Our mission is to equip dedicated mountaineers with innovative, high-quality products for unforgettable experiences outdoors. We are also aware however that we have a huge responsibility not only in terms of our product, but also with respect to nature and the sustainable development of mountain sports and, in the end, also with respect to humankind. As an owner-operated family business, the social components are of paramount importance to us as are people.

On the one hand, our attention is focused on the people who manufacture our products. Various measures have been implemented in recent years to protect these people and to improve their working conditions and standards. On the other hand, we feel beholden to our customers to offer high-quality as well as completely environmentally friendly products and equipment. Along the way, cooperations with experienced partners such as bluesign® technologies or the Fair Wear Foundation are vital. We are always conscious of the fact we are only at the start of a long journey, and countless steps are still necessary to completely fulfill our obligation to humankind and nature.

The majority of our products are produced in Europe. The map illustrates where and what percent thereof:

Fair Wear Foundation is a Multi-Stakeholder-Initiative, working to improve labour conditions in textile factories and has been partnering with the Oberalp Group for 10 years.

Every year, Fair Wear conducts a thorough assessment on how its member brands and rates them according to a set of indicators evaluating the improvements of the purchasing practices and the working conditions in the factories. 

Since 6^th February 2023, the Oberalp Group (with its brands Salewa, Dynafit, Wild Country, and LaMunt) have been part of Fair Wear’s pilot project that will provide the wider industry with guidance, learning modules, and access to tools to facilitate brands in their Human Rights Due Diligence. Together with nine other brands, the Group helps to develop this project that will support Fair Wear in guiding more brands in implementing HRDD in their supply chains and ensure that it is done meaningfully.

HRDD is at the very center of new and upcoming legislation that will push brands to better monitoring the supply chains, preventing, and remediating human rights violations, and taking responsibilities.

In addition to several other national human rights due diligence (HRDD) legislations currently in place, such as the German Supply chain law or the French Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, also the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is on its way.

As a pilot participant, the Oberalp Group plays a vital role in testing and evaluating the project’s viability, feasibility, and effectiveness before Fair Wear Foundation will roll it out on a larger scale. During this pilot year, there will be no annual Fair Wear Brand Performance Check (BPC) and Fair Wear is therefore not assigning a score or performance benchmarking category for 2022. “Participating in the Academy Pilot Project requires dedication and time”, Martine Riblan Social Compliance Specialist at Oberalp says. “Even if we have no BPC this year, we are naturally continuing to monitor our factories and to improve working conditions”.

Please find more information on the project on Fair Wear’s website, here.

We have supported the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT) since 2007: We are proud with this to be able to do our part for the protection of the snow leopard:

• 2007: Gear donation – jackets for herders
• 2008: Purchase of hand-made stuffed animals valued at € 1,200
• 2009: Sale at auction of the Erlös prototype ski for € 1,100 with proceeds going to the Snow Leopard Trust
• 2010: First Snow Leopard Day in Austria: 184,500 vertical meters achieved resulting in a donation of € 1,845.
• 2011: Snow Leopard Day International: € 3,000 collected and donated
• 2012: Snow Leopard Day International: € 4,000 collected and donated
• 2013: Snow Leopard Day International: € 7,000 collected and donated
• 2013: DYNAFIT nominates SLT for the European Outdoor Conservation Association EOCA - SLT earns a donation of € 11,000
• 2014: Snow Leopard Day International: € 9,000 collected and donated
• 2015: Snow Leopard Day International: € 9,000 collected and donated
• 2016: Snow Leopard Day International: € 8,000 collected and donated
• 2017: Snow Leopard Day International: € 9,600 collected and donated
• 2018: Snow Leopard Day International: € 11,000 collected and donated
• 2019: Snow Leopard Day International: € 16,042 collected and donated
• 2020: Snow Leopard Day International: € 20,953 collected and donated (new record: 2 mio. vertical meters) 
• 2021: Snow Leopard Day International: € 11,341 collected and donated (only with athletes due to Covid)
• 2022: Snow Leopard Day International & sales of Snow Leopard Day Limited Collection: € 32,000 collected and donated (50% to SLT, 50% to WWF)

We want to continue to support the Snow Leopard Trust in the future with various projects and donations in order to work together to prevent the extinction of this extraordinary animal.

To DYNAFIT, the snow leopard is not only a brand symbol. Its characteristics and faculties are consistent with the values and characteristics of the company. Snow leopards possess an outstanding performance-to-weight relationship, are extraordinarily fast, and have phenomenal endurance. Its paws do not sink in or slip, be it on snow meters deep,  steep flanks, or high mountain peaks. To Dynafit, the snow leopard is the role model and symbol for all characteristics and faculties that ensure living and surviving on the mountain. All that makes it into a true exemplary standard for every mountain endurance athlete. Unfortunately, the snow leopard is now in danger of extinction. Thus, DYNAFIT has set the goal of helping the snow leopard.

So that this occurs professionally and sustainability, we support the non-profit organization, Snow Leopard Trust, founded in 1981 with headquarters in Seattle, Wash., USA. With donations, events and international media and public relations work, we do our part in protecting the snow leopard.Our most successful project in this regard is most certainly the “International Snow Leopard Day.” Since 2010, a ski touring test event takes place on the same day in the winter in various countries. Together, participants accumulate vertical meters for protection of the snow leopard. Each vertical meter achieved and tallied is transformed by DYNAFIT into one cent of donation.

When it comes to bindings and ski touring boots, 100 percent of production occurs in Europe. Textiles are still in large part imported from Asia. However, we pay special attention here to compliance with international work standards. This occurs in cooperation with the Fair Wear Foundation, which as an independent entity monitors us while it is also available to assist in the improvement of processes.

Globally renown, Caritas runs global operations for emergency relief and social projects to offer aid to people in 160 countries. In Germany alone, more than 24,000 facilities and services are provided by Caritas. DYNAFIT is proud to have a partnership with Caritas since 1999.

DYNAFIT works together with Caritas on a unique project in its facilities in Donauhof, Pocking and Dreiflüsse in Germany. There, approximately 100 workers, both men and women, are involved in the production of ski tour bindings. As a thank you for the high-quality and reliable work, those working at the Pocking facility were invited to come out and test the bindings they make. It was an unforgettably amazing day for everyone.

Since the 2011 summer season, DYNAFIT, along with Salewa, has been a bluesign® system Partner. The starting point for the bluesign® system is the start of the manufacturing process, and it offers a sustainable solution in textile production. Standards in production and work processes in textile finishing ensure environmentally sound and safe production. Along the way, however, our organization does not rely exclusively on international environmental standards. Rather, it conducts its own comprehensive risk analyses.bluesign® follows primarily five principals along the entire textile supply chain: resource productivity, air emission protections, occupational health and safety, water emission protections and consumer safety. Thus, bluesign® is a seal of approval for the protection of people and the environment. In 2017, 89% of DYNAFIT’s apparel products were made using either bluesign® or other externally certified materials.