Global Nature Fund and 1. FC Nürnberg start cooperation for fair and sustainable textiles in sports & merchandise
Press release by the Global Nature Fund & Femnet e.V. in the “Fair Wear Works” project
- The Global Nature Fund (GNF) and the traditional club 1. FC Nürnberg have started a cooperation within the framework of the Fair Wear Works project.
- Together, they are committed to sustainable textiles in sport and merchandise as well as fair textile supply chains.
- The collaboration aims not only to promote ecological standards in purchasing, but also to strengthen social justice in the global textile industry.
Bonn/Nuremberg, 30.01.2025: The official starting signal for the intensive cooperation between GNF and 1. FC Nürnberg was given during a workshop on November 6, 2024 as part of the ‘Fair Wear Works’ project. Under the title “Why is it worth buying sports textiles sustainably?”, employees from the merchandise team and the sustainability working group discussed the challenges and opportunities of sustainable sportswear and textile fan shop items. The ecological and social problems in the textile supply chains posed a particular challenge, for which initial solutions were developed at the workshop.
Responsibility in the supply chain is one of eleven focus topics of the red-black eleven for more sustainability, the sustainability strategy of FC Nuremberg. The initial focus here is on transparency along the entire supply chain – from the extraction of raw materials to production and fair pay for workers. This strategy is characterized by the desire to make responsible purchasing decisions and establish sustainable practices in the industry.
“By working with the GNF and through the joint workshops, we want to gradually improve our processes and, in the long term, define a checklist for suppliers and our own evaluation system for sustainable products. The GNF helps us to define strategically sensible purchasing goals that we can then actually implement in practice,” says Niels Rossow, Director of Strategy & Marketing at FC Nuremberg.
A strong signal for sustainability in sport
For FC Nuremberg, this collaboration is an important step towards assuming its own responsibility for environmental and social standards. “The club wants to sensitize employees, members and fans to sustainable action. Sustainable fan merchandise is an excellent driver for this. They allow us to reach many people and use the emotions of soccer to promote sustainability in the supply chain,” explains Niels Rossow. “We are delighted to have an experienced partner like the Global Nature Fund at our side to support us on this journey.”
In September 2024, 1 FC Nuremberg had already participated in the Fair Week with its fan store, supported by the GNF’s “Fair Wear Works” project team.
“Sport is a unifying force and has the potential to make important topics such as environmental protection and social justice accessible to a broad audience. Together with 1. FC Nürnberg, we want to show that sustainable and fair sports textiles are not just an exception, but can definitely play a relevant role in the product range,” says Bettina Faust, Project Manager “Fair Wear Works”.
Innovative solutions for fair supply chains
Since 2020, Global Nature Fund and FEMNET e.V. have been working together as part of the project to promote socially fair and ecological supply chains in textile purchasing. The women’s rights organization FEMNET e.V. contributes its proven expertise in labour rights along the supply chain, while the Global Nature Fund complements the project objectives with its experience in global environmental and nature conservation projects. With their respective expertise, the partners advise sports clubs, companies in the healthcare sector and universities. The aim of the project is to improve conditions in textile supply chains and create sustainable alternatives for clubs, companies and consumers. After VFL Bochum 1848, 1. FC Nürnberg is already the second Bundesliga club that the GNF is advising on this topic.
The German soccer leagues, which attract a great deal of attention and set a strong example, have a social responsibility here. With sustainable purchasing solutions, clubs can not only set an example for human rights and resource protection, but also raise society’s awareness of sustainable development. The GNF’s advisory and educational program is open to all sports clubs. Further information: www.globalnature.org/fair-wear-works/
Fair Wear Works is supported by ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL gGmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Postcode Lottery and Fairtrade Germany.
About the project partners
The Global Nature Fund is an internationally active foundation for the environment and nature conservation. With projects such as Fair Wear Works, the GNF is committed to promoting sustainable business practices and fair working conditions. www.globalnature.org/fair-wear-works/
FEMNET e.V. is a women’s rights organization that has been campaigning for better working conditions in the global garment industry for over 15 years through political commitment, educational and advisory work and projects abroad.