AGF RESPONSIBILITY REPORT 2020 SUMMARY
WE WANT TO BE AN INSPIRATION TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD
At AGF, it is a fundamental value to be socially responsible, throughout our commitment to the city and the community around the club. Aarhus is one of our core values, and we are proud of being “the city’s team” – well aware, that this comes with expectations as well. As the first football club in Denmark, AGF has hired a dedicated sustainability director, who leads the way in our strategy on environmental responsibility, which was launched in May 2020. During its very first year, the strategy has contributed to a plan for waste management and separation, a change of energy use to renewables and many other initiatives. Based on our core values, we want to contribute to a positive development and to be an active part of the community around us.
CORE VALUES WE ARE RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE HARDWORKING. WE WANT TO WIN. WE ARE PROUD OF AARHUS.
A SUSTAINABLE FOOTBALL CLUB AGF means something to a lot of people, and with a great platform - comes great responsibility. We are well aware that reducing our own climate footprint does not change the world in itself, but we wish to send a strong signal: that everybody can do something.
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Football is not just about the game! It is about the experiences, the feeling of togetherness and the passion around the game. And as such, it is only natural that football shows the way towards a more sustainable future. Anne Jensen, sustainability director at AGF
We have singled out three key words to act as guidelines in our work with responsibility. The three key words are in line with the club’s official values, where Aarhus is central, but they also point towards the future.
AARHUS AARHUS
AGF has been a part of Aarhus and Danish football for a long time. Over time, a strong and firm bond have been established between the city and the club. We are very proud to see that AGF has become a center for community, experiences and togetherness.
RESPONSIBILITY ANSVAR
That is why we engage in the city, take the lead and take responsibility. We are aware of the position that we are in and we use it actively to make a positive difference for other people. We wish to give something back.
FUTURE
FREMTID
In 2020 AGF turned 140 years. We want to do our part to ensure that the world we live in will also exist in 140 years from now. We will use our position in Aarhus to show a more sustainable path, to inspire and inform, and to ensure that even more people become aware of our responsibility to take care of the planet. Maybe – hopefully – many more will start to consider the changes that they can make themselves.
SIGNATORY OF UN SPORTS FOR CLIMATE ACTION AGF has signed the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, becoming the very 1st signatory in Denmark. Moreover, having identified four areas of environmental focus, our efforts are a step towards meeting these UN Sustainable Development Goals:
RESPONSIBLE WASTE MANAGEMENT
SUSTAINABLE CITIES
100% CLEAN ENERGY
RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION
WASTE SEPARATION AT AGF
RAW MATERIALS
PRODUCTION
DISTRIBUTION
RECYCLING
COLLECTION
USE, REUSE, REPAIR
TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
AGF is part of the EU program Rethink Business that supports circular business development. Looking beyond the current take-make-waste extractive industrial model, a circular economy aims to redefine growth. We do that by reassessing our waste flow to find out if some the materials that we see as waste today can be turned into new materials with a new value. The aim is to use and reuse materials as long and as many times as possible. Our hope is that we can make a difference, for the environment as well as the bottom line, and that the project can lead to new partnerships and new ways of doing things.
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and no sustainability strategy ever became successful in a vacuum. We rely on our partners, sponsors, fans and friends to make our efforts in fighting climate change into a movement. We strongly believe in partnerships and knowledge sharing, and have organized our sustainability efforts in different forums: AGF Sustainability Board – Sponsors of the club have joined a green advisory board. AGF Green Think Tank – Fans and others in and around Aarhus are invited to join a new think tank. UN Sports for Climate Action – Upon signing the framework, AGF has engaged in the global network.