TSG Hoffenheim and its sustainability partner PreZero continue to set standards in their collaboration. On Tuesday (12/11/24), the ‘Zero Waste Forum’ took place in front of more than 100 representatives of stadiums, clubs, associations and companies from all over Germany. Speakers gave an in-depth insight into the topic of the circular economy. “We’re delighted to be able to look back on an enduring and particularly valuable partnership with PreZero, which is not limited purely to the exchange of advertising messages but rather in which the shared vision of zero waste is actually lived,” said Dr Markus Schütz, CEO of TSG Hoffenheim. “For us at TSG Hoffenheim, it’s important that we make a contribution to shaping our society in a positive manner, especially in these times, and also that we encourage others to create added value from which everyone can benefit.”
For more than a year now, the PreZero Arena has been the first DIN SPEC 91436-certified “Road to Zero Waste” stadium in the German Bundesliga – currently with silver status. Gold is the goal. In addition to the milestones of reusable cups, separation systems and grass paper, the topic of water is now on the sustainable to-do list. “We’ve taken an intensive and instructive path up to this point, which we would take again at any time,” said Marcus Sagitz, Titular Managing Director Marketing & Corporate Affairs at PreZero. “With the PreZero Arena flagship project, we want to show other stadium operators and clubs how it can work for them too, so that we can all agree upon a joint standard.”
A high-calibre panel of experts from the fields of business, politics and sustainability discussed the fact that the motto “Zero time to waste” does not only apply to the topic of water. When it comes to sustainability and the circular economy, there are still few standards that clubs, associations and stadium operators can use as a guideline. Anna Goldhofer, the co-founder of CRITICAL FRIENDS, Katja Suhr, Head of Circular Economy Team at GIZ, Silke Schmidt-Stegemann, Federal Ministry for the Environment, and Dr Günther Bachmann, former Secretary General of the German Council for Sustainable Development and Chairman of the German Sustainability Award Foundation, shared their views.
Lukas Märtens gave a special perspective on water as a resource. For the 400-metre freestyle gold medallist, it is obvious that water is a valuable commodity that can be reused in any sports facility. He also knows the challenges of the last mile, when the bar is raised from silver to gold. “For me as a swimmer, water is not just my sports equipment but one of the most important resources on our planet. I come from near Magdeburg, where there are many lakes and moors. It is distressing to see how these landscapes are drying up and animals such as otters are being threatened with extinction. It is important to me that we finally recognise how important it is to protect these habitats. Without water, there is no life. Not even for us,” Märtens said.
At national and international level, the first PreZero partners are following TSG Hoffenheim’s model. In addition to the newest member of the family, the SAP Garden in Munich, top clubs such as RCD Mallorca, RB Leipzig, VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich are also on the “Road to Zero Waste”. Incidentally, PreZero’s own company headquarters have already achieved gold status.