Policy and Commitment
- SC Freiburg developed a sustainability strategy in 2022. Through the exchange with different dialogue groups and all departments of the association, a holistic sustainability strategy was developed by the cross-departmental sustainability project team. https://www.scfreiburg.com/engagement/aktionsspieltag-klimaschutz/
- Since 2015, the club has bundled its sustainability commitment under the motto “SC Freiburg – more than football”. The commitment covers education, movement, environment and solidarity and can be viewed here: https://www.scfreiburg.com/engagement/unser-engagement/
- SC Freiburg has a dedicated page on the website which shows the club’s commitment to the environment which can be viewed here: https://www.scfreiburg.com/engagement/umwelt/
- In a joint activity report of the Freiburg Football School Association, the Achim Stocker Foundation and the social commitment of SC Freiburg, the association provides compact information on the numerous activities in the areas of exercise, education, the environment and solidarity.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- All of the club’s locations are supplied with 100% green electricity from renewable sources.
- In July 2022, the new solar roof on the club’s Europa-Park stadium was inaugurated with SC partner badenova. It is one of the largest solar roofs on a football stadium in the world and, with a peak output of 2,387 kilowatt peak (kWp), will generate around 2.3 million kWh of electricity per year and meet the current forecasted annual electricity requirements of the Europa-Park stadium.
- The club’s offices are in the stadium and thus the solar energy generated is also used directly for the needs of the offices.
- The entire heat requirement of the Europa-Park stadium is also sustainably covered by district heating from the neighbouring company Cerdia.
- Dreisamstadion (home to the club’s women’s team SC Frauen I): Photovoltaic systems with a total area of 2200 square meters, which generates an electricity yield of around 335,000 kWh per year.
- In the Freiburg football school, the sports club relies on low-energy construction with natural air conditioning via geothermal heat exchangers, a wood chip system and the installation of a solar thermal system for hot water. In addition, there is optimized thermal insulation in the new buildings.
- Since 2011, complete conversion of the electricity supply to “business öko plus” and participation in the environmental management program “ECOfit” of the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Energy Efficiency
- SC Freiburg uses infrastructure measures and guidelines to actively conserve resources.
- A digitized building management system in Europa Park Stadium and Dreisamstadion helps to ensure sustainable operation and careful use of resources.
- Numerous measures at all three SC locations. These include switching to LED lighting or the purchase of energy-efficient refrigerators and optimizing the floodlights.
- The Freiburg football school has natural air conditioning via earth heat exchanger, a wood chip system, a thermal solar system and optimized thermal insulation in the new buildings.
Sustainable Transport
- The Europa-Park stadium:
- With 3,700 bicycle parking spaces, e-charging stations and new tram and bus stops, fans have numerous alternatives to arriving by car.
- The stadium is well connected to public transport. On the day of validity, the admission ticket entitles you to free travel to and from the stadium by public transport 3 hours before the start of the game. From the 2023/24 season, this offer will be extended to five hours before the game.
- There is a free shuttle service for ticket holders who travel by public transport but are restricted in their mobility (e.g. due to a disability, old age, temporary limitation…). The electric shuttle “SC-Mobil” runs on the boulevard from the tram stop to entrance E1.
- Various Park & Ride options are available in the vicinity of the stadium area.
- For every fan who travels to the game by bike, the mobility partner JobRad donates 1€ to the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve.
- The Dreisamstadion can be reached by public transport (bus and train), by bike, by foot and Park&Ride. An admission ticket to the Dreisam Stadium entitles you to free travel to and from the stadium on local public transport on the day of validity 3 hours before the start of the game and until the end of the day. These options are promoted on the SC Freiburg website https://www.scfreiburg.com/stadion/dreisamstadion/anreise-parken/ From the 2023/24 season, this offer will be extended to five hours before the game.
- The Möslestadion (home stadium of the Freiburg football school) can be reached by public transport, bicycle and car.
- SC Freiburg recorded the means of transport for the fan trip for the 2021/2022 season in a scientifically supported mobility analysis.
- The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Affairs (BMDV) and the working group of pedestrian and bicycle-friendly cities, municipalities and districts in NRW awarded SC Freiburg as the “most bicycle-friendly personality 2023.”
- Held a Climate Protection Match Day for the club’s home fixture against FC Schalke 04 in April 2023 with a key focus on sustainable mobility.
- 5,669 fans attended the stadium by bike (16% of all stadium visitors).
- A third of attendees travelled by public transport (tram, S-Bahn, SBG sports bus, public bus).
- More than half of attendees arrived by bicycle, public transport or on foot.
- The Freiburger Verkehrs AG (VAG)(local tram network) was free of charge for 30 minutes on journeys to the game. 175 stadium visitors used this service.
- The Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg (RVF) (public transport network) extended the period of validity of its KombiTicket for the action game day from three to five hours before the game, which is an explicit wish of many fans (result of a mobility analysis).
- Almost 500 stadium visitors travelled on Sunday with the SBG sports bus, which cost only five instead of the normal eight euros charge.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- A defined field of action in the clubs sustainability strategy is the reduction of waste and the associated reduction of plastic.
- The club introduced recyclable materials.
- A deposit system for French fries trays is currently in the pilot phase.
- The 22/23 home kit is made out of 100% recycled polyester, whilst the away shirt is made with up to 75% recycled polyester.
- Reusable cup system in the public areas of the stadium and in hospitality catering.
- SC Freiburg fan merchandise has items in an ecological products category. This includes GOTS-certified fan clothing and waste prevention products such as coffee mugs, drinking bottles and lunch boxes made from 100% recycled material.
Waste Management
- SC Freiburg has a waste concept for the systematic handling and consistent reduction of waste.
- Waste is collected and separated at all locations (plastic, paper, glass, green waste, organic waste and food leftovers, residual waste) including the rental of a paper press. The systematic separation of waste leads to the disposal or reuse of the resulting waste.
Water Efficiency
- The association’s environmental strategy mentions sustainable resource management.
- To increase efficiency, waterless urinals and water-saving fittings are installed in the Europa Park Stadium and Dreisamstadion.
- SC Freiburg records water consumption at all locations and develops measures to improve efficiency, e.g. drinking water dispensers, flow rate regulators, etc.
- In the Dreisamstadion, a deep well and waterless urinals improve the efficient use of water.
Plant based/low carbon food
- Vegan options at stadium including vegan Bratwurst and Knöpfle with Sauerkraut.
- SC Freiburg cooperates with many small suppliers for its food and drink offerings in the stadium, who work in an environmentally friendly way thanks to short journeys and predominantly regional products.
Biodiversity
- SC Freiburg and the WWF entered into a multi-year partnership in 2018, with a focus on the UNESCO Black Forest biosphere area, by preserving nature and landscape and at the same time increase regional value creation.
- At the beginning of September 2020, a wilderness experience trail on the edge of the Bannwald at the foot of the Feldberg was officially opened. Children, young people and adultscan experience the “original forest of tomorrow” up close under the motto “home game for the wilderness”. The wilderness experience trail extends over almost five kilometers and includes 14 interactive stations that are intended to bring people closer to the local forests.
- Since the 2013/14 season, SC Freiburg partner badenova has planted a tree in the region for every goal scored by SC Freiburg. More than 250 deciduous and fruit trees have already been able to bear fruit and leaves through the tree planting campaign Each tree has an information board and also lists the name of the corresponding goal scorer.
Education
- SC Freiburg and WWF’s wilderness experience trail has 14 interactive stations that are intended to bring young and explorers closer to the local forests. The path mascots at the individual stations explain why this is important and why both humans and forest dwellers depend on the primeval forests of tomorrow.
Communication and Engagement
- The club’s sustainability commitment comes under the motto “SC Freiburg – more than football”. The commitment covers education, movement, environment and solidarity and can be viewed on the website here: https://www.scfreiburg.com/engagement/unser-engagement/
- SC Freiburg has a dedicated page on the website which shows the club’s commitment to the environment which can be viewed here: https://www.scfreiburg.com/engagement/umwelt/
- A dedicated page on the club’s website lists the latest social news and commitments. https://www.scfreiburg.com/aktuell/nachrichten/engagement/
- In 2011, the club participated in the environmental management program “ECOfit” of the state of Baden Württemberg.
- Under the umbrella brand “FAIR ways – We take responsibility”, SC Freiburg has been gathering up to 15 partners since the 2011/12 season, who, like the sports club, are sustainably involved in the areas of education, movement, environment and solidarity. The FAIR-ways partners stand up for the topic of sustainability and commit to joint actions in this area, whilst also jointly promoting sustainable projects.
- Wilderness excursions with SC fans as well as a joint action of the SC youth club with the junior rangers of the biosphere area are carried out.
- SC Freiburg participates in the Freiburg district’s “Our Climate Quarter Waldsee” project, which involves the people of Freiburg and initiates and promotes climate protection measures. Birgit Bauer (head of department of women’s and girls’ football of SC Freiburg) and Greta Stegemann (Bundesliga player of SC Freiburg) are ambassadors.
- Held a Climate Protection Match Day for the club’s home fixture against FC Schalke 04 in April 2023 with a key focus on sustainable mobility. The club encouraged environmentally conscious travel to the game on its website.
- SC Freiburg balances its CO2 footprint for the 2022/2023 season and will publish it at the General Assembly in October 2023.
- SC Freiburg will publish a sustainability report for the General Assembly in autumn 2023.
Additional information
Information sourced directly from SC Freiburg staff, website and third party websites
Information updated May 15 2023
