The Green Shape® Standard
– History, Philosophy, and Benefits
The Development of the Green Shape® Standard
A standard with origin and attitude
Green Shape® is an environmental standard for clothing and textile products developed by VAUDE Sport GmbH & Co. KG since 2010. It was created in response to the lack of a suitable standard that could address the specific requirements of an eco-friendly product portfolio. At the same time, there was a growing desire among specialty retailers to make eco-friendly products visible and recognizable to consumers.
Originally developed for internal processes, Green Shape® has since undergone several rounds of refinement and is now being made available to the broader market. Today, the standard covers all phases of the product life cycle—from design and material selection to manufacturing, use, and disposal. It has been continuously refined with a focus on the circular economy and environmental impact throughout the supply chain.
In early 2025, the “Green Shape Association for the Promotion of Environmentally Friendly Clothing and Textile Products” (Green Shape e.V.) was founded as a new entity independent of VAUDE to administer the Green Shape® Standard. This non-profit, registered association has further developed the Green Shape® Standard into a fully-fledged certification system.
The Green Shape® Standard is currently undergoing program review by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS). An application has been filed to register the Green Shape seal as an EU guarantee mark.
The aim is to establish this standard as a new, credible and ambitious environmental certification for the textile and outdoor industry in line with the EU's anti-greenwashing requirements.
Holistic perspective for environmental friendliness
What sets Green Shape® apart from other standards is its systematic, functional, and holistic approach to textile products and their development processes. Rather than certifying individual aspects, the standard assesses the product’s impact across all stages of its life cycle—from design through production to the end of the product’s life.
Special attention is paid to:
- the use of certified recycled or renewable materials
- the design for reparability, ease of care and recyclability
- material efficiency in production
- and the consideration of high-quality environmental standards at all stages of the value chain.
Existing, credible textile standards are recognized in a so-called meta-label approach and combined with additional requirements. This creates a robust and transparent system for environmental integrity.
Development in dialog with experts
A core principle of the Green Shape®philosophy is the involvement of relevant stakeholders. Throughout the development process, various experts were consulted, both on individual aspects of product developmentand on the development of standards as a whole.
Since 2022, an independent Green Shape® advisory board has guided the further development of the standard. It comprised experts from academia, environmental organizations, the supply chain, and the customer sector, as well as communications specialists, covering various aspects of the standard, product life cycle phases, and their environmental impacts. The Green Shape® Advisory Board was transferred to the Green Shape Association in 2025.
This structured involvement of stakeholders ensures that Green Shape® remains a standard that reflects the latest scientific findings, industry-specific developments, and societal requirements.
Benefits for companies, retailers and consumers
Certification under the Green Shape® standard offers more than just an environmental label:
- For manufacturersProof of environmental competence and structured anchoring of continuous improvement of product development without redundancies, as certifications of the supply chain are recognized.
- For retailersReliable orientation for a responsible product range.
- For consumersAssurance that a product has been tested and certified under strict environmental criteria.
At the same time, Green Shape® raises awareness of the environmental impact of textile manufacturing and promotes informed purchasing decisions.
Important: Environmental standard, no social standard
Green Shape® is specifically designed as an environmental standard. Social aspects, such as working conditions, are not included in the certification program. Nevertheless, the program owner sets forth minimum requirements for corporate due diligence in its own certification guidelines .