In ice hockey, goals and points count, and recently they count in sustainability, too. The DEL2, the second-highest league in German ice hockey, assesses its clubs against a catalogue of criteria. EC Bad Nauheim takes 3rd place. As the club's sustainability partner, we support it along the way.
In sport, things are counted, compared and ranked. That now applies to sustainability as well. The DEL2 has assessed its clubs against a catalogue of criteria and published the results in a table. EC Bad Nauheim scores 56 points and shares 3rd place with Freiburg. In ecology, the club reaches 22 points. Together with the Kassel Huskies, that is the best score in the league.
ESTURION supports EC Bad Nauheim as its sustainability partner. Rüdiger Senft, founder of ESTURION, is the club's Sustainability Officer.
The DEL2 approach: a catalogue, points and a table
The DEL2 shareholders' meeting decided to integrate a sustainability concept into league operations. It covers ecology, economy and social matters. All clubs implement priorities from a shared catalogue. In addition, they can develop their own projects that suit their location.
The introduction is gradual. The 2025/2026 season was intended as an orientation phase. In the 2026/2027 season, implementation will be deepened, and the clubs will be assessed and scored on the basis of the concept.
What makes it special: the league makes sustainability measurable and comparable. In the end, a table shows who meets which criteria, just like in the regular season. Typical sport. Off the ice, too, nobody likes to be near the bottom. If this sporting ambition leads clubs to develop their structures further, that is a positive impulse.
The foundation at EC Bad Nauheim
EC Bad Nauheim has developed its own sustainability concept based on the DEL2 criteria. The aim is to make the club step by step more resource-efficient, more socially engaged and more firmly rooted in the region. At the same time, professional sport should remain economically sound.
The concept builds on values that suit a traditional club founded in 1946: team spirit, fairness, reliability, down-to-earthness and regional roots. The club explicitly sees sustainability as a learning process.
Ecology
In ecology, the club has already implemented several measures. These include a carbon footprint according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, green electricity from Stadtwerke Bad Nauheim, waste separation and environmental guidelines. Next, the carbon footprint is to be extended to further emission sources, and the vehicle fleet is to be gradually switched to electric mobility.
Social
An ice hockey club reaches many people from the region every week. EC Bad Nauheim is therefore socially engaged, for example with the Rote Engel (Red Angels), the Pink Racket Game, its sponsorship of Schule ohne Rassismus (School without Racism) and family-friendly ticket prices. Plans include a code of conduct, inclusive sports projects and structured support for international players.
Economy and governance
To anchor sustainability permanently, fixed structures are needed. These include a designated Sustainability Officer, a sustainable procurement policy and the development of crisis management. The club's partners and sponsors are also to be involved more closely in the topic in future.
Outlook
3rd place is a good interim result. But the table also shows that there is still some room to the top. Further steps are planned for the current season. These include the code of conduct, the implementation of the procurement policy and the regular review of the carbon footprint. We look forward to continuing to support EC Bad Nauheim along the way.