Bayer 04 Leverkusen promotes sustainability
This year’s #Morethanfootball Action Weeks, with Bayer 04 involved in many ways, have been running for three weeks. Monday’s day of action is under the heading of ‘Environmental Sustainability’. The fact this subject plays an important role at Bayer 04 is demonstrated by the sustainability certification Werkself were awarded last year.
Six clubs from the Bundesliga and the second division (VfL Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen, VfB Stuttgart, FC St. Pauli, SC Paderborn 07 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen) took part in the ‘sustain Club’ sustainability certification and as part of that process Bayer 04 were awarded the ‘sustain Club silver’ certification. With the achievement of this certification, the sextet of clubs assumed a pioneering role in professional sport. In cooperation with the Swiss organisation ‘sustainable///sports’, a pilot phase was held to develop the ‘sustainedClub’ standard, which was certified by the independent expert organisation DEKRA. It was the first recognised sustainability standard and orientation point in professional football.
“As a club, we are very happy about achieving silver status. I’d like to thank everybody who made a contribution to that,” said Fernando Carro, chairman of the board at Bayer 04. “In this assessment by the experts, we not only recognise an award but we also value it as an additional incentive to continue to develop in the area of sustainability.”
The six participating clubs have accepted the challenges relating to sustainability in professional football and are committed to a better future in the three areas of sustainability (economy, ecology and community). The standard involves the establishment of a CSR and sustainability management system, sustainability analysis and the identification of concrete improvement opportunities.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is also participating in the #Morethanfootball Fundraiser on Matchwornshirt. Fans can bid on shirts, gloves and a signed captains armband from last weeks 2-1 win against Schalke 04 and support their social initiatives. The raised funds will support ‘Wir (04) Helfen’, which is Bayer Leverkusen’s community programme. During the ‘Wir (04) Tag’, all employees of Bayer 04 (players included!) pick up some shovels and help renovate a pre-specified part of the city of Leverkusen.
