Requirements increase significantly - Intensive demand from clubs underlines growing importance of sustainability
Today, Wednesday, Handball-Bundesliga GmbH will announce for the second time since 2024 which Bundesliga clubs have been awarded the sustainability certificate for 2026. Environmental sustainability criteria in particular are becoming increasingly important in the assessment and award process. Despite the significantly increased requirements, 34 out of 36 professional clubs in the DAIKIN HBL and 2nd HBL applied for the 2026 sustainability certificate. Following a review by the HBL Certification Committee, which is responsible for the award procedure in cooperation with the Licensing Commission, all applications were approved.
The following Bundesliga clubs have provided the mandatory evidence and will receive the 2026 Sustainability Certificate
DAIKIN Handball Bundesliga (alphabetical order): Bergischer HC, FRISCH AUF! Göppingen, Füchse Berlin, GWD Minden, Handball Sport Verein Hamburg, HC Erlangen, HSG Wetzlar, MT Melsungen, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, SC DHfK Leipzig, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, TBV Lemgo Lippe, ThSV Eisenach, THW Kiel, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, TVB Stuttgart, VfL Gummersbach
2nd Handball Bundesliga (alphabetical order): Dessau-Roßlauer HV 06, HBW Balingen-Weilstetten, HC Elbflorenz 2006, HC Oppenweiler/Backnang, HSC 2000 Coburg, HSG Krefeld Niederrhein, HSG Nordhorn-Lingen, Eulen Ludwigshafen, TSV Bayer Dormagen, TuS N-Lübbecke, TuSEM Essen, TV Großwallstadt, TV Hüttenberg, VfL Eintracht Hagen, VfL Lübeck-Schwartau, 1. VfL Potsdam, SG BBM Bietigheim
Holger Glandorf, Managing Director of the SG, commented: "We are delighted to have once again received the HBL's sustainability certificate. It shows that we as a club are actively working on living values off the pitch too."
The most important additions to the "Regulations for awarding the sustainability certificate" are
Basis of a carbon footprint sharpens environmental sensitivity: the most relevant extension in the "Regulations for issuing the sustainability certificate" is the mandatory preparation and verification of a carbon footprint by specialized service companies, which ensures the validity of the footprints. The proof of a CO2 balance includes the office, the venue and also the training facilities of the Bundesliga club applying for the certificate.
Leverage for reducing emissions lies in the area of mobility: A significant proportion of emissions in professional handball are also caused by mobility. The majority of fans still travel by car. However, the German handball leagues have started to introduce alternative transportation options, such as public transport tickets, combined tickets, buses and special trains. Although this is a step in the right direction, the HBL is also tightening up the criteria for clubs wishing to receive the sustainability certificate in this important area - for the first time, a survey of fans on the use of transport for home and away trips and an analysis of travel behavior are mandatory.
Circular economy is gaining in importance: in this area, the "Regulations for awarding the sustainability certificate" for the "Waste and circularity" sector stipulate the submission of a report on key waste figures on home match days and at the office. The HBL entered into a strategic partnership with the Schwarz Group in 2024. PreZero, a Schwarz Group company, has since contributed its expertise in the areas of circular economy, resource conservation and waste management by supporting the HBL in the implementation of sustainability projects, particularly in the area of circular economy.
Social commitment continues to be part of the club's DNA: social aspects such as anti-discrimination and anti-racism remain of great importance in handball. Diversity and equal opportunities are important topics that handball will continue to address even more. More than 100 social projects were also submitted by the Bundesliga clubs in the recently completed assessment process.
The sustainability certificate is part of the HBL sustainability strategy, which aims to develop a common, fundamental understanding of sustainability activities in professional handball. To this end, Handball-Bundesliga GmbH, in cooperation with the Bundesliga clubs and with the involvement of experts, has defined fields of action that are continuously being developed.
Assessments by the HBL task force were incorporated into the development of the sustainability certificate. This task force, which was set up specifically to develop topics and sustainability criteria, is made up of club representatives from both professional leagues, external experts and employees from the HBL office.