“Plastic waste has become one of the biggest environmental problems. FC Bayern are therefore showing exactly the right way forward to get this problem under control,” explained Barbara Metz, member of the Duh Federal Board during half-time at the first Bundesliga game of the new season against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. “The change at the Allianz Arena willsave over one million disposable beakers over the course of the season. That’s why we are presenting the award to FC Bayern. We look forward to other clubs following this positive example.”
Barbara Metz, who presented a certificate (“Reusable champions”) to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the FC Bayern München chairman, praised the reusable beaker plan for the Allianz Arena: The deposit of two euros ensures the beakers are returned and used again. Washing the beakers will be carried out in Bergkirchen near Munich from October. That reduces the transport mileage. There are plenty of return points both inside and outside the Allianz Arena. That means the beakers can be returned quickly without any complications: “It’s good that not only printed but also unmarked beakers can be used.”
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge expressed his thanks for the award and recalled the Allianz Arena was planned and built with the environment in mind. “The change to a reusable beaker system is also the result of close co-operation with the Bavarian Environment Ministry,” said Rummenigge. “Based on environmentally-sound construction and the use of future technologies, the Allianz Arena has been a venue for years that sets standards in domestic and international professional football. Since 2006, our sustainably-operated stadium has conformed to the strictest European guidelines – according to the EMAS scheme. The next project will be cleaner electricity, which we will obtain through the installation of solar panels on our new multi-storey car park. I’m very happy the German Environmental Aid has rewarded the commitment of FC Bayern Munich to environmental protection.”