"There is only one planet which we can play football on," was how Hans-Joachim Watzke summed up the relevance of sustainable action in October 2021. Addressing social, ecological and economic challenges on a global scale and making active contributions to a sustainable future is the task of society as a whole, and thus also that of football clubs.

It was with good reason that the United Nations listed the last of its total of 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) as "Partnerships to achieve the goals" - because today's global challenges require one thing above all: joint efforts. For this reason, BVB invited partners and sponsors to a first-ever sustainability roundtable at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK last Wednesday. Among other things, Borussia Dortmund's sustainability strategy was presented and information was provided on the current status of the DFL licensing process. This was followed by an external impulse lecture that allowed us to learn more about partnerships in sport and served to stimulate new ideas. The first roundtable was successfully concluded with many positive insights, a lively exchange and a bolstered network.

On Monday, the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 became the first major professional football leagues to anchor a mandatory sustainability directive in their licensing regulations. The DFL passed a corresponding resolution at its general meeting.

This resolution is a continuation of the course taken in December 2021, when the DFL made a clear commitment to sustainability in all its dimensions (ecological, economic, social) in the preamble to the statutes of the DFL e.V. and also decided that sustainability criteria should become part of the licensing procedure.

More information on the current DFL directive can be accessed here.

More information on the topic of sustainability at BVB can be accessed here.