As we all know, the world we live in is facing a number of challenges, from climate change to dwindling natural resources. These challenges are complex and multifaceted, and we cannot solve them overnight. But there is one thing that we can do to make a difference, and that is to recognize that people are key to sustainability.

When we think about sustainability, we often focus on technologies and policies – renewable energy, carbon pricing, recycling programs, and the like. These are all important tools, and we need to continue to innovate and develop them. At Graphisoft Park, we believe and experience that it is up to people to succeed in building a sustainable future.

One of the key ways in which people are crucial to sustainability is through human connections, communities, and relationships. While technology and green solutions are important, they alone cannot solve the challenges we face. We need to work together, build relationships, and foster connections that promote sustainable practices and behaviors.

When we build strong and resilient communities, we create a culture of sustainability that can endure beyond individual projects or initiatives. We can work together to identify and address the root causes of environmental challenges, whether it’s by addressing social inequalities, creating sustainable jobs, or developing sustainable lifestyles. We can also share knowledge, skills, and resources to support each other in our efforts to live sustainably.

But what does sustainability really mean? For many people, sustainability is simply about reducing our carbon footprint or protecting natural resources. But I would argue that sustainability is about much more than that. It is about creating a world in which everyone can thrive, now and in the future. It is about creating a just, equitable, and sustainable world that recognizes the dignity and worth of every human being.

Sustainability is not just an environmental issue – it is a social issue, an economic issue, and a moral issue. We need to recognize that our actions have consequences, and that we have a responsibility to each other and to future generations. We need to think beyond our own narrow self-interests and recognize that we are part of a larger web of life, a community of human beings and other living beings that share this planet.

So, what can we do to promote sustainability in our own lives and in our communities? Here are a few suggestions:

First, we can reduce our own carbon footprint by making conscious choices about what we consume and how we consume it. We can switch to renewable energy, reduce our use of single-use plastics, we can introduce good recycling practices, eat less meat, and use public transportation or bicycles instead of cars.

Second, we can advocate for change at the local, national, and international levels. We can support policies that promote sustainability. We can also speak out against practices that harm the environment, such as deforestation or oil drilling in sensitive areas.

Third, we can build relationships and communities that promote sustainability. We can connect with others who share our values and work together to create sustainable solutions. We can also educate and inspire others to join us in our efforts to build a more just and sustainable world.

At Graphisoft Park, we organise a lot of community-building activities to build human relationships. We know about each other, we collaborate, we connect. The 5,000 or so people who work here are part of a cohesive community that is also a community of values. Together we are shaping a sustainable future.

In Hungary, most food waste is generated by households. This means an average of 65 kilograms of waste food per year.[1] Consumer decisions that are not conscious of this not only make it harder to save money, but also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions which essentially fuel climate change. Nestlé Hungária and SPAR’s jointly released handbook ‘Tervezz okosan!’ (Plan smarter!) supports the formation of environmentally conscious consumer habits by providing gap-filling information and budget-friendly tips.

Every year about 1.8 tonnes of food waste is generated in Hungary and a family of four puts approximately 50 thousand forints worth of unnecessarily purchased food into the bin.[2]  This wasteful attitude makes it harder to fight starvation and increases greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent,[3] which could be avoided with a little bit of effort.

Nestlé Hungária and SPAR Hungary’s jointly released handbook offers guidance on how to maintain a sustainable diet and reduce food waste. The ‘Tervezz okosan!’ (Plan smarter!) handbook provides useful tips on how to store food properly, delay expiration, learn environmentally-conscious shopping habits, and sorted (selective) waste collection. Thanks to this handbook customers can learn about the fruit and vegetables currently in season, what the different tags and signs on products mean, how long some of them can be stored for past their expiry date, and what types of plastics are recyclable. This way shoppers can make more conscious consumer decisions, learn how to save money and energy by being environmentally-friendly, and support the small producers of the Hungarian agriculture scene.

Together for more sustainable customer choices

This isn’t the first time Nestlé has released a book to raise awareness. In 2019 they published their first handbook on selective waste collection followed by a joint summary with SPAR called ‘Hogyan legyek környezettudatos vásárló?’ (How to become an environmentally-conscious customer?) which provided advice on maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. This year’s handbook is the next step in this cooperation, with an expanded list of topics and food waste featured as one of the focus areas.

“Nowadays it is a rarity to find a professional partnership that creates value as Nestlé’s and SPAR’s cooperation does. Our aim is to show that we are stronger together and if we combine our resources, we can create real and positive changes,” said Noémi Csóka, corporate communications manager at Nestlé. “Our latest handbook is available not only online or as an appendix in other magazines, but also in SPAR stores so it can reach a wider audience of shoppers than ever before.”

Using the booklet as a source, the two companies launched a school challenge in 2021 to enable students to learn more about the basics of an environmentally conscious lifestyle and selective waste collection. “The popularity of our initiative has proved that there is a need for education on environmentally conscious lifestyles, and it provides a tool to show the way to future generations as well,” summarised Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary. “Therefore, we launched the school challenge again this year in partnership with Nestlé and we provide applicants with useful tools to learn environmentally friendly attitudes,” he added.

Multi-platform initiative

The school campaign with valuable prizes is just the beginning. The companies aim to spread the environmentally-conscious views to a wider audience, as a pre-condition of a sustainable future is that all sections of society and age groups are invested in. To achieve this, the contents of the ‘Tervezz okosan!’ (Plan smarter!) handbooks will be distributed in different magazines and via online platforms as well.

The Tervezz okosan! (Plan smarter!) handbook is available on the www.nestle.hu/tervezzokosan and www.sparafenntarthatojovoert.hu/tervezzokosan websites and will also be accessible in printed format in selected SPAR and INTERSPAR stores at a later stage. 

[1] Source: https://maradeknelkul.hu/

[2] Source: https://maradeknelkul.hu/

[3] Source:  https://www.elelmiszerbank.hu/hu/hirek/hireink/4_millio_kilo_elelmiszert_mentettunk_2022_elso_feleben.html