FC Bayern in exchange with members

FC Bayern has given its sustainability strategy the umbrella term ‘Mitnand’ – Bavarian for ‘togetherness’ – because you can only achieve something together, and the topic of sustainability affects everyone. In order to bring this attitude to life through action, the club invited 30 members to a workshop on the subject of climate and the environment as part of the Bavarian Climate Weeks. The participants, who were drawn from over 150 applications, took several hours on a Saturday morning to address this important topic together with the FCB sustainability team headed by Denise Heinemann at the FC Bayern Campus. Accompanied by the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection and Viessmann, FC Bayern's climate partner, a varied and interactive exchange took place.

Raising awareness among members and fans

In his welcoming address, Benny Folkmann, FC Bayern managing director, emphasised how important it is for the club to involve its members on an equal footing in a wide range of topics, to exchange ideas and to learn from each other. There are various formats for this, such as this workshop, for which many people with an enormous amount of expertise in the area of climate and the environment had registered. After the workshop, the participants then explored specific topics in depth at three different stations.

The topics of mobility, energy and waste avoidance were discussed under ‘Measures and suggestions for improvement’. The participants came up with creative solutions to further reduce the club's footprint. ‘Moving more together’ focussed on the question of how FC Bayern can involve fans and members even more in its environmental commitment. The focus was on topics such as sustainable catering and the use of environmentally friendly sports equipment. The third station, entitled ‘Visions and visions of the future’, focussed on long-term goals such as promoting biodiversity and innovative water usage concepts. The participants were impressed by the seriousness and far-sightedness of the organisation in this area.

Small steps for a big impact

Across all stations, the feedback from the members was clear that mobility, catering, waste management, merchandise and energy efficiency are key areas of action. Participants repeatedly emphasised how important it is to take small steps in order to achieve a big impact. Mobility in particular - for example travelling to matches or events - was a frequently discussed topic. There was an intensive exchange on how low-emission travel options could be promoted and what incentives the club could provide to reward sustainable behaviour.

At the workshop, FC Bayern not only presented what is already going well, but also specifically asked the members to identify potential for improvement. In an open-minded atmosphere, constructive criticism and valuable tips were shared, which will be incorporated into the further development of the ‘Mitnand’ strategy. In summing up, many of the participants stated that their expectations had been far exceeded. They praised the open, inspiring atmosphere and the club's high level of commitment. It is highly appreciated that FC Bayern actively involves its members in its environmental and climate protection efforts. 

Regular dialogue

As a next step, the club plans to develop a regular dialogue and participation format in which members can continue to participate in the development and refinement of the sustainability strategy in the future. The workshop was an important milestone on this path, which not only aims to reduce and avoid emissions, but also to promote the active involvement of members and fans.