Press Release: VfL Wolfsburg tops Sport Positive Bundesliga Sustainability Table 2021
7th April 2021, London: Following the success of the Sport Positive Premier League sustainability table in 2019 and 2020, today Sport Positive released their first Bundesliga sustainability table, with VfL Wolfsburg taking top spot.
VfL Wolfsburg have shown exemplary commitment to the environment, showing holistic efforts across all clubs operations; from all sites using 100% green energy, and ensuring zero waste to landfill, but also by understanding mobility behaviour of spectators and offering incentives for fans, staff and volunteers to travel via active or public transport. They are signatories to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2025.
On taking the top spot, VfL Wolfsburg’s Managing Director, Michael Meeske commented: “Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges in society. Which means, for football – with its power to change – it is not only an obligation, it is a responsibility. That is why we feel really delighted to lead the German ranks and this is also motivation to go ahead and take our next steps.”
In putting this matrix of information together, Sport Positive researched all publicly available information and then presented this to Bundesliga clubs, who were asked to verify data found and provide further information on efforts in eight categories. 21 points are available within the table, and they are awarded for:
- Clean energy (2 points)
- Energy efficiency (2 points )
- Sustainable transport (2 points)
- Single-use plastic reduction or removal (2 points)
- Waste management (2 points)
- Water efficiency (2 points)
- Plant-based or low-carbon food options (3 points)
- Communications & engagement (3 points)
One bonus point was available for each of the following:
- If club actively engage fans towards positive behavioural change that reduces environmental impact in their own lives
- If club are signatory to UN Sports for Climate Action Framework
- If club track and report on percentage of fans taking various modes of transportation to games
The matrix notably shows that every single Bundesliga club powers a part of their organisation with renewable energy, showing commitment across the entire league to environmental sustainability efforts.
The league’s creator, Claire Poole of Sport Positive, said: “The aim of our tables is to encourage engagement and activity among clubs to increase their commitments to sustainability and ambition on climate action. Although we allocate points and rank clubs based on this, this is really done for ease of presentation and communication. We are certainly not pitting clubs against each other, and see this work as a group effort that we must come together on. No single organisation can win the fight on climate change alone.”
She went on, “We give big congratulations to VfL Wolfsburg and others at the top of our table for their leadership, but highlight that every Bundesliga club has great initiatives in place, and many have plans to do much more. These league-wide efforts are the real win for climate action.”
Sport Positive has launched sustainability tables for Premier League clubs in 2019 and 2020, and now Bundesliga in 2021. Tables are updated in real time when clubs communicate new initiatives and progress is more widely publicised once a year. Work is in progress on Ligue 1, La Liga, Serie A and Champions League tables, which will all launch in 2021.
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About
Sport Positive is a UK-based organisation that focuses on supporting global sports organisations to increase ambition and action on climate change. We work tirelessly to connect industry stakeholders globally, host an annual Summit in collaboration with UNFCCC and we research and share environmental sustainability data via our Sport Positive Leagues. If the conversation is about sport x sustainability globally, we’re usually not far away! For more information visit: www.sportpositiveleagues.com
Media Contact
Claire Poole, Founder, Sport Positive
[email protected]
