VAUDE consistently reduces emissions - Net Zero by 2040
- VAUDE reduces global emissions as quickly as possible on a large scale
- 50 percent fewer emissions by 2030 (compared to 2019)
- VAUDE meets the 1.5 degree target
Tettnang, 24.09.2024 - Climate protection is human protection - this becomes particularly clear in view of the dramatic flood situation in Central and Eastern Europe. According to scientific findings, these floods are due to climate change. Therefore, further warming must be stopped urgently - by switching to renewable energies and reducing CO2 emissions. "A 'business as usual' approach would be fatal. That's why it has long been clear to us that we need to take action," explains Antje von Dewitz, VAUDE Managing Director. The outdoor brand has been pursuing science-based climate targets for many years and shows that companies can effectively protect the climate. In order to comply with the 1.5 degree limit, VAUDE has committed to an ambitious Net Zero climate strategy, which has now been validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The climatic conditions under which we will live in the future depend heavily on what we do today to protect the climate - climate science makes this very clear. This is why VAUDE has made climate protection a top priority throughout the company, both at the Tettnang site and in global production. "We want to do our part to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. This means that we are reducing our greenhouse gas emissions year on year in order to achieve net zero as a company by 2040. We are putting all our energy, courage and pioneering spirit into this," says Antje von Dewitz.
VAUDE on the way to Net Zero
Based on the global carbon footprint, VAUDE has now drawn up a long-term climate strategy validated by the SBTi with the aim of achieving "Net Zero" across the entire value chain by 2040 - and thus meeting the 1.5 degree target. Net zero means achieving a balance between man-made greenhouse gas emissions and the reduction of these climate-damaging emissions that are released into the atmosphere. "In order to have a well-founded roadmap, the global data was collected and the next step was to calculate what level of emissions must be reduced and over what period of time," explains Hilke Patzwall, Head of Sustainability Management at VAUDE. Two major goals were derived from this:
By 2030: 50 percent fewer emissions (compared to the base year 2019)
By 2040: 90 percent fewer emissions (compared to the base year 2019)
After achieving the net zero target, the remaining 10 percent that cannot be avoided despite all efforts will be offset through nature-based climate protection. As a result, VAUDE as a company meets the high Net Zero requirements with all products. "Through renaturation measures such as the rewetting of moors, we ensure that CO2 is bound in nature and at the same time protect other planetary boundaries such as biodiversity and water. This is very important to us," says Hilke Patzwall.
With the goal of achieving Net Zero by 2040, VAUDE is ahead of climate policy targets, which the company fully supports. For comparison: Germany wants to achieve Net Zero by 2045; the European Union has agreed as part of the Green Deal to emit no more net greenhouse gases by 2050.
What milestones has VAUDE already achieved?
The latest carbon footprint for the 2023 financial year, which was recently published in the new Sustainability Report, shows that VAUDE has already been able to significantly reduce its emissions. VAUDE succeeded in reducing total emissions by 30 percent in 2023 (compared to 2019), while sales increased by 32 percent in the same period. For example, emissions from the vehicle fleet and heating were reduced by 36 percent compared to 2019. The use of 100% green electricity at the company's German headquarters also makes an important contribution. However, the greatest and most challenging potential for savings at VAUDE lies in the choice of materials for products and the use of energy in the supply chain.
Outdoor products made from recycled and renewable materials
By switching from fossil raw materials to recycled and renewable materials, VAUDE has already achieved enormous savings. In the current summer collection, 75 percent already have a recycled or renewable material content of over 50 percent. VAUDE has set itself a new, even more ambitious goal to further reduce the use of fossil raw materials in material production: By 2030, 90% of all VAUDE products should have a recycled or renewable material content of at least 85%.
Switch to lower-emission energy sources in the supply chain
By far the largest share of company-wide emissions is generated in the manufacture of the materials used in VAUDE products. VAUDE has also achieved significant savings here: in 2023, emissions were already 30 percent lower than in 2019. Strong partnerships are needed to advance the energy transition in the global supply chain. Since 2021, VAUDE has been working with nine other outdoor brands as part of the Carbon Reduction Project to ensure that suppliers switch from coal to lower-emission energy sources. In addition, energy efficiency measures are being implemented, for example through lower-emission dyeing machines.
"We are consistently pursuing this path. In view of the advancing climate change, there is no alternative to Net Zero according to science. We still have room for maneuver, but the window of opportunity is closing. That's why it's so important that many people get on board and drive forward the urgently needed transformation. Together we can do it," appeals Antje von Dewitz.
Further information on the VAUDE climate strategy in our sustainability report: VAUDE CSR Report - From "climate neutral" to "Net Zero"
sBTI Net Zero Verification Report (as of August 2024): NET-ZERO AND NEAR-TERM TARGET VALIDATION REPORT (vaude.com)
more on energy management in the supply chain: VAUDE CSR Report - Energy in the supply chain
new blog post on climate strategy: VAUDE climate strategy Net Zero by 2040