European outdoor brand Vaude has joined forces with eBay to launch a new online store for the German market which enables it to offer high-quality waste materials from its own textile supply chain for upcycling.

The aim is also to get as many other companies as possible, especially from the textile industry, to participate and to offer their own residual materials that are suitable for upcycling through the store.

Textiles will be offered through eBay.de with the entire proceeds of the sales going to the Save the Children charity.

Materials to be made available by Vaude include high-quality, robust and environmentally friendly PVC-free materials, mainly from bicycle bag production, which the company says "are suitable for everyone who would like to sew, tinker and be creative".

Remnants and offcuts from Vaude's factory at the German company's headquarters in Tettnang will be available in pre-packed boxes which it is hoped will appeal to social facilities, schools, kindergartens and DIY enthusiasts.

The venture is the latest co-operation between Vaude and eBay which previously saw the launch of the Vaude Second Use Shop, where used Vaude products can be resold privately, in 2015.

"We are pleased to have eBay as a strong partner for the upcycling store at our side," explains Antje von Dewitz, managing director of Vaude Sport.

“In most cases, recycling means that waste is down-cycled, i.e. burned and converted into energy. Together we want to do the opposite and give surplus materials from production a new life.

"The Upcycling Store is another building block in our commitment to the long life of our products. We are consequently continuing our Vaude Green Shape strategy, within the framework of which we are committed to a consistently sustainable life cycle of our products - from design to production to maintenance, repair and recycling."

Heiko Johannisson, head of sports at eBay in Germany, commented: “We are aware that our business has an impact on the environment because our online marketplace enables a circular economy like no other.

"Vaude has been a valuable cooperation partner for several years. I look forward to continuing the great collaboration with the new upcycling store.”

Source: EcoTextile News