Policy and Commitment
- In March 2023, FC Schalke 04 launched its sustainability strategy which can be found on the club’s website here: https://schalke04.de/verein/nachhaltigkeit/
- “Schalke and its environment – Good climate in the area” is a page dedicated to the environmental initiatives of the club. https://schalke04.de/verein/nachhaltigkeit/schalke-und-seine-umwelt/
- The club is an active part of the “klimaneutral.ruhr” – an initiative to bring about sustainable change in the Ruhr metropolis.
- FC Schalke 04 recently set up a dedicated sustainability department at the club.
- Through a “Zukunftsschmiede 04” project, the club has initiated a sustainable network of companies in the region to promote sustainable projects from, on and around Schalke.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- Around 60 percent of the club’s energy comes from renewable sources.
- In the medium term, the club will start installing its first photovoltaic system on the roof of the car park.
- FC Schalke 04 is carrying out an analysis to examine the construction of further PV systems and will develop a plan to further advance the production of its own green electricity at Berger Feld (immediate environment of the VELTINS-Arena complex).
Energy Efficiency
- The VELTINS-Arena is equipped with sensor-controlled building control technology.
- The existing lamps in all kitchens in the VELTINS Arena were replaced with LED lamps. This reduces energy consumption by 20%.
- Floodlights and path lighting have been converted to LED.
- The lawn lighting installation has been reduced by 30%.
- The intensity of the training ground floodlights has been reduced by 50%.
- Switched from oil to district heating for the pitch heating system.
- Grills, convection ovens, dishwashers and cold storage units have been/are being replaced throughout the VELTINS-Arena to achieve optimal energy efficiency. 80% of the exchange has already been achieved.
- The club is currently undergoing an audit to determine energy consumption. The results will be published in autumn.
Sustainable Transport
- For team travel, official travel guidelines have been established since the season 19/20.
- FC Schalke 04 offers free transport with matchday tickets on the public transport network and highlights the advantages of using it to fans.
- The club encourages fans to travel to the VELTINS-Arena by public transport and by bicycle.
- 600 bicycle parking spaces are available at the Arena.
- FC Schalke 04 carried out its first fan mobility survey in October 2022 and plans to repeat the survey once a year. As of yet, the results have not been published and are being used internally and for the DFL.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- A reusable cup system was introduced on January 1st, 2023.
- No straws or bowls are available at the VELTINS-Arena.
- Together with its partner Gelsenwasser, the club is planning the construction of two drinking water fountains on the club grounds.
Waste Management
- Waste is sorted and compacted on the club premises.
- Non-alcoholic beverage bottles are returned to a bottle deposit return system.
- Surplus food after home games is passed on to the local homeless aid.
- In the VIP area, pre-portioned meals are served by employees at food stations which helps to avoid food waste.
- Currently the percentage of waste diverted from landfill is unknown. Students of the Westfälische Hochschule are creating a waste management concept for FC Schalke 04, which will improve the club’s handling of waste.
- The Sustainability Department has bags, pillows or key rings made for guests from old jerseys or old miners’ shirts from the Ruhr region by a facility for people with disabilities.
Water Efficiency
- Water efficiency measures are currently being assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Part of the training ground is irrigated with water from the club’s own rainwater retention basin.
- In the VELTINS-Arena, water-saving technologies have been installed on dishwashers and on taps.
Plant based/low carbon food
- Vegan options at VELTINS-Arena kiosks include: Vegan curry sausage with jalapeño sauce, vegan fillet strips with curry coconut sauce & noodles, vegan vegetable ravioli with lentil vegetables, vegan minced roll with tomato filling, Vegan crispy slices ‘Hong Kong’, Vegan Asia potato and vegetable stew with fillet strips, Vegan grilled vegetable wrap, Vegan Lahmacun, Vegan mixed salad with grilled vegetables, Vegan Red Falafel Wrap, Vegan Organic Chili Sin Carne, Vegan curry vegetable schnitzel.
- In 2019, the club’s ZNU-certified stadium catering was named German Bundesliga’s veggie champion by PETA for the third time in a row (due to the corona pandemic, no certifications were given in the period from 2020 to 2022; there will be another certification in 2023).
- Vegan options are provided in hospitality/VIP areas and public areas. The proportion varies from game to game.
- The professional team has the option to choose a vegan dish for each meal.
- Staff have access to a price reduced lunch at a restaurant on site. Part of the menu for staff is always at least one vegetarian/vegan food option.
- Attention is paid to seasonal menus so that regional products are given preference. Local B-goods are also considered if they have an appropriate quality.
Biodiversity
- At the Berger Feld, the club has created green areas that contribute to the promotion of biodiversity.
- With the project ” Together Counteracting”, the club supports regional nature conservation projects to counteract the negative environmental impact (e.g. away trips).
- In cooperation with the Landschaftsagentur Plus, a potential analysis for more biodiversity is currently being drawn up.
Education
- Organises sustainability workshops in cooperation with schools. An example of this was when the club’s own foundation ‘Schalke helps!’ invited students to the VELTINS Arena where they learned that the challenges of climate change can only be overcome as a team. In addition, all participants were allowed to put their own ideas on environmental protection on paper in an artistic way.
- In the club’s project “Schalke macht Schule”, the topic of sustainability was included as a fixed component
Communication and Engagement
- FC Schalke 04’s sustainability strategy can be found on the club’s website here: https://schalke04.de/verein/nachhaltigkeit/
- “Schalke and its environment – Good climate in the area” is a page dedicated to the environmental initiatives of the club. https://schalke04.de/verein/nachhaltigkeit/schalke-und-seine-umwelt/
- The club magazine ‘Schalker Kreisel’ and the Schalke 04 website are used to inform fans about sustainability issues.
- FC Schalke 04’s sustainability report is in progress.
- Together with its fans, the club founded a working group on the back of an idea that came up at the Schalke member’s congress. The workshops at the member’s congress covered many topics including social and ecological sustainability.
- Before the club’s home game against FC Augsburg in October 2022, Sebastian Buntkirchen, Director of Fans & Sustainability, explained in detail what FC Schalke 04 understands by sustainability and how important the topic is for the club. The mobility survey, which aims to find out how S04 fans travel to the games, is particularly important. The video can be viewed on Facebook here: https://m.facebook.com/schalkehilft/videos/sebastian-buntkirchen-über-nachhaltigkeit-und-die-mobilitätsumfrage/597289822186362/?refsrc=deprecated&_rdr
- Through a “Together Counteracting” project, the club is promoting regional nature conservation large-scale projects.
- For FC Schalke 04’s match vs Mainz 05 in 2019, two young football fans read a joint statement from both clubs on the pitch which urged football fans to live and act more environmentally consciously. Additionally, the club offset part of the CO2 produced on the matchday with a donation for a reforestation project.
Additional information
Information sourced directly from FC Schalke 04 staff, website and third party websites
Information updated May 15 2023
