Making Handball Sustainable

Work under Sustainability Strategy begins

A bold strategy aiming to make handball the most sustainable sport in Europe by 2027 was presented by the EHF and approved at the EHF Congress in September 2023.

The Sustainability Strategy named environmental and social sustainability as well as governance as three focus areas, and outlined core goals. To achieve those goals, the EHF, EHF competitions and events, and the handball ecosystem and partners were determined the three action fields.

To oversee work related to the Sustainability Strategy, the Sustainability Board was established. The first meeting of four occurring in 2024 was held in January.

So far, in terms of EHF and EHF Marketing competitions and events, specific sustainability concepts have been elaborated and a checklist for green events created. The EHF EURO bidding documents require that organisers develop a sustainability strategy encompassing environmental sustainability as well as economic and social responsibility.

Concerning social sustainability outside of events, gender equality is a key area. The second Women’s Handball Conference, held in tandem with the Women’s EHF EURO 2024, was one related step. Another important task within the framework of the social sustainability efforts is working with youth across Europe. EHF initiatives such as the Respect Your Talent programme fall into this category, but do not mark the endpoint.

In line with the vision statement for the EHF to become one of the most sustainable indoor team sport federations, the new EHF building, which achieved an Austrian “Klimaaktiv” Certificate — the second-best category of sustainable buildings — opened in December. The building, with integrated photovoltaics, is itself a heating and cooling accumulator which is heated and cooled using water from the soil beneath, and has charging stations for e-bikes and electric cars.

In addition, the EHF cooperates with willdienstrad to foster green mobility of staff members via a leasing model for (e-)bikes.