How ORTOVOX combines mountain sports and climate action

About ORTOVOX

Since 1980, ORTOVOX has stood for safety in the mountains. The company's name is derived from "Ortung" (German for "location" or "tracking") and the Latin word "vox" (meaning "voice"), a nod to its origins as a pioneer in avalanche safety. Today, ORTOVOX develops emergency equipment, backpacks, and technical, wool-based clothing while promoting mountain safety through its Safety Academy. However, for ORTOVOX, protection extends beyond the mountains: it also takes responsibility for climate action.

The ProtACT sustainability strategy

ORTOVOX has long focused on combining natural materials with technological innovation. Since 2015, ORTOVOX has been a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, holding "Leader" status for ensuring fair working conditions. ORTOVOX is also part of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, which aims to improve social and ecological standards in production.

ORTOVOX’s sustainability strategy, ProtACT, focuses on two key objectives: climate action and social responsibility. These are complemented by the topics of animal welfare, responsible supply chain management, environmental protection and product cycles, which round off the strategy.

To accurately calculate, analyse, and reduce emissions throughout its value chain, ORTOVOX collaborates with ClimatePartner. From the outset, transparency and independent verification have been central concerns. They build credibility and trust among customers and partners.

The foundation of all climate action measures: the carbon footprint

Together with ClimatePartner, ORTOVOX has calculated the carbon footprint of both its company and products. The Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and covers the entire product lifecycle under the system boundary "Cradle to Customer + End of Life."

For the Winter 2024-2025 and Summer 2025 collections, ORTOVOX has, for the first time, included the usage phase in its calculations. Emissions from the usage phase were also retrospectively calculated for the Winter 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 collections and the Summer 2023 and 2024 collections. This is a significant step toward more accurately assessing environmental impacts and systematically reducing them.

Through collaborations with ClimatePartner and other outdoor industry partners, ORTOVOX has refined its emissions data and created valuable synergies. The detailed carbon footprint helped ORTOVOX identify its emission hotspots and establish concrete reduction measures.

Planning and implementing emissions reductions

Based on its carbon footprint, ORTOVOX is implementing measures in its own operations (scope 1 and 2) and throughout its value chain (scope 3), from material sourcing and transportation to disposal. Measures already implemented include:

• Transition to 100% renewable electricity: All electricity consumption at the company’s site in Germany is now covered by renewable sources.
• Product-related measures: ORTOVOX continuously optimises its entire product lifecycle, from material sourcing and production to transportation and disposal. A key initiative is the gradual shift from new materials to recycled materials to reduce emissions from material production.
• ORTOVOX Second-Life Shop: This programme extends the lifespan of used products by giving them a second life. Additionally, ORTOVOX offers a repair service, which helps extend product use. A longer lifespan reduces the carbon footprint per use.

Focusing on renewable energy in its supply chain

ORTOVOX is actively promoting renewable energy within its supply chain. Through the Climate Reduction Projects (CRP) of the European Outdoor Group (EOG), the company is working to reduce emissions in energy-intensive production processes and within the deeper supply chain. The cooperation brings together several brands from the outdoor industry.

Financing a climate project

In addition, ORTOVOX finances a wind energy project in northern China from the ClimatePartner portfolio. In China, energy demand is rapidly increasing due to population growth and economic development. At the same time, a large proportion of the electricity is generated by coal-fired power plants. ORTOVOX deliberately chose a project in one of its manufacturing countries.