Football is of enormous social significance – that was, is and will be the case in the future. For exactly that reason, Bayer 04 have had the target for years of making football sustainable and fit for the future. This happens in three areas: environment, society and club management. Bayer 04 also always gets involved regionally and globally as a locally rooted and internationally famous football club, both inwardly and outwardly. The Werkself thereby accept responsibility in times of sustainability transformation. Bayer 04 want to continue to promote and extend the community influence of football, lead the way as an exemplary enterprise and attractive employer as well as accept ecological challenges to make professional football more environmentally friendly through innovation.
Bayer 04 is aware of its responsibility regarding the promotion of sustainability. This challenge is accepted as a significant partner in the region (in particular working with the City of Leverkusen), as a modern company and as a responsible member of the football community. The mission consists of integrating sustainability, in all its respects, as an important aspect in the decision-making process in our operations, in prioritising key subjects and using the charisma and role model function of the club to achieve greater sustainability and to make it attractive and rewarding.
Professional football has high environmental effects. Bayer 04 look for innovative solutions that are better for the environment and always implements them. The club never wants to stop improving.
Bayer 04 sees its local, regional and international endeavours in the area of community issues as a given as the sport of football is by definition a social event. Bayer 04 also sees itself as a responsible employer off the pitch, a committed neighbour and actor for positive cooperation.
Bayer 04 is not only one of the biggest football clubs in Germany but also a medium-sized enterprise with commitment to the home city of Leverkusen and Bayer AG. That also involves a high standard in terms of integrity and compliance. The club believes in fair play – both on and off the pitch.
While there are no Bundesliga fixtures during international break, last weekend brought overweight fans from 16 first, second and third tier sides together on the pitch in Leverkusen. Over 200 participants in the health promotion programme 'Football fans in training' (FFIT), organised by Deutsche Krebshilfe (the German cancer support organisation) and the Institute for Therapy and Health Research (IFT-Nord) accepted the invitation from Bayer 04 and Deutsche Krebshilfe on 12 October for the 2024 XXL fans tournament.
Show moreThe 1,193 spectators who attended the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion for the Werkself's 2-2 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 2 of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga also supported a good cause. As part of the DFB's 'Together: Good Game' action day on the theme of sustainability, Bayer 04 donated two euros from every ticket sold to the Leverkusen Women's Helpline.
Show moreSpecial sports class for enthusiastic primary school children: as part of the first action day of the Bayer 04 campaign ‘District Matchdays’ in the 2024/25 season, Werkself players Vanessa Haim and Estrella Merino Gonzalez visited the KGS Thomas-Morus-Schule in Schlebusch on Wednesday afternoon and led a lesson in the gym. This was anything but an unusual situation for summer signing Haim.
Show moreSupport under the Cross: Bayer 04 took part again this year in the packing event for the Leverkusen organic lunchbox for schoolchildren for the nineteenth time. The project of the friends' association NaturGut Ophoven e.V. is designed to contribute to the promotion of a balanced diet for children. Under this year's motto of 'Gigantic', help was provided in filling 1,888 boxes on Tuesday afternoon, 27 August, by the Bayer 04 Women's team players Lilla Turányi and Emilie Bragstad, club representative Stefan Kießling as well as several basketball players from the BAYER GIANTS. Bayer 04 also contributed all the muesli bars provided.
Show moreBayer 04 has been committed to a large number of successful projects for years in and around Leverkusen as well as worldwide.
Started as a one-off project in 2015, the 'Bayer 04 HILFT-Tag" day of support is becoming more and more of a traditional event for the Bayer 04 workforce. Every summer a public entity in Leverkusen is given a revamp – very much to the pleasure of all involved.
In cooperation with the City of Leverkusen, the club annually selects a public entity that can be improved in many ways. With the final building work the Bayer 04 staff, the Werkself and the Bayer 04 Women are supported by Lebenshilfe e.V. Leverkusen. The day of action was held at a Leverkusen day nursery in 2015 and 2016. The Opladen driver training course was spruced up in 2017 and in 2018 the players and staff are involved at the Wildpark Reuschenberg. In 2019 it was the turn of the Neuland Park. After a two-year break due to the pandemic, 2022 brought help to the Burgloch allotment society and in 2023 it was the turn of NaturGut Ophoven and this year at a children´s day-care centre.