The outdoor outfitter VAUDE from Tettnang has won the GreenTec Award 2016 in the category “Green Office by KYOCERA” with the concept “Working in Harmony with Nature.” Jan Lorch, head of the CSR Team and a member of VAUDE senior management, accepted this major European economic and environmental award on May 29 at a gala in Munich’s ICM. The company received the award with a value of 25,000 euro for the sustainable remodeling of its headquarters in Tettnang completed last year.
The GreenTec Environmental Award was founded in 2008 and is bestowed once a year in several categories. Green products and projects distinguished by outstanding environmental technologies and ecological commitment are honored. In the “Green Office” category, organizations’ innovative and effective approaches to improving their environmental footprint are honored. These include projects related to green offices, sustainable work and office concepts, as well as innovative ideas in the field of green IT. The final selection is made by an interdisciplinary jury of experts, consisting of 70 representatives from business, academia, associations and the media. Previously, applicants were selected into the Top 3 either by jury or public online voting.
The jury’s rationale for VAUDE “VAUDE Sport GmbH & Co. KG attached great importance to ecological awareness in the remodeling of its company headquarters,” said the jury. The award is endowed with a financial reward of 25,000 euros. VAUDE CEO Dr. Antje von Dewitz was delighted with the award: “For us, sustainability in the office means not only using ecological materials consistently, but also creating a healthy and comfortable environment where people like to work and create. Therefore, we planned and implemented our urgently needed company remodeling with DGNB certification. Their criteria played a major role here. We have yet to finish up the last (but very important) details, such as outdoor furniture, green plants in the offices as well as designing a creative space. The financial reward is a welcome support for these additions!”
Working in harmony with nature With the goal of creating a future-oriented and healthy workspace for its approximately 500 employees, VAUDE innovatively and sustainably remodeled its entire corporate building at its headquarters in Tettnang. Among other things, modern open-plan offices with many options for privacy, a leafy campus, a 10-meter climbing wall and a certified organic canteen were incorporated, allowing the company to make its brand values tangible at the company premises as well. The remodeling and construction, which cost around seven million euros and introduced an additional 3,000 square meters of office space, created the ideal conditions for innovative and future-oriented work for the company.
Sustainable buildings with DGNB certification The entire remodeling was carried out in accordance with the strictest environmental criteria. The result is a DGNB-certified Green Building, in which all aspects of sustainable construction were realized. Examples of environmental awareness can be found everywhere, including ecological building materials, a maximally energy-efficient building structure and carpets made from recycled fishing nets. Antje von Dewitz on the objectives of the remodeling work: “We wanted to create an optimal working environment that responds to individuals’ professional and personal needs. The new premises foster communication, creativity and teamwork.”
About the GreenTec Award The GreenTec Award was organized this year for the ninth time in order to provide a platform for environmental and economic commitment and green innovations and technologies. The award ceremony takes place annually at a glamorous and climate-neutral gala event in front of more than 1,000 invited guests and some 100 media representatives. A highlight – and at the same time trademark – of the GreenTec Award is the green carpet over which many famous celebrities from business, academia, media, politics and show business stride each year.
