By: EFDN

S04 founds the Zukunftsschmiede 04 together with strong partners from the area.

FC Schalke 04 has adopted a long-term sustainability strategy. The Royal Blues arrange in
a first step their activities in four dimensions to make sustainability holistic and comprehensive from now on to be able to map across the entire association: the social commitment, the ecological transformation, the corporate responsibility of the club and Schalke as a platform for networks and companies.

With radiance, passion and transparency to more sustainability

“We derive the mission from our vision, which we presented at the 2022 general meeting”. We want to strengthen the region with the means that are available to us. This means that the club itself must first of all implement sustainable action in all areas and to continue to build on the progress that has already been made.” – Dr. Bernd Schröder, Chairman of the Board of FC Schalke 04

The squires want to commit to the goals of the UN Global Compact and are an active part of the “Klimaneutral.Ruhr” initiative – for the sustainability of Schalke, its Schalke, its immediate surroundings and the entire region.

“The individual fields of action of our strategy were deliberately set up in such a way that they can only be completely.” They can only be worked on across all departments. Successful and credible sustainability work requires rethinking and implementation at all levels of the club and in its environment. “We don’t promise the blue of the sky, but want to make our sustainability work understandable for all members and fans.” – Sebastian Buntkirchen, Director of Fans and Sustainability

The aim is to achieve this through interdepartmental working groups in which key topics are defined and seasonal milestones are set. Their development become measurable and transparent with the help of a progress score. Key topics and progress are examined by the club’s own sustainability department together with external expertise.

Zukunftsschmiede 04: Network partner with a mission
A central component of the platform and network dimension within the Schalke sustainability strategy is the Zukunftsschmiede 04, which was launched on 27 February 2023 with the signing of the contract in the VELTINS Arena. The founding members, in addition to FC Schalke 04, which is the core project of its Gelsenkirchen, sustainability strategy and initiated it together with the Digital Campus Zollverein, are strong partners from SMEs to DAX companies. The starting eleven includes E.ON, Gelsenwasser, the Hagedorn Unternehmensgruppe, Hegmanns Gruppe, opta data gruppe, RAG-Stiftung, Rose Bikes & Punta Velo, Sievert, Stölten Velo, Sievert, Stölting, Vivawest and ZINQ. Bryck, the innovation and start-up centre of the RAG Foundation, has also been a start-up centre of the RAG Foundation.

“As Schalke 04, we have made a cross-committee commitment to supporting the region with key challenges. “To this end, we want to use the charisma we have in the Ruhr region and beyond.” – Dr Bernd Schröder, Chairman of the Board of FC Schalke 04

In order to lend this concern the necessary importance on a supra-regional level, the S04 acts as a workbench for sustainable projects that are jointly implemented and communicated to the outside world.

“Specifically, this sustainable network of strong companies will analyse the challenges we face in detail. The aim is to analyse the challenges facing us in detail, to exchange knowledge and ideas, to pool resources and to find suitable solutions for a more sustainable Ruhr region. ”We are incredibly proud, co-initiator of the Zukunftsschmiede 04. The Digital Campus Zollverein has been working intensively on the topic of sustainability for several years. Our starting group of companies already has a high level of expertise in the area of sustainability. which we now want to further expand together and bring to the public.” – Dr. Christian Kleinhans, Managing Director of the Digital Campus Zollverein

Among other things, there will be specialist conferences in the VELTINS Arena to bring even more expertise to the area. With many projects towards the future, the first ideas have already been initiated and are being implemented. One of the first projects in the medium term is the top floor of a multi-story car park on Stan-Libuda-Weg is to be equipped with a photovoltaic system.

“These are important steps towards ecological sustainability, and many more will follow – for and with our members, fans and partners.” – Dr. Bernd Schröder, Chairman of the Board of FC Schalke 04