People
Every deuter product passes through many hands. Our responsibility extends to the people behind it – within our company and throughout our supply chain. We work with our partners to respect human and labour rights, identify risks and improve conditions where action is needed.
Promise
We believe that everyone who is involved in the manufacturing of our products, either directly or indirectly, should have fair working conditions.
We work to promote fair wages, safe and respectful working conditions, social justice and equal opportunities for our employees in Germany and for the people working at our manufacturing partners. We also support conditions that enable a healthy and balanced life.
deuter as a workplace
As part of the family-owned Schwan-STABILO Group, deuter aims to provide a fair, safe and supportive working environment.
- Binding workplace standards: The Schwan-STABILO Code of Conduct applies to deuter employees in all countries and at every level of the company. It covers fair working conditions, equal opportunities, freedom of association and a workplace free from discrimination, forced labour and child labour.
- Health, safety and work-life balance: deuter is committed to preventing accidents and injuries and protecting employees’ health. The company also aims to provide conditions that support a healthy balance between work and private life, including flexible and mobile working where the role permits.
- Development and participation: Training and development opportunities support employees throughout their careers. Apprenticeships, dual-study programmes, internships and student positions provide routes into working life. Employees can raise concerns confidentially or anonymously and are protected against retaliation.
Workers in the supply chain
Long-term manufacturing partners
deuter works with a small number of manufacturing partners, generally one for each product group. Long-term cooperation creates trust and makes it possible to improve working conditions together.
Reliable order planning, sufficient lead times and fair price negotiations give partners greater stability. This helps protect jobs, avoid excessive overtime and create the financial scope for fair wages, training and workplace improvements.
The partnership with Duke, our main supplier of backpacks and bags in Vietnam, dates back to 1991. During difficult periods, both companies have supported each other and worked together to secure employment. In 2022, this cooperation received the German Sustainability Award for Global Corporate Partnerships.
Main manufacturing partners:
Addressing risks
Protecting human rights means creating fair and safe working conditions for everyone involved in making deuter products. The key issues are derived from international standards and deuter’s own requirements, including:
- OECD guidance for the garment and footwear sector
- Fair Wear Code of Labour Practices
- deuter People Guideline
- Schwan-STABILO Code of Conduct
Complaints
Workers at deuter’s Tier 1 manufacturing partners have access to trusted channels for raising concerns and addressing potential violations of fair working conditions. They can use internal factory mechanisms or Fair Wear’s independent complaints mechanism.
- Internal factory channels: Workers can contact their union representative or use an internal phoneline, email address or suggestion box. The union discusses complaints with factory management. Serious cases are escalated to senior management.
- Fair Wear complaints mechanism: Workers can also contact Fair Wear’s local complaints handler. Fair Wear reviews the complaint and informs deuter, which investigates the case with the factory. If the complaint is substantiated, a Corrective Action Plan is agreed with the complainant. Fair Wear monitors its implementation.
- Information and training: Information about labour rights and local complaint contacts must be displayed at every manufacturing site in the local language. deuter checks this during factory visits. Worker training explains the available channels and supports dialogue between workers, unions and management.
Promise
We make reliable products that are designed for their intended use and built to last. We provide clear information, stand behind their quality and help customers use, maintain and repair them safely.
We aim to be transparent about how our products are made and work to fulfil our People and Planet Promises throughout their lifecycle.
Strategy
- Quality and warranty: Our products are developed and tested for their intended use. We select materials and construction methods with the aim of combining performance, comfort and durability. In addition to statutory warranty rights, deuter provides a two-year manufacturer’s warranty. During this period, we repair or replace products free of charge if a valid claim results from a material or manufacturing defect.
- Product safety: Safety is considered throughout product development. We assess materials, constructions and product functions against applicable legal requirements and our own quality standards. Instructions and warnings explain how products should be fitted, used and maintained. If we receive information about a potential safety problem, we investigate it and take appropriate action. Depending on the case, this may include updated information, repairs, replacements, product withdrawals or recalls.
- Care, spare parts and repair: Care and repair help products stay functional for longer. We provide care instructions, repair guidance and spare parts for many common issues. Our repair service continues beyond the warranty period for as long as a product can reasonably be repaired. Repairs outside the warranty are generally carried out along with a contribution to the costs, while deuter subsidises the service. The aim is always to restore the product’s function and extend its usable lifetime.
- Clear and honest information: Customers should be able to understand what a product is designed for, how to use it and what they can expect from it. We therefore aim to communicate product features, performance, limitations, warranty conditions and services clearly. We also provide information about where and how our products are made, their environmental and social impacts, and the standards applied in our supply chain. Through our Promise Report and website, we report on progress as well as remaining challenges.
- Delivering our People and Planet Promises: Last but not least, the responsibility to our users includes delivering on the social and environmental promises described under People and Planet. We aim to ensure that our products are made responsibly – under appropriate and reasonable working conditions and with reduced impacts on the climate and environment. This is an ongoing commitment supported by a clear strategy. We set targets, monitor implementation and communicate transparently about our progress and where further action is needed.
Promise
We use our outdoor expertise, products and partnerships to help people experience nature and care for the places where outdoor activities take place.
We focus on initiatives connected to outdoor and mountain sports, our company locations and communities with which deuter has established relationships.
Strategy
Enabling outdoor experiences
We support initiatives that make outdoor activities more accessible and encourage participation. This includes:
- inclusive outdoor programmes
- equipment donations rental and loan schemes
- community events with a defined social purpose
Sharing outdoor knowledge
We work with qualified partners, athletes and guides to share knowledge about:
- outdoor skills and equipment
- safety and preparation
- responsible behaviour in nature
- conservation and waste prevention
Supporting communities
We support organisations that have a credible connection to deuter, mountain sports or our locations.
- Nepalhilfe Beilngries: Financial support and product donations for projects in education, health, hygiene and care in Nepal.
- Social Days: Employees contribute time and practical support to local organisations. In 2025, the CSR and Quality Management teams supported the youfarm daycare facility in Augsburg.
- Humanitarian support: Donations may be provided where deuter has an established connection or can contribute suitable outdoor equipment.
Caring for outdoor places
Conservation primarily belongs to our Planet Promise. It also has a societal dimension when people work together and learn to take responsibility for nature.
- PATRON Plasticfree Peaks: Clean-ups and workshops combining outdoor activities with education about plastic pollution.
- Green Friday: In 2024, deuter donated 10% of online sales in participating countries during the campaign period to PATRON e.V.
- EOCA: Conservation projects and clean-ups involving outdoor organisations, local communities and deuter employees.
Selecting partnerships
We support projects that:
have a clear connection to deuter and the outdoors
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address an identified need
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are managed by qualified organisations
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define deuter’s contribution and intended results
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provide transparent information about their activities
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meet appropriate legal and ethical standards