VAUDE shoes
Sustainability
Why VAUDE footwear leaves behind a smaller footprint
Going the eco-friendly and fair route… This is what drives us and at the same time is the matter closest to heart. We are consistently pursuing a “green” path with integrated concepts and sustainably innovative products.
The following Green Shape features make your footprint even smaller when you’re wearing VAUDE footwear:
Sustainable Design:
- timeless, long lasting products with high material efficiency and high quality
- repair and recyclability are taken into consideration
Environmentally friendly materials:
- use of certified, resource conserving materials
- over 50 % biobased or recycled materials in every product
Responsible Production:
- all sewing factories have verified social standards
Longer use, servicing and repair:
- can be washed at low temperatures
- no dry cleaning required
- VAUDE repair services, repair instructions and replacement parts
Recycling and disposal:
- high product quality enables second hand use
- cooperation in industry-wide take-back and recycling
systems
These Green Shape criteria will be valid for all newly developed products starting with our Summer Season 2022 and for all products by summer 2024.
Recycled materials
Where possible, we use recycled materials in our shoes, such as the inner lining, outsole and midsole. Turning waste into new raw materials: When recycling, we can almost halve the impact on the environment compared to new production. Recycling is sustainable, reduces the greenhouse effect and contributes to climate protection. By recycling valuable raw materials, we use fewer fossil raw materials and also significantly reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption in material production. For example, we use recycled material from PET bottles for many functional materials such as insulation, padding, membranes, nylon and fleece.
Recycled Polyamide
Recycled polyamide obtained from used items such as fishing nets or carpets. Rather than disposing of surplus materials or residuals from textile production, we collect, process and reuse them in our production facilities. Valuable resources are put to maximal use so we need as little new raw materials as possible, protecting our climate and saving CO2.
• resource-efficient production from residual materials
• maximum utilization of valuable raw resources
• contributes to CO2 reduction and climate protection
Recycelt PES
Recycled PET
Collect, clean, granulate and spin into high quality polyester yarn – that’s what’s involved in the recycling of PET bottles. In the manufacturing process, we can reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 50% while completely eliminating the use of new fossil fuels. This conserves resources and keeps our ecological footprint small.
• high-quality polyester yarn made from recycled PET bottles
• reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 50 percent
• climate-friendly and resource-efficient production
Sympatex
The Sympatex® membrane is environmentally friendly, 100% waterproof (>45,000 mm water column), 100% windproof and at the same time optimally breathable. It is bluesign® certified and consists of 100% recyclable, skin-friendly and health-hazardous polyether ester. It is 100% PTFE-free and is manufactured in Europe. More about water and wind protection for bike shoes and water and wind protection for mountaineering shoes.
Renewable / Biobased Materials
At VAUDE, we have set ourselves the goal of increasing our use of plant-based, renewable raw materials in the production of our outdoor gear. Biobased materials contribute to reducing CO2 levels and the conservation of fossil resources helps to protect against climate change. We are now using biobased plastics derived from plants such as corn, sugar cane and castor oil in many products such as our shoe soles, apparel and backpacks. The advantage: Plants absorb CO2 until they are harvested, and when they are used they only release as much climate-damaging emissions as they absorbed during the growth phase. This is quite different from crude oil, from which conventional plastics are extracted. In addition to biobased plastics, natural plant fibers such as organic cotton or hemp can also be an alternative to synthetic materials. By using materials made from renewable raw materials, we are reducing the need for fossil fuels and contributing to protecting the planet from climate change.
TPU from corn
A plastic that is made from corn. This bioplastic pays off on our way to climate neutrality for all VAUDE products. The particularly elastic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is produced, among other things, from the renewable raw material corn in a chemical process and is used, for example, in the midsoles of our outdoor shoes. The advantage: 30% less CO2 emissions are generated during production than with oil-based TPU. The plant-based raw material used for the TPU is not genetically manipulated. The rapidly renewable raw material maize is thus an excellent alternative to conventional plastics that are produced using petroleum. The bioplastic made from maize thus contributes to CO2 reduction, the conservation of fossil resources and thus to climate protection.
Organic Cotton
Partially made from certified organic cotton grown under strict ecological conditions. Cultivation requires less water consumption than conventional cotton and needs no chemical fertilizers, pesticides or genetic engineering. By buying organic cotton, VAUDE is contributing to the sustainable development of small farmers and to the preservation of biodiversity in areas of cultivation.
• renewable raw resource made from natural materials
• cultivated without chemical fertilizers, genetic engineering or pesticides
• protects the environment and reduces water consumption
Certified Leather
Partially made from certified bull leather from registered farms in northern Germany. We want to know where our leather comes from and how it is processed. This highly functional, renewable natural product features climate friendly manufacturing under strict environmental and animal welfare conditions. This guarantees you a product that feels natural and you can rely on eco-friendly, resource-conserving manufacturing. Its high environmental sustainability has been honored several times with the Gold Medal of the Leather Working Group.
• highly functional natural product with certified leather from Germany
• produced under strict environmental and animal welfare conditions
• climate-neutral, resource-efficient and environmentally-friendly production
EVA from sugar cane
The renewable raw material sugar cane is used in a chemical process to produce a bioplastic that can be used, for example, for shoe soles. Usually, petroleum-based EVA is used for this purpose, which is made from ethylene and vinyl acetate. With the use of sugar cane, the ethylene component can now be produced biobased by producing ethylene from the sugar of the sugar cane. This means that an important component of EVA is obtained from sugar instead of petroleum. The advantages of using sugar cane as a raw material are manifold: the plant absorbs CO2 during its growth and the production of the bioplastic causes fewer harmful CO2 emissions. In addition, fossil resources are conserved. Another important step for climate protection and towards the climate neutrality of our sustainable VAUDE products.
Sustainable Technologies
Eco Finish
This water and stain resistant finish is applied to the outer fabric of your product so that water pearls up and runs right off – without the use of environmentally harmful fluorocarbons (PFCs). This protects you from the rain and keeps the planet clean. Regular reapplication is necessary for permanent waterproofing and stain resistance.
• environmentally friendly water repellency and stain resistance
• optimal protection from rain and moisture
• no use of environmentally harmful fluorocarbons (PFC)
PVC Free
We have completely eliminated the use of hazardous PVC in all VAUDE products because we love nature. This robust, durable and high quality product is made with eco-friendly alternatives featuring absolutely comparable properties.
• without harmful PVC
• material is robust and durable
• environmentally-friendly manufacturing
European production in Portugal
We produce some of our shoes in Europe, more precisely in Portugal. This saves us and, above all, the environment a lot of transport, because our suppliers are located very close to the production site. The route to the shops is also much shorter, as we only ship within Europe. All models produced in Portugal can be resoled and therefore have a much longer product life. At the end of their product life, the individual components can be separated and recycled.
