Policy and Commitment
- VfL Bochum 1848 sustainability strategy “Der VfL-Weg” has a dedicated page on the website: https://www.vfl-bochum.de/verein/nachhaltigkeit/der-vfl-weg/
- In 2013, established “HERE, WHERE THE HEART STILL COUNTS’ as the umbrella brand of the club’s social responsibility. This was further developed in 2019 which resulted in three main topics: BOCHUMER COMMUNITY, BOCHUMER HEALTH and BOCHUMER ENVIRONMENT, as well as the development of sustainability processes at the club.
- Achieved the successful completion of ÖKOPROFIT in 2021.
- Since 2019, the “Sustainability / CSR” department has been part of the management team and thus reports directly to the top management level in the club.
- The club tackles sustainability issues with five core elements: down-to-earthness, authenticity and proximity in the measures, continuity and calm instead of activism, effective results instead of PR gags, integration of the entire VfL family and encourage participation and imitation.
- A materiality analysis analysed which sustainability issues are relevant for VfL Bochum 1848 in an economic, social and environmental sense. Existing materiality analyses from business and football were considered. GRI and DNK reporting standards were taken into account.
- Created a life cycle assessment based on the European Commission’s Organization Environmental Footprint (OEF) a measurement instrument for recording the environmental performance of an organization. In addition to CO2 footprint (climate change), the other impact categories acidification, eutrophication (fresh water), resource use (fossil) and water use were taken into account.
- VfL Bochum is initially focusing on and avoiding CO2 across the club. Concrete climate targets will then be set on the basis of this data and measures. At all stages, the club will be guided by global standards such as the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, science-based targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- In merchandising, there is already a separate sustainability category, which is increasingly being expanded. Textiles that are labelled organic, vegan and fair.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- A photovoltaic system is installed, and commissioning is imminent. The system covers up to ten percent of the VfL Stadium Centre’s own needs in the future.
- VfL Bochum uses 100 percent green electricity.
Energy Efficiency
- VfL Bochum has an energy efficiency target and action plan from the club’s sustainability strategy.
- Introduced a ‘LoRaWAN network’ pilot project for Q1 2023 which is continuously installed throughout office buildings so that temperatures and power consumptions can be smartly controlled.
- As part of the ÖKOPROFIT awards from 2021, measures to convert the lighting to LEDs, training courses for employees on energy efficiency or the optimization of lighting control and switching times were implemented or initiated.
- Most lights have been converted to LED. The remaining lights will be changed to LED on a step by step basis.
- VfL completely switches off refrigerators and ventilation systems between matchdays.
- Floodlights will remain switched off for afternoon games whenever possible.
- The toilet facilities in the Vonovia Ruhrstadion are operated without hot water and the heaters run on the “frost guard” function.
- A reduction of one month for the running time of the undersoil heating has been set for the winter period.
- In the Talentwerk, VfL’s youth academy, a hydraulic balance and improved settings of the heating system ensure savings.
- Working with a partner, VfL Bochum maintains and monitors all sustainability data via an ESG tool.
- An energy savings plan and monthly reports communicate current savings. This is linked to a monetary incentive system for employees, which helps to raise awareness.
Sustainable Transport
- Since the first home game of the 2022/23 season against 1. FC Köln, buyers of a MobileTicket can now use it as a KombiTicket, the popular combination of VRR ticket (bus and train) and matchday ticket.
- VfL Bochum and its ticket service provider CTS EVENTIM Sports have been offering a MobileTicket for VfL fans since 2017.
- VfL Bochum advises that over 50% of stadium visitors use public transport to get to Castroper Straße.
- There are 5 EV charging points for employees and players.
- A project group on the topic of “sustainability” analyses all mobility issues and continuously examines how the vehicle fleet can be made more sustainable.
- VfL Bochum regularly surveys its fans on how they travel so that the club can derive measures from this. The most recent survey was launched February 2023.
- VfL Bochum 1848 organised a bicycle campaign game day for the home game against VfL Wolfsburg (April 22, 2023). Further actions are planned to optimize the infrastructure for bicycles around the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- At the start of the 2022/23 season, VfL Bochum 1848 introduced a reusable cup system in the Vonovia Ruhrstadion with a two euros deposit per cup.
- There are purchasing guidelines (Code of Conduct) that include sustainability criteria. In addition, existing products are analysed and optimized where possible.
- Installed a drinking water system at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion which would enable free water for VfL fans at three stations, each behind the west, north and east sides of the stadium. The system is currently not in operation.
Waste Management
- VfL Bochum has a written waste concept.
- Waste that cannot be avoided is sorted and recycled in an environmentally friendly manner. Waste that cannot be recycled is disposed of properly and harmlessly.
- In accordance with and avoid-reduce principle, bowls for smaller snacks have been replaced with ceramic bowls instead of cardboard, beverage cups are now reusable.
- VfL hands over leftover food to the soup kitchen right next to the stadium grounds, both after match days and other events.
- The club will work with waste management company USB to optimise waste management and support the club’s cup deposit donation campaign.
- Percentage of waste diverted from landfill has not been provided.
- VfL Bochum does not currently have its own recycling system. Strengthening recycling and the circular economy is an objective of the club’s sustainability strategy and talks are being held with partners.
- In the office, waste is separated into mixed waste, paper/cardboard and glass. The new season will also see the separation of residual waste and recyclables at the office.
- 22/23 jersey is made from 100% recycled polyester fibres.
- The club is currently looking into how it can separate the hygienic paper separately and put it into a cycle.
Water Efficiency
- Motion detectors are now being used for toilets. Additionally, the pressure in the toilets has been reduced, which saves water.
- Aerators are in use.
- VfL Bochum uses SKW system technology which ensures 10 percent savings in fertiliser and water. The system is in use in the stadium and on a training pitch.
- Installed “Turf Pods” which permanently measure the moisture in the pitch which allows the club to water more appropriately and save additional water for unnecessary runs.
- Has examined water circulation measures and rainwater collection options but these are not yet feasible at the site.
- VfL plans to record water consumption in a more differentiated way by installing flow meters in order to derive reduction options from this.
- Looks to reduce the indirect usage of water e.g. by reducing print media.
- The club has recorded water water as part of its life cycle assessment.
- By winning a “Responsible Sports Award” in May 2022, blueplanet Investments AG will for one year compensate the water consumption of VfL Bochum by 120 percent. For every litre of water consumed by VfL Bochum, 1.2 litres of purified and clean drinking water are returned to people who suffer from water shortages.
Plant based/low carbon food
- Vegetarian or vegan alternatives are available for all areas.
- Through stadium caterer Aramark, VfL offer a plant-based alternative to bratwurst and currywurst in the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
- The caterer for the Venovia Ruhrstadion, Aramark, includes ecological and ethical criteria in their purchasing decisions e.g. regional and seasonal products.
- Pretzels are also available in public areas.
- In the VIP area and at events, there is a wide range of vegetarian and vegan alternatives. At events, exclusive vegetarian or vegan food can also be offered upon request.
- Vegetarian and vegan alternatives are supplied to the team.
- A lunch table for employees at Castroper Straße (the site of the Venovia Ruhrstadion) includes a vegetarian and/or vegan alternative.
- Plant-based partner is The Green Mountain (part of Hilcona Group), based in Switzerland. The production will soon be moved to North Rhine-Westphalia. From then on, the club will source the products from Bad Wünnenberg which is about 120km away from Bochum.
Biodiversity
- In 2014 and 2015, VfL participated in tree planting campaigns in Bochum.
- A number of on-site meetings were held with local environmental organisations. The development of a joint concept to promote biodiversity at the site of the stadium and training grounds is being examined.
Education
- Has started a partnership with bochum.bolzt. The project combines clean-up campaigns in schools with football field tournaments and sporting activities. This teaches the children and young people the relevance of environmental and climate issues in a playful way.
- There was a joint workshop with a team from the junior training centre on the subject of waste and waste avoidance, as well as a clean-up as part of a match. Further dates are being planned.
- Bochum.bolzt had a stand at the club’s season opener to raise awareness among fans about waste prevention issues. Joint clean-ups were carried out.
- Stadium tours on environmental sustainability are offered to children as part of the “Fußball trifft Kultur”- project. The final event of the project “„Klimaschutz: So machen WIR’s!“ (project for Bochum schools) took place on the club’s space.
Communication and Engagement
- VfL Bochum 1848 sustainability strategy “Der VfL-Weg” has a dedicated page on the website: https://www.vfl-bochum.de/verein/nachhaltigkeit/der-vfl-weg/
- The club reports transparently on its developments in the area of sustainability (including ecological issues) on an ongoing basis. It uses all the channels available to the club i.e., homepage, social media, newsletter, members’ magazine, stadium magazine.
- Has initiated VfL Bochum 1848’s first sustainability report in partnership with Bochum University of Applied Sciences which will cover all relevant sustainability issues at the club.
- Reported the club’s total amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the 2021/22 season was 3,774,728 kg CO2 equivalent. Identified most greenhouse gas emissions as generated in merchandising (37%) and mobility (26%), which also includes the arrival and departure of fans.
- VfL Bochum is looking to communicate the vision and targets of the club’s sustainability strategy.
- VfL Bochum 1848 organised a bicycle campaign game day for the home game against VfL Wolfsburg (April 22, 2023) in order to sensitize all stadium visitors to travel to the stadium in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Further actions are planned to optimize the infrastructure for bicycles around the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
- Participates annually in the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s Earth Hour The lighting of well-known buildings, sights and landmarks is symbolically switched off worldwide for one hour – including that of the Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
- VfL is an active member of the energy network of Stadtwerke Bochum. The network has set itself the goal of increasing the share of renewable energies, increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Since 2021, the club has formed a special partnership with the Bochum University of Applied Sciences, which has a well-founded and broad range of courses, teaching and research in the field of sustainability. Young “sustainability talents” write their theses or project work together with VfL.
- Also in 2021, VfL entered the study “The clubs in the ranking – their shops are so fair” by the non-profit organization “cum ratione gGmbh” and was awarded as the third-best newcomer. The award is for the positive development of sustainability in merchandising.
- VfL Bochum continuously surveys its fans on various sustainability issues and includes their opinions within the club’s decision-making processes.
- Discusses selected topics with its fans in fan forums. At the last fan forum, for example, the topics were catering, cleanliness and ticketing. This was accompanied by various social and ecological issues.
- Clean-ups with Bochum.bolzt were offered at the opening match of the season.
- As part of a home game, there was a clean-up with participants of the integration project Heimspiel Bochum – Gemeinsam Blau-Weiß.
- Clean-ups are carried out in the youth academy together with the environmental organization bochum.bolzt.
- A cup collection campaign was carried out with Bochum.bolzt on a home match day to raise awareness of the issue of waste avoidance.
- In November 2020, VfL Bochum displayed the words ‘RE2050 and Reduce, Reuse & Rewear’ on the front of its home jersey for the fixture against Fortuna Düsseldorf. The aim of the initiative was to raise awareness of.
Additional information
- In the club’s project “Blau-Weißer Bewegungsraum”, which covers nutrition and resource topics, articles offered to children and young people are produced as sustainably as possible (drinking bottles, jute bags, etc.)
- As part of the “step kickt” project, children are made aware of healthy and local nutrition.
Information sourced directly from VfL Bochum staff, website and third party websites
Information updated May 15 2023
