Sustainability in university sport

University sports has always strived to incorporate as many aspects of sustainability as possible into its activities, long before the term ‘sustainability’ even took on its current meaning. We certainly benefit from our core mission, which is to organise sport and physical activity – one of the 17 sustainability goals of today’s society. And so the theme of sustainability also features in our mission statement.

Gender equality

Promoting equal opportunities and equality for women, men and non-binary people.
Balancing work/study commitments with family life.

Sustainable production and consumption

2018: Replacement of the floodlight system on the artificial turf pitch with an LED system.
2018: Purchase of sturdy reusable crockery and cutlery for catering for training course participants and at competitive sporting events, as well as the selection of regional and ‘eco’ caterers.
We have always delayed replacing hardware for as long as possible, even once the five-year depreciation period has been reached and we are entitled to replacement equipment. The equipment is then put to good use and reused for social purposes by organisations such as schools, voluntary initiatives, etc.

Sustainable towns and local authorities

2019: Purchase of two company bicycles and a trailer for short journeys to appointments and deliveries in the vicinity of the campus.
2021: Purchase of a new electric company car for long business trips and the transport of materials.

Plenty of top-quality water

When our artificial turf pitch was being built, a well was drilled at the same time, which has been used to water the pitch as needed ever since.
(Tap) water dispensers in the sports park, provided in collaboration with Hamburg Wasser, and now a washbasin with a high tap for filling water bottles.

Sustainable business practices as an opportunity for everyone

request, employment can be agreed to continue until the end of the student’s studies. This provides long-term planning and security for the student, whilst ensuring that we retain a wealth of knowledge within the university sports department. A classic win-win situation and sustainability in action.
Many former university sports trainees have gone on to study after completing their training. We have given them the opportunity to work for us as student employees alongside their studies. This has allowed both sides to get started straight away, without the need for an induction or training period.

Life on land and in the water

The ‘Lebendige Alster’ project, featuring ecologically effective structures to encourage small animals, young fish, mussels and aquatic plants to settle. Read more
Planting initiatives to boost biodiversity and insect populations in the sports park – see article
Since spring 2020: beehives in the sports park. Click here for the interview with the beekeeper who looks after the bees here. Unfortunately, we no longer have any bees at the moment, as many of the bee colonies died during the winter of 2023/2024; see news on this.

Energy saving

An energy-saving upgrade to the hall ventilation system at the Sports Park was implemented for the 2022/2023 winter term.

Sensors were installed in all halls to measure humidity and carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentrations. These sensors control the ventilation system, meaning that the ventilation only switches on when a threshold value is reached and there is therefore a need for fresh air.
Also in the 2022/2023 winter semester, presence detectors were installed in the halls, which now only switch the lights on when someone is in the hall.
The temperature for all heating systems in the sports complex has been set to 19°C for the 2022/2023 winter, and the night-time temperature reduction has been lowered to 16°C.

We also, of course, pay attention to the simple things, such as sorting waste, ensuring that clothing and sports equipment meet environmental and child protection standards, and only printing when absolutely necessary.