VfL Wolfsburg is striving to be a leader in environmentally conscious practices. The Bundesliga club announced starting with the season-opener this weekend the Wolfsburg stadium, Volkswagen Arena, will only offer multi-use drink containers, completely doing away with single-use plastics.
AOK-Stadion, where the Wolfsburg women’s team (one of the best in the world) plays its home matches, will follow suit.
Starting from the first home match, the Green-Whites will only supply multi-use drinks containers at the Volkswagen Arena and at the AOK Stadion. #VfLWolfsburg
No more single-use plastic https://t.co/ycYIsQHPEv pic.twitter.com/KJ9BAu9gVv— VfL Wolfsburg EN (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) August 15, 2019
“Plastic rubbish has become one of the most pressing environmental issues,” Wolfsburg managing director Michael Meeske said. “That’s why we have to take responsibility for it as well and help implement what society needs to do in order to protect the environment.”
Wolfsburg, which sports one of the greenest uniforms around, is also doing its best to be one of the greenest clubs. The club has started a number of initiatives to decrease the amount of trash created at the stadium and since 2015 the fan shop at the Wolfsburg stadium has stopped using plastic bags, using instead 100 percent recycled paper.
Given that climate change is one of the greatest man-made issues facing humanity, it’s great to see popular soccer clubs take the lead to be eco-friendly.
Wolfsburg has a ways to go to be called the greenest club on the planet. That title probably goes to Forest Green Rovers in League Two of England, which last year became the first club to be certified carbon neutral. The Rovers are attempting to do away with all plastics, not just in the stands but on the pitch. The club released a kit made out of bamboo in July and only serves vegan food at the stadium and training facility.
But Wolfsburg has made a good step toward helping the environment, which needs all the help it can get. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced this week July was the hottest month ever, and scientists are in agreement that the cause of global warming is man-made.
Of course, there’s still plenty Wolfsburg could do to make a bigger impact on the environment. The club could encourage its title sponsor, Volkswagen, to produce fewer gas-guzzling vehicles and promote more environmentally friendly cars.
The Wolfsburg men’s team opens the Bundesliga campaign at home against Cologne on Saturday.
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