industries. VAUDE had previously won first prize in the "Textiles" sector. VAUDE is one of the four finalists in the DNP Sport with its circular "Rethink" products.

"The fact that we managed to win in two challenging categories makes me proud. Proud of my VAUDE colleagues who made this success possible through their commitment, expertise and work. And also proud to be able to show that a sustainable transformation is possible," says Antje von Dewitz, VAUDE Managing Director. VAUDE has won the German Sustainability Award for the second time - in 2015 VAUDE was named "Germany's most sustainable brand". For the family-owned company, the DNP 2024 is a special recognition on its 50th anniversary.

The German Sustainability Award, which was presented for the 16th time this year, is considered Europe's most important award for ecological and social commitment. Over 1,200 guests and prominent award winners took part in the award ceremony. For the first time, the "Pioneers of Transformation" in 100 sectors were honored with the DNP Company in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the DIHK and the WWF. In addition, four winners from all the best sectors were awarded a special prize for particularly exemplary achievements in the transformation fields of resources, value chain, nature and climate. The DNP focuses on these fields in which change is most urgently needed in order to achieve overarching sustainable development.

Special prize "Value chain"

VAUDE was honored with the special award in the "Value Chain" transformation field for its long-standing commitment to the global supply chain. "Through VAUDE's own and at the same time industry's strictest environmental standard Green Shape and the associated comprehensive environmental management using recognized standards as well as the voluntary renunciation of harmful chemicals, the company protects the environment, pays attention to animal welfare and at the same time complies with the highest social standards in the supply chain. VAUDE provides transparent and proactive information on sensitive issues such as working conditions in Asia and is also politically committed to socially just changes, e.g. for a strong European supply chain law or the CSRD directive," the jury concluded. The VAUDE Academy for Sustainable Business, which was founded in 2020 and supports other companies in their transformation processes with its expertise, was also particularly praised.

Jan Lorch, VAUDE Head of Sales & CSR, is delighted with the entire VAUDE team about this special award: "The DNP jury recognized our commitment to a fair and environmentally friendly supply chain. We show that even in the challenging textile industry, there are solutions that we need for a transformation."

VAUDE in 1st place in the textile industry

VAUDE has won the DNP Company in the "Textiles" sector. "We are delighted to have been recognized as a sustainable pioneer in the textile industry. Kudos to the entire VAUDE team and our long-standing commitment to manufacturing environmentally friendly and fair products. We would like to thank the jury of the German Sustainability Award for recognizing our work," says Uwe Gottschalk, VAUDE Product Management. The ecological and social challenges in the global textile industry are particularly great and highly relevant for an overarching transformation. VAUDE has been committed to high social standards and environmentally friendly, energy-efficient production along the entire global supply chain for many years. The focus is on manufacturing innovative, environmentally friendly and fair products. Equally important to the outdoor brand is the long service life of its products, which are durable, repairable and reusable.

DNP Sport finalist

With the newly introduced DNP Sport, outstanding achievements that promote sustainable change in the sports sector were honored for the first time. VAUDE made it to the final with its innovative approaches to textile recycling and the circular economy. As a finalist, VAUDE is delighted to have been recognized for its innovative "Rethink" products, which consist of at least 95 percent recycled mono-materials and enable a genuine textile cycle. "We see the circular economy as an important lever for more sustainable, resource- and emission-saving textile production," says Uwe Gottschalk.

Mastering transformation together

At the award ceremony, it became clear how important it is to tackle the challenges together, to join forces and to motivate and support each other. This is also very important to Antje von Dewitz: "Congratulations to all the other award winners - it is a great feeling to see that companies from all sectors of the economy are committed to sustainable transformation. Paths are created where we walk them together - even if we have not yet reached our goal."

About the German Sustainability Award

The DNP is an initiative of the German Sustainability Award Foundation in cooperation with the German government, municipal umbrella organizations, business associations, civil society organizations and research institutions. Juries of renowned experts from business, politics, research and civil society decide on the winners. Pioneering contributions to the transformation towards a sustainable future will be honored. Best practice examples are used to show how sustainable development can be successfully achieved.

VAUDE was delighted and jubilant when Managing Director Dr. Antje von Dewitz and her colleagues received two silver balls at the German Sustainability Award (DNP) ceremony in Düsseldorf on November 24.

More about the DNP company: Company | German Sustainability Award

More about the special prizes for the transformation fields: Transformation fields winners and finalists | German Sustainability Award

DNP press area: Press releases | German Sustainability Award

More about the DNP Sport: Sport | German Sustainability Award

More about VAUDE at https://nachhaltigkeitsbericht.vaude.com/