VAUDE () is a German producer of mountain

sports equipment Sports equipment, sporting equipment, also called sporting goods, are the tools, materials, apparel, and gear used to compete in a sport and varies depending on the sport. The equipment ranges from balls, nets, and protective gear like helmets. ...

. The head office is in

Tettnang Tettnang is a town in the Bodensee district in southern Baden-Württemberg in a region of Germany known as Swabia. It lies 7 kilometres from Lake Constance. The region produces significant quantities of Tettnang hop, an ingredient of beer, and ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. It was founded in 1974 by Albrecht von Dewitz. The name of the firm is derived from the initials of its founder (''V, D''). The company is 100 percent family owned.vaude.com:
About us
' In 2009, the management was handed over to his daughter

Antje von Dewitz Antje von Dewitz (born 18 September 1972 in Ebingen) is a German entrepreneur. She is the managing director of the company VAUDE, a producer of mountain sports equipment based in Tettnang. She holds 46% of the company's shares. Family and early ...

. Products include tents,

backpack A backpack—also called knapsack, schoolbag, rucksack, rucksac, pack, sackpack, booksack, bookbag or backsack—is, in its simplest frameless form, a fabric sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders ...

s, and

sleeping bag A sleeping bag is an insulated covering for a person, essentially a lightweight quilt that can be closed with a zipper or similar means to form a tube, which functions as lightweight, portable bedding in situations where a person is sleeping ...

s. There are 486 employees working in the head office in Germany. The corporate group also owns production facilities in Bỉm Sơn, Vietnam. In 2006, Edelrid became a part of the Vaude Group.edelrid.com:

' The brands Lucky (climbing supplies) and Markill (camping stoves) were integrated in the Edelrid brand in 2008. Markill was originally a brand of the company Marsteller & Killman founded in

Thuringia Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million. Erfurt is the capital and lar ...

in 1866 and established in

Kettwig Kettwig is the southernmost borough of the city of Essen in western Germany and, until 1975, was a town in its own right. Kettwig is situated next to the Ruhr river, at a median height of 53 metres above sea level. It is the most recently incor ...

in 1907. Marsteller & Killman produced stoves, cooking utensils, food containers, and aluminum bottles. In 2017, the Vaude Group took over Red Chili, a producer mainly of climbing shoes and other climbing garments. Red Chili is now part of Edelrid. VAUDE is the official outfitter of the climbing association German Alpine Club since 2002.

Corporate social responsibility and environmental protection

In 2014, VAUDE published its first corporate responsibility report established in accordance with the guidelines of the

Global Reporting Initiative The Global Reporting Initiative (known as GRI) is an international independent standards organization that helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate their impacts on issues such as climate change, human righ ...

. Since 2010, the company is a member of the

Fair Wear Foundation Fair Wear Foundation (Fair Wear) is an independent multi-stakeholder organisation that works with garment brands, garment workers and industry influencers to improve labour conditions in garment factories. Receiving the Fair Wear stamp of approv ...

, an organisation which is seeking to improve working conditions in the textile industry. To ensure a manufacturing process which is as environmentally friendly and safe as possible, VAUDE applies the ''bluesign'' production standard. The company headquarter in Tettnang is climate neutral. In 2015, VAUDE was one of six companies nominated for the

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Ni ...

' ''Boldness in Business Award'' in the category ''Corporate Responsibility/Environment''. At the end of the year, VAUDE has won the first place in the category ''Germany's Most Sustainable Brand'' of the German Sustainability Award. VAUDE obtained numerous further awards in the area of environmental protection and sustainability. Regional activities include the running of the company-owned creche for about 30 children, and the take over of the local public swimming pool, to save it from being closed. VAUDE recommends and is a reseller of Nikwax detergents and waterproofing products which are environmentally friendly because they are water-based, solvent-free and fluorocarbon-free (without the GHS09: Environmental hazard symbol). Largely adhering to the

Economy for the Common Good Economy for the Common Good (ECG) is a global social movement that advocates an alternative economic model, which is beneficial to people, the planet and future generations. The common good economy puts the common good, cooperation and community i ...

, VAUDE publishes an additional balance sheet based on its criteria. In 2019, VAUDE was among the first batch of companies to obtain the newly created ''Green Button'' which is an official certificate bestowed by the German government to indicate high ecological and social standards. The company is a supporter of the foundation ''Development and Climate Alliance'' which helps companies and other organisations in becoming climate neutral. The company has achieved complete climate neutrality at the beginning of 2022.

VAUDE Academy

The ''VAUDE Academy for sustainable business'' offers consulting services to companies that want to become more sustainable or develop a sustainble business. During the first two years of its existence, the Academy is being supported by the ''German Federal Environmental Foundation''.

Support for refugee employees

Vaude is one of the founding companies of the association ''Bleiberecht durch Arbeit'' (''Right of Residence through Work''), established in 2018, which promotes the granting of right of residence for refugees with permanent employment contract. Due to the scarcity of skilled labour, Vaude would suffer considerable economic damage had their refugee employees to return to their countries of origin. Numerous companies face the same problems and thus joined the association.

Gallery

File:2016 VAUDE Aussenbereich.jpg, Headquarters in Obereisenbach, 2016 File:2015 VAUDE Gebäude mit Kletterbereich.jpg, Climbing area at the headquarters, 2016 File:Vaude Standort Tettnang Deutschland.jpg, Headquarters in 2013 File:VAUDE Asymmetric Backpack.jpg, VAUDE Asymmetric backpack File:VAUDE Neyland Jacket.jpg, VAUDE Neyland Jacket File:Vaude bags.jpg, Bags by VAUDE from 2009

VAUDE-sponsored athletes (past and present)

VAUDE-sponsored teams, athletes and events include: * since 2021: ''Team TREK, VAUDE'' as mountainbike team * in 2021: ''BANFF'' Mountain film festival world tourWebsite
of the tour * Aline Bock (freeride snowboarder) *Team

Colnago Colnago Ernesto & C. S.r.l. or Colnago is a manufacturer of high quality road-racing bicycles founded by Ernesto Colnago near Milano in Cambiago, Italy. It remained a family-controlled firm until May 4, 2020, when it was announced that the UAE- ...

( cycle sport), including Eva Lechner *Team Centurion VAUDE (cycle sport) * Angela Eiter (

climbing Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders), to small boulders. Climbing is done ...

world cup champion) *Kilian Fischhuber (

bouldering Bouldering is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help se ...

world cup champion)

References

External links

* {{Authority control Companies based in Baden-Württemberg Outdoor clothing brands Climbing and mountaineering equipment companies Manufacturing companies established in 1974 Camping equipment manufacturers Sportswear brands 1974 establishments in West Germany German brands