Policy and Commitment
- “PLAY. CARE. SHARE” is RB Leipzig’s sustainability strategy and can be viewed on the club’s website here: https://rbleipzig.com/en/club/sustainability/. The strategy covers the club’s social, ecological and economical responsibility.
- The club has defined three key ecological issues for its ecological responsibility: Materials & Waste Management, Energy & CO2 Emissions, Water.
- A page dedicated to the ecological efforts of RB Leipzig can be viewed on the club’s website here https://rbleipzig.com/en/club/corporate-social-responsibility/ecology/
- Since December 2022, games at the stadium have taken place on an energy- and CO2-efficient hybrid pitch.
- The club’s new office building (due for completion in 2025) will be constructed from around 2500 m³ of Central European spruce wood, recycled concrete and flooring.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- All of the club’s sites (Academy, Red Bull Arena and Administration) use 100% renewable energy.
- Approximately 10% of the total electricity consumed by RB Leipzig is generated by the photovoltaic system (71.5 kWp and 65 kWp) of the Youth Stadium and the main building of the Red Bull Arena.
- The design for the club’s new office includes plans for a solar power system with nearly 600 panels.
Energy Efficiency
- Implementation of an energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001.
- Switched to an LED-only lighting system.
- The club has installed an Energy Task Force. Colleagues from the areas of sustainability, operations, sports, IT and fan support work in a team to develop long-term, efficient measures to reduce consumption.
- Through the Energy Task Force, the club was able to reduce its electricity usage by around 20% by the end of 2022.
- Energy-saving measures at the Red Bull Arena are;
- Reduced red effect lighting in the stadium.
- Reduced roof lighting in the stadium and carrying out a light screening (light audit) with RBL partner Signify, with the aim of switching to LED and Smart Light.
- Reduction of the room temperature in the VIP areas.
- Reduction of the heating in the main building of the Red Bull Arena.
- Energy-saving measures in the Academy and the Office are;
- Temperature reduction of the lawn heating in the RBL Academy
- Temporary renunciation of lawn heating
- Reduction of the room temperature in the office buildings
- Cold water in the toilet areas
- Optimisation of individual usage behaviour in the office buildings – e.g. light off, stand-by switch-off etc.
- The club’s new office, which will be built at the training centre by the end of 2025, has also been planned according to the latest information on energy consumption and efficiency.
Sustainable Transport
- Internal travel guidelines are being revised with a view to more sustainable options for business trips.
- Free use of public transport with the purchase of an RBL ticket (fans can travel within a 120 kilometre radius).
- On match days, the club generally recommends attendees to arrive by public transport as there are only a few parking spaces available in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. The club also promotes the official Park+Ride car park.
- Two bicycle garages have been set up for fans who travel to the Red Bull Arena by bicycle. There are 1,300 secure parking spaces available on the fairgrounds, and VIP guests can safely park their bikes in the stadium’s P1 multi-storey car park.
- The club works with Leipziger Transport company shuttle buses to make trips available from the main station to the stadium and back.
- In 2022, the club’s fleet for employees including the vehicles of its players now totals 143 vehicles. After commissioning the first E-cars in 2020, the club’s share of electric and hybrid vehicles is 35% (status: December 2022). When purchasing new vehicles for players and management, the share of E-cars is already more than 75%.
- Expansion of e-charging infrastructure at various club locations. Two charging points on the south stand, ten charging points at the office and underground car park, eight charging points at the academy.
- Further charging stations will soon be installed in the depot, 22 in the professionals area and 9 at the stadium. The club’s new office has plans for e-charging infrastructure.
- “Work bikes” available for employees.
- Employees can lease up to two bicycles through RB Leipzig’s ‘JobRad’ offer.
- Through an employee survey, 16% of the workforce already using the JobRad offer and more than half (51%) of those who don’t have not excluded the option. The survey also revealed that 44% of RBL employees drive to work by car, 40% cycle, 8% use public transport, 4% travel by foot and 1% of employees each use e-scooters and motorcycles, mopeds, carpooling or other means of transport.
- Cycle brand Specialized equips the club’s men’s 1st team with an e-bike fleet and helped the club to build bicycle parking spaces in and around the Red Bull Arena.
- Professional players travel in a MAN bus, which was judged by an international expert jury at the end of 2021 as “Sustainable Coach of the Year 2022”, i.e. the most environmentally friendly coach.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- RB Leipzig has a policy to reduce the single-use plastic in the club, on a case-by-case basis.
- Reusable cups in public catering (deposit system) in the Red Bull Arena.
- All packaging and items in public catering (e.B. coffee cups, straws, forks) are made of recycled material (all biodegradable).
- In the VIP area of the Red Bull Arena, the club’s caterer has increased the share of reusable cups and cutlery and reduced the use of single-use packaging and now uses more biodegradable products.
- Cups for hot drinks made of recycled and biodegradable material.
- No plastic bags in the fan shops.
- The 22/23 home shirt is made from 100% recycled polyester.
Waste Management
- Waste separation at the Red Bull Arena is currently on the agenda for RB Leipzig. The aim is to achieve a “Zero Waste” certification by the start of UEFA EURO 2024 by avoiding waste as much as possible and significantly increase the rate of recycling.
- In 2022, replaced all fold-down stadium seats under the name “SEATainability”. The old seats were either repurposed or recycled, while the steel frames were kept in place. The new seats in the club’s colours are made of 90% recycled plastic, and were made possible with the help of a cooperative project.
- At the Red Bull Arena, waste containers in the public area are now colour coded. Waste is separated into plastic, paper and residual waste. The new concept was implemented for the first time in April 2023 for the home match against Augsburg.
- Offers its fans digital-only tickets on their smartphones, thereby saving resources by eliminating the use of paper.
- There is a separate collection box for beverage cans at the office and in the academy.
- On match days, cans are returned in the stadium via the deposit system.
- The club has the aim to close material cycles. Various test projects have been running since 2022 e.g. “SEATainability” project.
- Receipts and shopping bags have been switched to recycled paper.
- If there are high merchandising stocks at the end of the season, the club donates them to charitable organizations.
- Together with its public caterer, the club has been reducing food waste for a number of years by handing over leftovers from the kiosks to its service providers and employees for a symbolic euro at the end of the game.
- Surplus bread is processed into new bread products with local partners and thus closing a cycle.
- Food waste that can no longer be consumed after each match day is recycled via the club’s official supplier PreZero.
Water Efficiency
- Waterless urinals have been installed in the washroom facilities across the entirety of the stadium.
- During the conversion of the stadium, the club was able to implement numerous measures that lead to significant water savings, such as: waterless urinals, water-saving taps with sensors, flow limiters, aerators in the showers.
- The design for the club’s new office includes plans for a system to store and reuse rain and service water.
Plant based/low carbon food
- Vegan, vegetarian and sustainable food are available to fans and employees at all RB Leipzig locations.
- Through ‘Veganz’, the club has been offering vegan products in the Red Bull Arena since 2021 e.g. vegan bratwurst.
- At the Red Bull Arena, spectators can buy a vegan vegetable wrap, the baguette “Vegano” with homemade tomato spread and pickled tofu, vegan curry wurst and three salads. A total of 13 vegan/ vegetarian products available.
- A local caterer is used for hospitality catering which includes vegetarian and vegan foods.
- In 2022, a meat-free diet was also increasingly introduced in the staff canteen “Cottaria”.
- A ‘sporty diet’ for employees which is offered by an external local caterer also includes vegetarian and vegan dishes.
- Vegetarian and vegan food options for players.
- Meals for the first team, youth players who live in the academy and staff are prepared according to a dietary philosophy that includes vegan and vegetarian diets. Where possible, regional suppliers are preferred.
- The club uses a selection of regional partners and service providers.
- Organic sweets and organic soft drinks are available.
- Local partners for beer, baked goods and part of the grill range (bratwurst) – less transport, fresh products (not frozen).
Biodiversity
- No information provided.
Education
- In 2022, RB Leipzig developed two formats that anchor the topic of sustainability in the club and provide its employees with relevant knowledge. These were called “Crunchtime Sustainability” and the “Ambassador Program”.
- For “Crunchtime Sustainability”, employees had the opportunity to attend various ecological sustainability topics with a focus to learn about resource conservation. A total of five different appointments of 45 to 60 minutes could be attended voluntarily and free of charge in the form of online lectures. For in person workshops, content was provided by experts from different institutions, companies and NGOs. Topics covered “Energy”, “Water”, “Sustainability in the Group”, “Healthy & climate-neutral -Dilemma or win-win?” and “Waste/Recyclables”.
- The club has developed “Ambassador Program” for employees that is scheduled to run until 2025 and is currently being implemented by 15 people in four project groups. Topics such as nutrition, employee mobility and the circular economy will be addressed.
Communication and Engagement
- RB Leipzig’s sustainability strategy can be viewed on the club’s website here: https://rbleipzig.com/en/club/sustainability/.
- A page dedicated to the ecological efforts of RB Leipzig can be viewed on the club’s website here https://rbleipzig.com/en/club/corporate-social-responsibility/ecology/
- In April 2023, RB Leipzig published its first sustainability report: https://rbleipzig.com/en/news/2022-2023/rb-leipzig-publish-first-sustainability-report/
- An interview with Evelyn Holderbach (Director Sustainability and International Development at RB Leipzig) following the release of the first ever RBL Sustainability Report can be viewed here https://rbleipzig.com/en/news/2022-2023/rbl-sustainability-report-2023-interview-with-evelyn-holderbach/
- In 2022, the club developed a digital information platform called ‘Crunch time Sustainability’ and an ambassador programme, two formats designed to inform its teams to sustainability as well as sustainable behaviour, while also raising awareness to actively prompt a change in thinking. Employees are also updated via the club’s town hall meetings and internal communications.
- For the club’s new waste separation bins in April 2023, all fans were made aware of the new concept through various campaigns in the Red Bull Arena.
- In 2022, surveys were carried out with the club’s workforce on employee mobility as well as their understanding of sustainability in order to prepare the development of further measures.
Additional information
Information sourced directly from RB Leipzig staff, website and third party websites
Information updated May 15 2023