Neckarsulm, November 14, 2024. On November 12, 2024, TSG Hoffenheim and its sustainability partner PreZero gave more than 100 representatives from stadiums, clubs, associations and companies from all over Germany an in-depth insight into the circular economy. For more than a year now, the PreZero Arena has been the first DIN SPEC 91436-certified "Road to Zero Waste"-Arena in the Bundesliga - currently with a silver level of maturity. 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 have followed an intensive and instructive path to this point, which we would take again at any time," says 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 on a common standard."
"Zero time to waste" - the fact that this does not only apply to the topic of water was discussed by a high-caliber panel of experts from business, politics and sustainability. For example, there are still few standards in the area of sustainability and the circular economy that clubs, associations and stadium operators can use as a guide. Anna Goldhofer, Co-Founder 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, Chairman of the German Sustainability Award Foundation, gave their views. Jennifer Kettemann, member of the executive committee of the Handball Bundesliga e.V., clearly demonstrated that the PreZero Arena serves as a role model beyond soccer. The number 2 ball sport in Germany can take away impulses, but also give them. For example, the HBL supports the clubs in reducing their carbon footprint by focusing heavily on digitalization and remote working, among other things. Lukas Märtens gave a special perspective on water as a resource. For the gold medal winner in the 400-metre freestyle, it is obvious that water is a valuable resource 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.
"We are delighted to be able to look back on a lasting and particularly valuable partnership with PreZero, which is not limited to the exchange of pure advertising messages, but in which the shared vision of zero waste is actually lived," says Dr. Markus Schütz, Chairman of the Management Board of TSG Hoffenheim. "For us as TSG Hoffenheim, it is important that we make a contribution to positively shaping our society, especially in these times, and also that we encourage others to create added value from which everyone can benefit."
At national and international level, the first PreZero partners are following the TSG Hoffenheim 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 are also on the "Road to Zero Waste". Incidentally, PreZero's own company headquarters has already achieved Gold status.
Further press information: www.prezero-arena.com
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