SUSTAINABILITY REPORT of Vfl WOLFSBURG 2020
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MOVING TOGETHER. SUSTAINABILITY REPORT OF VfL WOLFSBURG 2020 VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH • Postfach 10 10 09 • 38410 Wolfsburg • www.vfl-wolfsburg.de 4 About this report SUSTAINABILITY IN WORDS AND NUMBERS ABOUT THIS REPORT VfL Wolfsburg does not shy away from its The structure of this report is orientated information required for this purpose was responsibilities for the consequences of to the preceding sustainability and gathered from conversations with each of its actions on people and the environment progress reports. Using a similar structure the responsible employees. (Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR), and enhances transparency and makes it has included sustainability at the core of easier for the reading target group to An updated CSR programme lists its thinking. VfL wants to play a leading better comprehend the steps in the the objectives for each of the area-of- role in professional football in this regard, club’s development. This is also helped action chapters for the coming reporting both nationally and internationally. A key by the standards of the Global Reporting period, and the measures selected to communications instrument in the pursuit Initiative (GRI) which were used as the implement them. of this strategy is sustainability and/or CSR basis for structuring the report. reporting. It is primarily addressed at fans, The report was prepared in compliance employees, sponsoring companies and Following introductions by the with the GRI standards: option “core” partner companies, as well as Volkswagen management and the Lord Mayor of of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). AG. This is also aimed at non-governmental Wolfsburg, the report then highlights the The last pages contain an overview organisations, pressure groups, as well as parallels between football and reporting. and explanations of the GRI indicators representatives of politics, science and The following pages then present the covered, and references to the relevant research. two prime themes – diversity and climate parts of the text. protection – in an appropriate way. This VfL publishes a comprehensive sustainability is followed by five chapters on the main Additional information and news are report every four years. In the interim years, CSR areas of action identified by the club: available at the VfL Wolfsburg website at VfL also publishes a short progress report, “Strategy & Management”, “Employees”, www.vfl-wolfsburg.de. Content focusing the last in 2018. With this publication, VfL “Environment”, “Society”, and “Fans & on sustainability, can be found at openly and comprehensively discloses for Members”. The main themes dealt with www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/der-vfl/soziales/. the third time since 2012 how it handles in each chapter are first presented on the main topics on which it has an impact. an introductory page, then extrapolates The report concentrates here on the these to the world of football, and points most important activities, but also on out the sustainable development goals any deficiencies identified in the last two of the United Nations (SDG) to which VfL years, and defines the goals and planning makes a contribution in the area of action. for the next reporting period. The content has largely been selected on the Each of the chapters in the report show basis of the materiality analysis carried how VfL strategically tackles each of out in 2020. the main topics; which measures it implements for this purpose; and the The reporting period basically covers the metrics it makes use of to control these 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons: later actions. VfL Wolfsburg deliberately developments have also been taken into collects those metrics which can help consideration in individual cases where improve the measures it implements in possible before the editing deadline, and the football business. There is also an already planned measures have also been overview in each chapter highlighting announced in advance. All of the content the special milestones achieved during relates to the whole VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball the reporting period, and an outlook GmbH. The report is published in German. announces the planned activities. The Content 5 CONTENT About this report 04 Greetings from Klaus Mohrs, Lord Mayor of the city of Wolfsburg 06 Foreword of Michael Meeske, Managing Director of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH 07 Intro 08 Climate 10 Diversity 12 STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT: 14 MANAGING RESPONSIBILITY IN A TRANSPARENT WAY – FOOTBALL, YOU SHOW THE WAY EMPLOYEES: 32 WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING VALUES ALIVE – FOOTBALL, YOU SHOW THE WAY ENVIRONMENT: 46 PROTECTING THE CLIMATE – FOOTBALL, YOU SHOW THE WAY SOCIETY: 60 SHAPING HOW WE LIVE AS A SOCIETY – FOOTBALL, YOU SHOW THE WAY FANS AND MEMBERS: 74 BRINGING COMMUNITY SPIRIT ALIVE – FOOTBALL, YOU SHOW THE WAY CSR programme 86 GRI content index 88 Imprint 90 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 6 Foreword STRENGTHENING MORE RESPECTFUL INTERACTION KLAUS MOHRS, THE LORD MAYOR OF WOLFSBURG, ON THE CLUB’S AND CITY’S COMMITMENT TO MORE PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE BETWEEN ALL PEOPLES Dear readers, citizens and friends of increasing divisions in our society, which sustainably reform football and society. VfL Wolfsburg, are becoming even more apparent today I look forward to our continuing mutual in the discussions about how to combat co-operation, and getting involved in as the Lord Mayor of the city of Wolfsburg, the Corona virus, and climate change. new areas of teamwork. I am delighted to again read a sustainability These attitudes threaten our democracy report from VfL Wolfsburg in 2020 which and are inacceptable. Although one should In the name of the council and the reveals what football can do for society be able to argue about controversial administration of the city of Wolfsburg, and our city. VfL is a courageous pioneer issues in the same way as one can discuss as well as all of the citizens of Wolfsburg, for the sustainable change of industry footballing performances, this should I thank VfL Wolfsburg warmly for the and society, and stands shoulder to never give rise to mutual disrespect. close working relationship, as we all shoulder with Volkswagen to advance strive to create a forward-looking and the important transitions further, and has It becomes increasingly important against vibrant Wolfsburg. I look forward to many also been involved as a reliable partner in this background to ensure that we do more successes in the sporting, social many co-operation projects. more to treat one another with respect. and environmental arenas, and wish the This is the shared duty of all people in footballers and the whole club all the very VfL is one of THE flagships of our city. society. The public sector can provide best in tackling the future challenges. It regularly thrills thousands of fans – opportunities for exchanging opinions hopefully also back in the arenas again by investing in various areas, including Yours faithfully, soon – and not only on national and educational institutions, culture and international TV screens. The outstanding sport, and digital platforms. However, the performances of the women in particular willingness of a large number of us to use are very impressive. Year after year, they these opportunities is also required, not to bring back at least one piece of silverware mention making a personal contribution Klaus Mohrs to Wolfsburg. This year as well, they easily for the benefit of society as a whole, Lord Mayor dominated German women’s football, and whether professionally or voluntarily. of the city of Wolfsburg missed the triple by the tiniest amount. VfL is an outstanding role model here. VfL also makes use of its charisma Its commitment goes well beyond what away from the pitch, to speak out one could reasonably expect. The players and underpin its commitment to the stand up on behalf of diversity with their peaceful co-existence of all people, rainbow-coloured captain’s armbands independent of their origins, skin colour, and special football shirts. The club is religion, sexual orientation, age, or enthusiastically involved in co-operation personal characteristics. This is all the with the town of Wolfsburg’s youth work, more important today to ensure that such as in its Fan Project, and speaks out the far-right motivated acts of extreme powerfully against violence between violence which we have had to endure in fans. The club is also involved in climate recent years in Kassel, Hanau and Halle, protection, such as the reforestation are never repeated. We regularly hear and project of the city forest. VfL participates see how people have been threatened actively as a networker in various public because of their social commitment. spheres, and continually works in These crimes are the expression of the numerous partnerships and projects to Foreword 7 INSPIRING PEOPLE TO JOIN IN MICHAEL MEESKE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF VfL WOLFSBURG-FUSSBALL GMBH, ON THE SUSTAINABILITY POTENTIAL OF FOOTBALL MADE IN WOLFSBURG Dear Readers, of activities. These include fighting On the other hand, ups and downs are discrimination, racism and homophobia. part of the fascination of football. We Football regularly and impressively shows In this context, VfL Wolfsburg works firmly believe that our commitment to how challenges can help us improve. I am closely together with Wolfsburg council, sustainability provides enough dynamism convinced that this also applies to the the Fan Project and numerous companies in the club, and in all of the areas where Corona crisis. We will make our training and amateur clubs in the region, and the club has an impact, to be able to venues and pitches safe from the virus, regularly shows that it stands on the side provide thrilling sustainability and thrill fans again, and utilise our chances of diversity, with measures including the football activities in the future as well. as a green, sustainably transformable rainbow-coloured captain’s armband, not football club. This is important because to mention special football shirts, and the Enjoy the read, convince yourself, and today, more than ever, we need to shoulder diversity weeks.