VAUDE

Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate VAUDE “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials, however it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of materials used.
• It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but there’s no evidence it is on track.
• To minimise waste, it recycles some of its textile offcuts.
• It uses some recycled packaging. 
• It uses tanneries that are Leather Working Group Gold certified.

Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate VAUDE “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Its final production stage is monitored by the Fair Wear Foundation.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles.
• It audits some of its supply chain including all of the final production stage.
• It provides a confidential complaints mechanism for workers in its supply chain to report suspected modern slavery.
• It ensures some workers in the final production stage are paid living wages.
• During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it disclosed adequate policies to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.

Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate VAUDE “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It appears to use leather, wool, and down.
• Some of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional leather, wool, and down.
• It doesn’t appear to use shearling, cashmere, alpaca, or mohair.
• It has a policy to source wool from non-mulesed sheep but doesn’t provide any evidence to verify its claims.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate VAUDE “Good” overall.