
February 2, 2024 Is “Made in Europe” better? Brand’s CSR report explores claim
Ortovox publishes its biennial People Report, outlining its work with communities, improving labor conditions and supporting a more nuanced view of the advantages of supply chains stemming from southeast Asia.
Ortovox, the South German supplier of mountain sports equipment, documents its initiatives on responsible action in its Planet Report and People Report. The two reports are published alternately each year and provide comprehensive insights into the progress the company is making toward achieving its sustainability goals.
The recently published People Report 2023 focuses on the key word “cooperation”: With suppliers to overcome new challenges in the supply chain through a partnership and, within the company, to prepare for the Obligation to Exercise Due Diligence in the Supply Chain Act. This illustrates the company’s initiatives for developing close partnerships along the supply chain that enable safe and fair working conditions for the employees. An important aspect this year relates to suppliers in Asia, where around 50% of Ortovox products are manufactured. Here, the company is deviating from its self-imposed goal of “60% production in Europe” – and has good reasons for doing so.
“Whether a supplier is based in Europe or Asia is not what determines how the company is led,” emphasizes Katrin Bauer, Director CSR, before continuing:
“Over the last few years, we have developed a great deal regarding supply chain management. The right vision and good management enable fair working conditions everywhere in the world.”
Vietnamese supplier Viva is a good example of this. After an alarming audit, Ortovox was able to work with General Manager Jay Kim to achieve significant improvements. These include insurance for temporary and permanent employees, transparent wage payments and working hours recording systems.
Local is not always better
“Made in Europe” is a claim the public often equate with good working conditions and short transport routes.
“However, we have learned that nuanced judgement is required. Europe is also home to production facilities that do not meet our requirements and lag behind the standards of modern Asian facilities,” emphasizes Bauer.
“Transport within Europe is often by truck, which means little freight is carried. By contrast, the top transport method in Asia is generally by ship – which means that a correspondingly large volume of goods can be transported simultaneously. Therefore, the sheer distance of the transport method must be evaluated very carefully; the shortest route is not always the one with the lowest emissions.”
The complete People Report can be accessed here.
About Ortovox
Ortovox stands for the greatest possible mountain safety – since 1980 we have been protecting climbers, mountaineers and the mountains themselves. Emergency equipment, backpacks, technical apparel made with wool, and specialized training with a network of experts help make mountain sports safer every day. Ortovox defines itself as a brand for climbers and mountaineers and offers products year-round for ski tours, freeriding, alpine climbing and high alpine tours.
“Protecting what we love” is the motto of our protACT2024 sustainability strategy. It defines the six areas of the Ortovox sustainability objectives, including complete climate neutrality by 2024.As a pioneer of functional wool clothing for mountain sports, Ortovox has been defining standards for the protection of wildlife, nature and people with its own wool standard, the Ortovox Wool Promise (OWP). Based in Munich, Germany, Ortovox Sportartikel GmbH has over 160 employees worldwide and is part of the Schwan-Stabilo Group.
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