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VfL Wolfsburg 2021

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VfL Wolfsburg

Clean/Renewable Energy

  • All sites use 100% green energy
  • 100% renewable energy supplier since 2011 – saving 3600t CO2e/year, plus onsite solar PV electricity generation, CHP system in place + District Heating.
  • VfL supplements the reduction approach by additional compensation projects around the world. The main focus here is on projects which promote the use of renewable energy, and reforestation projects in deforested regions
  • VfL supports a United Nations compensation project which involves constructing photovoltaic systems in a village in India

Energy Efficiency

  • VfL Wolfsburg is using a holistic approach towards energy efficiency. An environmental compliance management system (ECMS) helps to define targets
  • LED floodlights at stadium consume 12% less power
  • Central building energy control installed in 2002 (heating, ventilation, cooling, lighting)
  • Residual building heat is used to heat pitches
  • New build academy function building requires 55% less energy for heating compared to a conventional building, Solar PV provides warm water and electricity.
  • A comprehensive effort was made to replace conventional light bulbs with LED lights in the indoor areas.
  • VfL started a pilot project for additional LED upgrading during the reporting period: the high quality of the grass on the pitches is due in part to the lighting with sodium high-pressure vapour lamps. To make the turf lighting more energy efficient, VfL uses a new type of LED turf lighting system.

Sustainable Transport

  • Promotes free travel for staff and volunteers, cycling and e-bikes, car pooling
  • VfL offers season tickets and entrance tickets for the home matches of the women’s and U23 teams in the AOK Stadium that can be used as combined tickets for the local public transport system.
  • Stewards and volunteers travel free of charge on the buses run by the Wolfsburg Verkehrs GmbH public transport operator.
  • Electric car in use at the Academy since 2019.
  • VfL provides its employees with subsidised job tickets issued by Deutsche Bahn for climate-friendly commuting by rail– As part of the analysis and calculation of VfL Wolfsburg’s Corporate Carbon footprint, they ask supporters via (online) survey on how they are going to get to the stadium. This survey helps them to derive the best possible measures.
  • Held a climate action bike day, which called on fans to come to the stadium by bike
  • As part of the club’s climate protection strategy, further awareness-raising measures for the new season are planned.
  • Fan travel survey: for better understanding of the mobility behavior of the spectators VfL carried out a mobility analysis in 2016.
  • This showed that 60 percent of season ticket holders live within a radius of 15 kilometeres of the arena. The recommendations for action in the analysis are used to make mobility more sustainable
  • The last comprehensive survey was conducted in 2018, one was planned for 2020 but unable to be conducted due to the pandemic

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

  • Bioplastic mugs are used, which are collected in a separate waste-stream as well as offering reusable coffee cups with a deposit.
  • Reusable mugs are used in the Volkswagen Arena and the AOK stadium.
  • VfL has used a new reusable drinks solution in the Volkswagen Arena and the AOK Stadium, which also reduces the energy and material consumption, and cuts the amount of waste
  • The VfL online shop has replaced plastic filling material with 100% recycling paper for its mail-order merchandising articles since February 2020
  • Policy to reduce micro plastic waste
  • No plastic bags in the fan shop, compostable paper bags are used instead.

Waste Management

  • Zero waste to landfill
  • Within ECMS, there is a target is to conserve resources and manage resources responsibly
  • A waste company in charge of dealing with general waste within the downstream supply chain (combustion, landfill)
  • Management uses 95% recycled paper.
  • Employees are motivated to avoid and separate waste
  • Catering services which are offered must also now satisfy specifications covering aspects such as waste management

Water Use

  • ECMS identifies water reduction potentials also at the stadium and at other locations of the club. VfL Wolfsburg installs/implements new sustainable and resource-saving technologies in new buildings right at the beginning, for example at the academy
  • Water-saving and automatic taps have been installed at the stadium, saving around 800 cubic metres of drinking water a year
  • Toilets use rainwater
  • VfL Wolfsburg waters its pitches with water from the nearby canal

Plant based/low carbon food

  • Vegan/vegetarian options are available across all club sites.
  • Vegan food options available at the Volkswagen Arena: the vegan Volkswagen Currywurst, changing soups and the classics Pommes und Pretzel. More vegan food will be on offer in the stadium after reopening
  • Many of the club’s players are paying more attention to vegan nutrition, so vegan food supply has increased for all teams
  • Food sourced locally as much as possible
  • At the Academy 60% of the food is organic or regional.
  • In the professional area: 85% of the food is from regional sources, and about 80% are organic.

Communication/Engagement

Information sourced directly from VfL Wolfsburg staff, website and third party websites
Information updated March 26th 2021