While Hoffenheim look to stomp a march on the 2019/20 Bundesliga table, they are treading lightly off the pitch by reducing their ecological footprint as the club announce their commitment to becoming carbon neutral and offsetting approximately 3,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions this season.

Hoffenheim have made the pledge thanks to a first of its kind partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

As part of its “TSG is movement” initiative, Hoffenheim will rebalance “unavoidable CO2 emissions” through WWF Gold Standard projects.

Included in the Hoffenheim commitment is the offsetting of the carbon emissions made by away teams and officials travelling to the PreZero Arena, while home Bundesliga matchdays will also allow fans to purchase “climate tickets” that go toward planting trees in Uganda’s Kikonda Forest.

“In addition to the need to reduce our own CO2 emissions and balance our carbon footprint,” said managing director Dr. Peter Görlich.

“In choosing to go carbon neutral we also hope to educate both our fans and the general public as well as draw attention to this issue which is of critical importance for all levels of our society.”

Fellow TSG director Frank Briel added: "I believe we can be proud of the fact that we are setting an example for both the Bundesliga and German football as a whole when it comes to climate protection.”

Hoffenheim will calculate the precise amount of carbon the club emits at the end of the season, before readdressing their environmental impact.

And they are not the first Bundesliga team to think conscientiously about its impact on the planet.

Back in 2013, Augsburg WWK Arena became the world’s first CO2-neutral stadium by harnessing the earth's natural geothermal energy to save approximately 750 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

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About the clubs

TSG Hoffenheim

PreZero Arena