October 2019

Celebrate with us the 70th birthday of the SOS Children Villages!

We kindly invite you to the celebration event of the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the SOS Children Villages.

This event could not have been organised without the help of the Austrian Embassy, the Austrian-Hungarian Business Council, the German-Hungarian Industrial and Commercial Chamber and the Budapest Marriott Hotel.

The SOS Children Villages, founded in Austria, provide fond and secure homes at foster families and in youth homes to 400 children in Hungary and to 84 000 children globally.

This international organization, currently operating in 136 countries, celebrates its 70th birthday this year.

You can sign up here https://www.sos.hu/70years/

28.10.2019

Business networks in 24 countries pledge immediate action to halt the deterioration of Nature and the loss of biodiversity – BCSDH is among the signatories

News

Lisbon, 15 October 2019 – During the annual Council Meeting of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), 24 CEO-led business organizations, and Global Network partners of WBCSD, representing about 2,000 companies, have launched the Lisbon Declaration, a joint initiative to support business action and commitment at scale towards addressing the challenges biodiversity faces today.

A strong business voice is critical to drive the change needed at a global level, these business organizations commit to work with their member companies to set out concrete and time-bound actions that will produce a real impact in the preservation of biodiversity at a local level. The initiative act4nature will serve as important inspiration for each local commitment: it was launched by EpE (also a signatory of the Lisbon Declaration) in France in July 2018, and signed by 65 companies.

Most signatories will also join the Business for Nature global coalition that will unify and simplify the leading business voices towards the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP 15 next year, through a dedicated feedback regarding local companies’ recommendations to constructively contribute to the political debate and bring the forward-thinking businesses’ perspective on the policy changes needed to address the nature crisis. The signatories will also build on the growing expectation that CBD COP 15 will achieve a global agreement on nature, just as UNFCCC COP 21 did for climate with the Paris Agreement. This global coalition hosted by WBCSD, brings together influential organizations such as the World Economic Forum, WWF, We Mean Business, Natural Capital Coalition, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), World Resources Institute and others.

Iren Marta, Managing Director of BCSD Hungary said: “Preserve biodiversity is key for the survival of the Humanity. By signing the Lisbon Declaration we express our commitment to take actions.”

“The Lisbon Declaration is a pledge by many of WBCSD’s Global Network partners from around the world to seize the opportunity of making 2020 a turning point for biodiversity and enhance the critical role that natural capital must play to achieve truly sustainable societies and economies”, said João Wengorovius Meneses, Secretary General of the BCSD Portugal.

“The business sector in Brazil is taking the lead to foster that biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use are intrinsically linked to the economic development of our megadiverse country. The Lisbon Declaration is calling us to this path by gathering what is needed to refrain the loss of biodiversity on a global scale. Brazil has already followed through, led by CEBDS, and will launch its own commitment on 29 October 2019 setting nine targets to be met by 2030 based on the pillars of prevention, mitigation, compensation and knowledge generation and sharing”, said Marina Grossi, President of CEBDS – Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development.

“Act4nature was launched in France to raise nature in the CEOs agenda. It is fantastic that the Global Network members mobilize their many members for the preservation of nature. The movement is launched, let’s amplify and spread it widely. The Lisbon Declaration is a key move in this direction!”, said Claire Tutenuit, General Delegate of Entreprises pour l’Environnement (EpE).

“Collaboration and action at a global level must be accelerated if we are to reverse the loss of nature. The Lisbon Declaration represents an important pledge from WBCSD’s Global Network partners to work together with the business community on solutions which preserve nature and biodiversity” said Diane Holdorf, Managing Director, Food & Nature and Senior Management team of WBCSD.

“The Lisbon Declaration will catalyze bold business action on nature and biodiversity around the world. This global collaboration is essential to amplify a united and impactful business voice in 2020 and beyond.” said Eva Zabey, incoming Executive Director at Business for Nature.

“Day in and day out, WBCSD’s Global Network of partner organizations advance solutions, advocacy, and awareness-raising efforts across the world. The Lisbon Declaration is the latest example of local leadership that will translate global needs and ambitions into business action targeting sustainability challenges, including biodiversity and nature”, said Filippo Veglio, Managing Director, People and Outreach at WBCSD.

The signatories from 24 countries – Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and USA – represent a total of about 2,000 companies, with an estimated total of six million employees.

The launch of the Lisbon Declaration took place in Lisbon, during WBCSD’s Council Meeting, an annual event for members and partners that convenes over 400 business and sustainability leaders, as well as business councils from all over the world that represent WBCSD’s Global Network.

For more information on Business for Nature, please see here.

Link to the full letter text and signatories.

15.10.2019

Let’s start thinking the present from the future

News

“Executives of the world’s largest companies are fundamentally questioning the former ‘corporate value / shareholder value’ business paradigm” – said Prof. Dr. René Schmidpeter at BCSDH’s business lunch, which focused on climate adaptation and water. The award-giving ceremony of the “For a Sustainable Future” prize was also held at the event to recognize outstanding leaders and business solutions.

10 October 2019, Budapest – An introduction to the three-point recommendation for the business sector which shows how to promote sustainable water management was presented at the business lunch of the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH). The organization, which embraces 90 member companies that contribute approximately 30% of Hungary’s GDP, has now presented the For a Sustainable Future Prize for the third time in three categories: Change Leader, Leading Women, and Business Solutions.

Creating sustainable values and having a positive impact on society are just as important – if not more so – than profitability. – Speech of Prof. Dr. René Schmidpeter

“Given the current global social and economic challenges, we need to think about the future as consistently as we did after World War II” – said Prof. Dr. René Schmidpeter, Director of the Center for Advanced Sustainable Management (CASM), General Secretary of the World Institute of Sustainability and Ethics (WISE) – “Companies have to realign their business models, minimizing any negative effects and keeping the positive effects for society as high as possible. The more positive the impact, the higher the entrepreneurial return. More and more top executives are realizing that these far-reaching environmental and social changes are leading to unpredictable risks but, at the same time, are also creating unforeseen business opportunities.”

Prof. Schmidpeter highlighted that Europe could be the driving force of this new world, as the social market economy that ensures welfare and well-being creates a good basis for resolving paradoxes, such as the incommensurability of profit and sustainability, thus creating an “eco-social” market economy.

BCSDH’s recommendations for sustainable water management

“Given the fact that climate change is one of the biggest global challenges and many of its impacts will occur through water, the development of companies’ water management practices can make a significant contribution to climate adaptation processes. There is no company that does not depend on this natural resource” – said Attila Chikán Jr., President of the BCSDH in a speech that also introduced the three-point recommendation which was put together by BCSDH and the leaders of its member companies to help the business sector take the steps necessary to promote the uptake of sustainable water management practices.

BCSDH’s recommendations for the business sector focusing on sustainable water management:

Elaborate climate adaptation strategies in which water is considered a valuable resource and a risk factor of significant relevance.
Implement circular water management practices to reduce the water footprint.
Create partnerships in the value chain and operational environment to increase water efficiency and water renewal.

Over 80 CEOs, civil and scientific experts took part in the preparation and wording of the recommendation. As a result, solutions have been identified for both the business sector and its stakeholders that can positively impact sustainable water management.

On our Business Lunch, 33 successful, young professionals, who successfully completed the „Future Leaders” talent program 2019 had received a certificate.

Click here to see the photo gallery of the event.

Sponsors of the Action2020 program in 2019:

The Business Lunch, like most events of BCSDH, was carbon-neutral.

Carbon Neutralization Sponsor of BCSDH in 2019:

10.10.2019

The “For a Sustainable Future” Prizes for 2019 have been awarded

News

The award-giving ceremony of the “For a Sustainable Future” prize took place at BCSDH’s business lunch.

Irén Márta, Managing Director of BCSDH and member of the professional jury, explained: “We have established this complex prize with the purpose of recognizing and disseminating to a wide audience the activities of leaders and companies in the field of sustainability. The goal of the prize is to set an example, and moreover, to promote and increase the contribution of business to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.”

The jury, consisting of five environmental professionals (Dr.Gábor Bartus, Szilvia Krizsó, Irén Márta, István Salgó and Diána Ürge-Vorsatz), selected the laureates from the applicants.

The winners of the “For a Sustainable Future” prize in 2019:

LEADING WOMAN AWARD:

Nóra Horváth-Magyary
Country Communication Officer
K&H Bank Group

Nóra Horváth-Magyary is an innovative, guiding leader who creates strong leverage for achieving demanding goals that have social impacts that go far beyond the company.

Krisztina Petrényiné Szabó
Group Downstream Business Development Director
MOL Group

Mrs. Szabó is an innovative, inspirational leader with outstanding professional and human qualities. She has made a significant impact in the field of sustainability, both in relation to and beyond her job.

Hajnalka Széll
HR Director
Auchan Hungary

Ms. Széll is a dedicated, solution-focused leader who is committed to promoting diversity. Throughout her whole career she has worked consistently, constantly and comprehensively to foster equal opportunity for all.

CHANGE LEADER AWARD:

László Ilics
Deputy CEO, Chief Issurance Officer Non-Life and responsible for COO area
Generali Insurance Co.

Mr. IIics always thinks in the long term, boldly challenging conventional methods and introducing new and effective solutions. His role in developing the MyNetwork program which breaks with the stereotypes of the insurance sector has been of particular merit, and he has taken a clearly new approach to advisory recruitment methods.

BUSINESS SOLUTION PRIZE:

The Future FM Ltd. “Implementing water-saving technologies in partnership” program is leading the way for other companies and industries. The water savings achieved through the modification of operational technology and partnership with stakeholders involves reinterpreting classic solutions that are already known, but not yet widely practiced.

Heineken Hungaria Breweries Ltd. “HOPing for a better future” program overtops the company’s numerous integrated solutions, being implemented in several fields at the same time. The positive social impact of this extensive collaborative program is remarkable and exemplary as it focuses on local raw material production and shortening transport distances.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Click here to see the photo gallery of the event.

Sponsors of the ‘For a Sustainaple Future’ Prize in 2019:

The Business Lunch and the award-giving ceremony, like most events of BCSDH, was carbon-neutral.

Carbon Neutralization Sponsor of BCSDH in 2019:

The main sponsor of the prize was: Legrand. Further sponsors included: Alteo, BUD, Essity, Inest, and Mavir.

10.10.2019

The #YouthEmpowered program has won the Effekt 2030 award

Member News

Business that creates opportunities, Economy of the future, Green balance and Everyone’s society – these were the categories in which Effekteam has awarded the different environmental and social investment programs of companies. Economic operators that are committed to change and invest their capital and resources into projects, products, services or businesses that have a positive and measurable effect, and create value for both the investors and the communities involved, can aspire to take home one of the Effekt 2030 awards. This year’s winners were awarded during the Közösség. Hatás. Jövő. (Community. Effekt. Future) conference.

Effekt 2030 – The award of community investments aims to present exemplary programs of companies and their innovative initiatives, and by awarding these, to contribute to sustainability and CSR initiatives of the business and startup sector and inspire company decision makers to increase their professional and personal engagement in these territories. The three categories of the award were developed in line with the UN’s SDGs – companies can now apply in the categories of Economy of the future, Green balance and Everyone’s society. The jury then selected 3 companies from each category, altogether 12 participating in the finals.

“While selecting from the projects, we have considered the aspects that are reflected in the slogan of our association as well: we have analyzed the mutuality, measurable results and innovative aspects of the projects on the dimensions of effect and future. We have selected those that have measurable, positive social and environmental impacts and are in line with the company’s business operations. The future belongs to sustainable business models, but this can only be reached with sector-wide cooperation and partnerships” -said dr. Klára Molnár, director of Effekteam.

The category Business that creates opportunities was won by Tesco-Global Supermarkets, for their program Food saving at Tesco. As part of the program, workers of over 170 supermarkets’ collect food that is still consumable, but no longer available for sale, to benefit the work of the Hungarian Food Bank Association, which then delivers these to those in need. So far, they have donated over 53 million portions of meals. Numil Ltd.’s Nutricia Home service, which helps over 1500 patients in treatment and their relatives with providing eteral tube nutrition, was also on the shortlist, along with Liferay Hungary’s Employee Volunteer Program, during which the company has supported the work of InDaHouse Association that helps young people break from the circle of poverty.

In the category Economy of the future, Invitech ICT Services won the award. Their smart village program helps small municipalities with digital catch-up, thus contributing to the development of the education and healthcare sector, equal chances programs, the recovery of tourism and strengthening local businesses. The finals also included K&H Group’s Start it @K&H Incubator program, which supports startup businesses and UniCredit Hungary’s Lépj velünk! (Take a step with us!) social innovation program. The latter supports initiatives that reduce the economic vulnerability of disadvantaged groups in a sustainable way.

The category of Green balance, the jury has awarded E.ON. The company’s EnergiaKaland (Energy Adventure) program aims to help teachers in broadening children’s knowledge about energy and to develop a conscious approach to using it. The project, which was developed in alliance with the relevant governmental branches, provides learning material for teachers, pupils and students between the ages of 5 to 18. SPAR’s global program, entitled Together with consumers to protect the environment, which provides energy saving and environmentally friendly solutions, was also nominated for the finals, along with Procter&Gamble’s GoGreen initiative, which aimed to educate the company’s employees about environmental protection.

Coca‑Cola Hungary has won the category of Everyone’s society. The company’s #YouthEmpowered program helps disadvantaged young people, young parents and people living with disabilities by providing practical knowledge and motivation, in order to help them find their way on the labor market. The program’s free trainings have already involved over 6200 participants.

OTP Bank accessibility program and awareness-raising campaign was also recognized, for having equipped hundreds of their sites with „talking” ATMs and video-interpreters that help the blind and the hearing impaired with administration by offering support. Accenture Kft’s Skill2Succeed – Rajtad áll a jövőd (Your future depends on you) program, which helps disadvantaged children to cope with the challenges of everyday life, was also shortlisted.

The public vote’s winner was Tesco-Global Supermarkets, for their Food saving at Tesco program. The jury has also donated a special prize this year to OTP Bank’s accessibility developments, and for their efforts to work together closely with professionals and NGOs while executing these.

Members of the jury were: Réka Matolay, teacher of Budapest Corvinus University, Bálint Nagy, director of Pénzcentrum.hu, Agrárszektor and HelloVidék, Éda Glória Pogány, sustainable business leader of Sygenta Eastern-Europe, Gyula Szabó, president of Ökoszolgálat Hungary and Alinda Veiszer, tv and radio editor, presenter and journalist.

10.10.2019

There is now a real need for responsible company leaders – The participants of the sixth year of the ‘Future Leaders’ Talent Program have received their certificates

News

At the BCSDH Business Lunch the participants of the sixth year of the ‘Future Leaders’ Talent Program received their certificates.

The Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary’s (BCSDH) ‘Future Leaders’ Talent Program is unique in Europe, and including this year’s 33 participants over 170 young leaders have now completed the program in the six years it has been running.

The participants of the sixth program were young managers and executives from BCSDH member companies, all with very different specializations. Each professional day was hosted by one of the member companies.

The program is unique in Hungary, and even in Europe, as participants can learn about ethical operations, strategy and sustainability in a diverse group, not only from recognized experts but also from practicing business leaders, while being able to become deeply acquainted with the mentoring companies.

“In our program, which is unique in Europe, we are looking for solutions to the world’s global challenges. We provide relevant knowledge and an approach that can be immediately integrated into participants’ own companies.”, said Zita Szederkényi, Head of the ‘Future Leaders’ Talent Program, at the award ceremony.

The program follows the seven principles of ‘The Complex Interpretation of Corporate Sustainability’ Recommendation for Business Leaders. Each ‘professional day’ focuses on the objectives, theoretical background and industry best practise related to one of the seven recommendations: Sustainable Development and the strategic approach, Responsible management, Ethical operations, Respect for human values, Environmental responsibility, Partnership with stakeholders, Transparent operations. In this year the theme of Sustainable Products, Services and Innovation has been added.

Sixty mentors per year, including corporate leaders, civil, scientific and industry experts, help participants get acquainted with the sustainability-related opportunities inherent in the business sector from all possible angles.

Participant teams presented their project work to a jury of corporate executives at the September “deepening day”. Short project films were presented at the BCSDH Business Lunch to nearly 170 prestigious guests before the certificate-awarding ceremony.

The seventh year of the ‘Future Leaders’ Talent Program will begin in January 2020. We await applications from our member companies by 8th November.

10.10.2019

Tungsram CSR Report 2018 is Out

Member News

Please welcome our Tungsram CSR Report 2018 in which we have summarized the endeavours and successes of the first independent year (or rather 9 months) of our company in corporate social responsibility.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an important factor in maintaining the esteem and reputation of Tungsram. Integration of CSR programmes and practices into our business model provides the opportunity for us to establish a valuable and sustainable culture both within and outside the company.

“Right from the moment of the company being independent, executive decision was taken that we would conduct CSR activities with at least the same intensity as during GE times. We are working on viable, sustainable and responsible programmes, which contribute to the enhancement of the welfare of persons, organizations and communities associated with Tungsram in any form” says CSR Leader Zsuzsanna Thierry.

Click here for the digital version of the report:

https://www.flipsnack.com/tungsramgroup/tungsram_csr_2019_en_kicsi/full-view.html

08.10.2019

Almost 2 tonnes of waste were collected by volunteers on the upper section of the River Tisza

Member News

Almost 2 tonnes of waste were collected by volunteers on the upper section of the River Tisza- Celebrating World Cleanup Day, employees of Coca‑Cola Hungary organised a volunteer day again. Shoes, bottles, PET bottles and many other kinds of garbage pollute the River Tisza, its floodplains and reed beds. Volunteers of Coca‑Cola Hungary and Plastic Cup collected more than 1.8 tonnes of waste on the Tisza section off the Kisköre Dam, within the framework of Zero Waste Tisza program, on last Friday. This was the second event of the program which was organised as part of World Cleanup Day and surpassed its debut in July when 1,5 tonnes of waste had been removed from the river. The initiative was joined by the Kayak Olympic Champion Ákos Verekckei.

The Tisza and the Tisza Lake have astonishing natural assets beloved by many Hungarian and foreign tourists as a holiday resort and fishing spot. However, a large amount of driftwood, organic material and communal waste are washed down here most of them originating from Ukraine and Romania. The Kisköre Dam is the first facility in the Hungarian section of the river which can stop the flood of waste thus protecting the lower sections.

This problem needs joint efforts to be tackled effectively. Water management authorities, civilian and industry players – the National Directorate General for Water Management, Plastic Cup and Coca‑Cola Hungary – announced jointly in the summer of 2019 that they were prepared to manage the challenge collectively. Plastic Cup has held waste collecting activities on the Upper Tisza for years, which the Coca‑Cola joined so that they could help manage the situation with a financial support of HUF 73 million provided by the global foundation of the company and its employees’ volunteer work. Therefore, the program Zero Waste Tisza was launched this summer aimed at providing a constant protection, waste collection and recycling – namely cleaning up the river in an increasing proportion.

In the first action in this summer, 70 volunteers of the company collected a total of 1.5 tonnes of waste assisted by Plastic Cup. This time, to join the second activity, almost 100 employees of Coca‑Cola Hungary showed up in the vicinity of Kisköre and Dinnyéshát on the 27^th of September. By this means, they supported the objectives of the World Cleanup Day which took place on 21^st of September.

Many of the volunteers got on canoes while others stayed on the dry land and collected litre from the surface of the water, reeds and floodplains, then they sorted out the waste so that suitable pieces of them could be recycled. “With this initiative, we want to disburden nature of a good load of waste and hand them over to circular economy” – one of the volunteers from Coca‑Cola said. His colleague added that they encountered with a large amount of waste of very different kinds. “We have found sneakers, slippers, bottles, even a shattered dustbin too. The amount of waste was extremely large”. Enthusiasm were just growing as the number of garbage bags and the cleaned territory in sight was increasing. “It is a very rewarding feeling to see the many hundreds of bags and to feel that me myself had a contribution to it” – another volunteer said.

The outcome of the second action surpassed that of the first one: this time 170 bags of waste corresponding to 1.8 tonnes had been removed from the Tisza. Among the waste collected communal waste, glasses, metals and objects made of PET could be found. Most of them had been sorted out based on their type at the spot. The two-time Olympic, six-time world champion Ákos Vereckei also participated in the event.

“I saw a film many years ago about Plastic Cup and it won me right away, because it matched both my love of nature and my feeling of comfort when being on the river which I inherited from my past as a sportsman”– he said. The Olympic champion turned to the organisers back then and became the chief patron of Plastic Cup in 2015, only to become a Master of PET in 2018.

“Besides my previous commitment now I joined the volunteer day of Zero Waste Tisza project because I would like to make the situation known to as many people as possible and encourage them and my own immediate community to act. It is important to educate the next generation about environmental consciousness. My children, when they joined Plastic Cup, were shocked to realize where it leads us if we remain so careless with littering. Once I heard a very appropriate sentence that I feel especially valid today: Think globally and act locally!”

03.10.2019

ClimateSeed launched by BNP Paribas provides a digital platform for companies seeking to offset their carbon emissions

Member News

ClimateSeed launched by BNP Paribas is a social business which has the objective to accelerate the fight against climate change. This digital platform helps organizations to offset their CO2 emissions and so contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Using the tool companies can come into contact with projects offering voluntary carbon credits and seeking financing. ClimateSeed will reinvest all profits in carbon footprint reduction initiatives.

Within the initiative launched in cooperation with Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus companies can support sustainable projects that capture or avoid CO2 emissions by securely purchasing carbon credits. The digital platform offers more than 25 projects including fight against deforestation, energy efficiency, renewables, household devices, water and waste management in more than 19 countries. All these projects have the aim of preserving the planet and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. All the projects are internationally certified and analysed via a strict due diligence process. ClimateSeed’s digital tools allow to attract, retain, engage but also educate stakeholders. Organizations can offset their CO2 emissions at the corporate level but also specifically for their products, services, investments, trips or events to differentiate themselves amongst the competitors and set a great example for their industry.

More information on www.climateseed.com and in this link to an introductory video: https://youtu.be/33NGAhuS7P8 .

01.10.2019

How the people at Daikin feel about sustainability?

Member News

We asked Balázs Zuggó, managing director of Daikin Hungary Kft.

Daikin is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cooling, heating and ventilation solutions. We are not only equipment manufacturers, but also one of the few who also manufactures the heart of such equipment, the compressor, while maintaining a leading role in the research, development and manufacturing of refrigerants. Refrigeration, heating and commercial deep-freezing products contribute to a higher standard of living and economic growth, and they are of key importance in today’s society. However, the ensuing increase in electricity consumption and refrigerant emissions are a cause of concern for environmental considerations, in particular climate change.

At Daikin, we believe that a company can grow in a sustainable way only if it contributes to finding solutions for environmental problems. That is why we are working on the production and distribution of environmentally-friendly products that use energy efficient technology and refrigerants with lower global warming potential.

We have several factories that received the ‘Green Heart’ award, while in 2017 we managed to save 54 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in CO2 equivalent at the corporate level in the retail sales of air conditioners. This is due partly to inverter technology and partly to the transition to a refrigerant with lower global warming potential (GWP). The R-32 is a new generation refrigerant that has proven to be much better than its predecessors in aspects related to environmental protection: it is not classified as ozone depleting, yet it is energy efficient, easy to recycle, and its GWP value is one-third of those most commonly used for air conditioners.

In Japan Daikin launched the marketing of residential equipment using R-32 refrigerant in 2012. Daikin Industries Ltd. believes that this refrigerant appears to be the most promising solution to further reduce the ecological footprint of residential and commercial air conditioners and heat pumps. Therefore, in the third step, in June 2019, the company released additional patent rights to facilitate the further expansion and use of refrigerants with lower environmental impact. Patent rights were released in 2011. In that context, the company granted – unprecedented – access to close to 180 patents it has filed since 2011, related in principle to the safe use and application of R-32 refrigerant.

On the path of sustainability in Hungary

Within the local organisation several environmental initiatives were launched this year as well. For example, Daikin Hungary Kft. has established a brand new position in Hungary, which aims to strengthen the company’s environmental and climate conscious approach and action. We call this position ‘Environmental Advocacy’, and the new staff will be tasked, among other things, with regulatory issues relevant to sustainable development and climate protection, which affect our company. Our intention is that it will participate in, among other things, in the work of specific BCSDH teams which concern Daikin Hungary Kft. as well.

We switched to purified tap water, replacing the PET bottle in the office, and – which we were particularly excited about – in the wake of plastic-free July, many colleagues shared their ideas on how to use less plastic while in the office. Seeing this openness, our next actions include the implementation of a paperless office.

One of the components of the Hungarian organisation’s impact on the environment is transport. Building on the experience of the parent company, we are also open to e-mobility. We have made considerable progress in that, in addition to maintaining a low-emission fleet, the company’s car policy now include e-cars, and, on an experimental basis, we incorporated in our fleet an electric pool car. Apart from work-related uses, this car can be taken by any of our colleagues for a weekend for a private trip in an effort to involve as many people as possible to experience driving an electric car. In addition, we believe that the benefits of electromobility can be harvested most efficiently by incorporating sharing in our way of thinking. So when an employee who has a company car takes the pool car during the day, he deposits his own in the fleet, and if someone needs a car, he can take it.

Last but not least, we also need to focus on raising awareness, for in some cases we have to make compromises in order to do something for our environment.

01.10.2019