BACH SUSTAINABILITY
WE CARE SINCE 1979
We believe that we are what we do. It is our own deeds that define us and form the space around us. At BACH, we‘ve always been in love with nature and the work we do. We have always cherished this connection between us, you, and the outdoors. Therefore, we care about all that we do and how we do it. Since the beginning, we have been committed to making timeless, durable, functional and comfortable outdoor gear, that you will happily use forever.
WE ARE BACH - PROUDLY DEVELOPING OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT THAT LASTS
At BACH, we are fully aware of our brand responsibility, and we try to do everything we can to implement environmental sustainability into all our actions. Born out of a passion for outdoor exploration and adventurous traveling, we develop our products with the environment in mind – fewer natural resources, less waste, no temporal trends and unexpected dysfunctional surprises. Also, longer-lasting trustworthy products, more transparency and a responsible approach to manufacturing and our employees.
BACH CIRCULAR SUSTAINABILITY APPROACH
As people who find so much happiness in nature, of course we want to protect it. We believe that doing the right things in the right way will benefit all of us and what we invest in, we will get back. In our journey to do things right, we are committed to follow our five golden sustainability rules.
BACH 5 GOLDEN SUSTAINABILITY RULES
1
ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT
- No useless products
- No temporal trends
- Form follows function
- Do not fix what is not broken!
- Do not reinvent the wheel!
- Be brave to innovate when needed
2
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
- Less waste
- More renewable energy sources
- More sustainable packaging
- More conscious transportation
3
LONG LASTING EFFICIENT PRODUCTS
- The most sustainable product is the one which is wanted and you don't have to replace.
- The greener the better
- Keep it smart-weight
- Keep it comfortable
- Keep repairability in mind
4
FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS
- No child & forced labor
- No discrimination
- No harassment & abuse
- Environmental compliance
- Fair wages and hours of work
- Heathy & motivating benefits
- Safety first
- Equality man vs. woman
5
NEVERENDING CARE & TRANSPARENCY
- Keep your word
- Be influential
- Be inspiring
- Be helpful
- Be honest
- Build community
- Give a second chance
- Fix rather than replace
- Do not stop caring
RE-SOURCE BY BACH PROGRAM
To make conscientious decisions for you easier when choosing your new BACH outdoor equipment, we have developed our own brand sustainability program – Re-source by BACH. This program represents our Corporate Responsibility, which looks far beyond just the product. It is based on three main pillars: PRODUCT, PEOPLE and PLANET.
Starting from 2023 onwards you will see more and more BACH products with the Re-source by BACH hangtag, reaching or exceeding the criteria we set for ourselves.
EXPLORE MORE ABOUT RE-SOURCE BY BACH
Product
We design our products to be used and we build them to last.
We aim to maximize the sustainable nature of our products while still maintaining their high level of performance through design, workmanship, materials and repairability.
Our main approach to sustainability lies in the design of our products. Our design and patterns were always made to minimize waste after cutting the materials and in a way that we can repair them, even long after the normal life expectancy is over. These practices never changed. But what changed is our increasingly growing use of new, more eco-responsible materials wherever we can, without compromising our promise to deliver longer lasting products.
Re-source by BACH requirements
All the products under the Re-source by BACH logo are defined using recycled, bio-based and/or renewable materials certified by third parties, representing a minimum of 50% eco-responsible materials by weight. In addition, they also cannot contain any PFC-based durable water repellence.
People
We consider that all people involved in our value chain, as well as all our customers, should be treated fairly, with dignity and respect.
BACH FAMILY
We live and breathe the outdoors. To keep our employees mentally and physically healthy, we provide them with many benefits. In our awarded headquarter building in Givisiez, which includes many innovative technologies that are both eco-friendly and have a positive impact on working conditions. Our employees can always enjoy a sports facility, healthy dining, or also take longer breaks at lunch and go outside. We work like a community where everybody can use and play with our outdoor gear, which allows us to make even better products and receive even more innovation awards. If our designers are not on their regular visits to our partners or testing our gear outside, you can always go to visit them in their creative space made of recycled materials.
TOGETHER WE GET DO BETTER
At BACH, we are carefully choosing who we work with, to make sure that we all share a common interest in what our Re-source by BACH program stands for. We collaborate with our partners closely on a daily basis and we know them personally. We always make sure that they follow fair working conditions, as well as our sustainability approach.
LET US BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR RECHARGE
In our effort of a more profound impact, we aspire to be more than a product supplier. Our mission is to cultivate an outdoor community, to educate, motivate, inspire, and encourage more people to step outdoors, minimize waste and prioritize both personal well-being and environmental stewardship.
We also want to keep continuously elevating our professional customer care standards. This involves actively engaging with our outdoor community, offering not just products, but a wealth of assistance, guidance, and extended customer care. As an expression of our dedication, we now provide an extended 5-year warranty on our products. Additionally, our Product Care & Repair Blog marks the initiation of our pro-community-oriented content. The main goal of this, is to use our influence to change the system, promote the outdoorsy lifestyle and inspire and motivate people to live healthier and consume and behave in a more eco-responsible manner.
In the close future, we also plan to expand this platform to encompass not only product care, but also to showcase our forthcoming environmental projects and collaborations as our next contribution to a more sustainable future.
Planet
We take into consideration that the earth's resources must be used consciously in a way that biodiversity and future generations shouldn't be negatively affected.
BUY LESS, CHOOSE WELL, MAKE IT LAST!
As a member of the European Outdoor Group (EOG) we are committed to doing business ethically and more sustainably, preserving the outdoors and getting people outside. This commitment is our first official step for being a more responsible brand and we believe together with other outdoor brands; we can succeed faster.
RE-SOURCE BY BACH
By following our five golden sustainability rules and requirements of our Re-source by BACH program, it is our goal to reduce and compensate our CO2 emissions slowly but steadily. All our products are already PFC-free DWR and we also do our regular toxicology testing, as well as collecting label certificates from our suppliers. This way we can monitor more precisely specific materials or products and reduce, or completely avoid harmful chemicals
Our network of BACH Care & Repair centers play a pivotal role in promoting a circular economy, by extending the lifespan of our products and minimizing waste. This strategic initiative is designed not only to enhance the convenience and accessibility of our services, but also to significantly contribute to our carbon offset goals.
We are actively exploring additional projects and partnerships that align with our sustainability objectives, because we believe that our success is directly linked to having a healthy planet. We also believe that by promoting a healthy outdoorsy lifestyle through various media, we will inspire and motivate the next generation to live better and encourage their responsible consumption.
THE GREENLAND EXPEDITION
One of our recently supported projects was Mike Keen’s THE GREENLAND EXPEDITION. Mike is an adventure chef, kayaker and explorer, and enthusiastic about raising awareness of climate change, sustainable travel and food consumption.
On April 20th, 2023, he set off on his expedition to kayak from Southern Greenland to the north (3000 km), finishing in July 2023. Apart from it being a great personal challenge, Mike’s principal reasons for doing the expedition were to work closely with international climate action organizations Oceana & the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to conduct scientific research into climate change and pollution and to raise awareness of the significant problems affecting our oceans. Mike collected samples from several areas along the coast to analyze pollution levels. And, coming from a background as a chef and fermenter with an interest in wild cooking, Mike only ate native foods, which was also part of his scientific research. To read more about Mike’s expedition, please visit Mike Keen - Chef, Kayaker & Adventurer.
Join us on this journey as we empower you to not only experience the best of nature, but also to protect and preserve it for generations to come.