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You are here: Home1 / News2 / Regisztráció – „A jövő vezetői” Alumni program tavaszi esemény3 / 2023

Two awards were given to Euroapi Ltd. at the Követ Association’s Money Back through the Window Program and the Green Office, Green Events Program

Member News

Since its establishment EUROAPI Hungary Kft. has been paying special attention to the development of pharmaceuticals in a more environmentally sustainable and energy saving way, and is constantly researching new opportunities in this regard.

The KÖVET Association for a Sustainable Economy organized its 28th Conference on Adaptation and Cooperation, on November 14, 2023 in Budapest. At the event best examples from an environmental and social point of view were presented: the prizes for the best applicants of the “Money Thrown in the Window” and the “Green Office, Green Event” program were granted. As with BCSDH, the company also closely cooperates with KÖVET Association in order to actively do for a more climate-neutral and greener operation. EUROAPI is very proud to have received two awards at the event: a shared award in the “Biggest high-hanging fruit” category – investment paying off over 3 years – and “Carbon Savings Special Award” in the Company category, with the most CO2 equivalent savings for accompanying measures.

The award was accepted by the colleagues who participated in the preparation of the application, Annamária Gazdag, Erzsébet Kapuiné Nagy and Viktória Sebesi.

 

 

04.12.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/97574_1636127340.png 76 228 Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-12-04 19:54:052023-12-04 19:59:11Two awards were given to Euroapi Ltd. at the Követ Association’s Money Back through the Window Program and the Green Office, Green Events Program

BASF Kids’ Lab at the Agóra Science Center in Debrecen

Member News

Debrecen, Hungary -10 November, 2023 -The outstanding cooperation between BASF Hungária Kft and Agóra Sience Center has reached another important milestone. As part of BASF Kids’ Lab program a new workshop called PlasticLab was officially launched in Debrecen. This workshop is specifically designed for students in grades 5-6, providing them with hands-on learning experiences in the field of chemistry and sustainability. Agóra Science Center has been the exclusive host of BASF’s educational program in Hungary since 2016
“Environmental protection cannot wait, it is important for us that Debrecen remains a liveable, clean and sustainable city in the coming decades,” the head of the Mayor’s Cabinet Office highlighted at the press launch of PlasticLab. “We are proud to have companies like BASF as allies in achieving our green goals and raising awareness among the youth of Debrecen,” added Dr. Kovács.
Dr. Thomas Narbeshuber, Managing Director of BASF Hungária Kft. and Head of BASF’s South East Europe region, said: „We are proud to launch our new Kids’ Lab program called PlasticLab, in partnership with Agóra, as part of our dedication to sustainability and education. Our common cause is to create a sustainable future and at BASF, we believe that by sparking the curiosity and interest of the students in natural sciences, particularly chemistry, we can pave the way for it. We also emphasize the significance of plastic recycling and promoting awareness about proper waste management. ”
The first Kids’ Lab was opened in 1997 at BASF’s headquater in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Its aim is to provide a memorable first encounter with a laboratory for primary school children. In a safe and specially designed environment for children, students can conduct experiments under the guidance of professionals. The workshops foster curiosity and research spirit in children, who gain insight into scientific working methods through their experiences and are encouraged to take a creative approach to scientific issues. So far, primary school children have been introduced to the exciting world of chemistry at two Kid’s Lab workshops in Debrecen. Following the success at BASF’s headquarters in Ludwigshafen, the educational program known as PlasticLab, with a focus on environmental protection and sustainability, will now be accessible to students in the Southeast European region, specifically in Debrecen, Hungary.
Worldwide more than 1.2 million young people from 45 countries have participated in the educational programs offered by BASF.
School groups interested in BASF’s educational programs can apply through the Agóra Science Center website.

04.12.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BASF.png 170 450 Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-12-04 18:13:012023-12-04 18:33:07BASF Kids’ Lab at the Agóra Science Center in Debrecen

SPAR continues solar energy investments

Member News

SPAR Hungary is committed to continuing its solar power investments and plans to develop further projects that will contribute to reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

Within the SPAR retail network, four supermarkets in Szeged, Pécs, Dorog and Göd are supported by installed solar power systems. Each of these small power generation units has a capacity of 50 kW and together they generate 230-240 MWh of electricity per year, covering 12-13% of the total consumption of the respective store.

“The first solar power system was installed at our ‘Csillag tér’ store in Szeged in May 2020, followed by the Pécs unit in 2022 and the Dorog unit in 2022, while this year our store in Göd was partially converted to this environmentally-friendly operation. In the case of future investments, we also adhere to the principle of using solar energy, wherever possible, for the operation of our stores, so we are also planning our future developments along these lines,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary. He explained that the use of photovoltaic energy is an important cornerstone of the company’s energy-conscious efforts, also kept in mind for new investments and the renovation of existing store units. “In all our construction and modernisation projects throughout the recent years, we have sought to install state-of-the-art LED lighting, heat-pump cooling and heating systems, and where possible use the so-called waste heat generated during operations, for example to produce hot water,” he stressed.

In the interiors of the modernised SPAR stores, energy-efficient commercial refrigeration systems and door-mounted coolers help to conserve even more electricity, while the building façade insulations also bring further savings in energy consumption. When shops are renovated, windows and doors are also almost always replaced. All these factors together contributed in 2022 to the domestic chain having to purchase less natural gas, district heating and electricity from external sources than in the previous year, 2021, and the overall energy consumption was also significantly lower than in the previous period.

04.12.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/spar.png 170 450 Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-12-04 18:12:352023-12-04 18:12:35SPAR continues solar energy investments

DNAi, the ProSelf Sustainability Community and Organizational Commitment Platform

Member News

We are pleased to announce that ProSelf International Inc is now employing a new, innovative solution in the spirit of sustainability: the Sustainability Community Engagement Platform, DNAi. The purpose of this platform is to articulate corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals not only at a strategic and management level but also to implement them at every level of the organization.

With DNAi, employees can directly participate in sustainability initiatives, empowering them to take an active role in driving change. The platform provides support for grassroots initiatives and the sharing of community ideas, thus creating a truly integrated and committed sustainable workplace environment.

 

How DNAi Works

Commitment and Motivation

Involving employees in the definition and implementation of goals.

Innovation and Initiative

The platform creates opportunities to test new ideas and share best practices.

Community Building

To strengthen collaboration and community spirit, we organize regular workshops and events.

Transparency and Tracking

Monitoring results and progress in real time, with complete transparency.

 

For more information, please contact Attila Kelemen.

https://dnai.salumentis.com/home

04.12.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/proself-logo-szlogen-EN-scaled.jpg 1217 2560 Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-12-04 18:10:462023-12-08 15:05:09DNAi, the ProSelf Sustainability Community and Organizational Commitment Platform

Season of awards at SPAR: acclaimed products, stores, campaigns and professionals

Member News

In recent weeks, SPAR Hungary has received prestigious awards and recognitions for its support of Hungarian products and enterprises, health-conscious lifestyles, as well as for its commitment to value and quality.     

“Our company is very proud that both the industry and customers confirm our efforts to put as many high-quality, mostly domestic products as possible on the shelves of our stores, which further expands the range of quality goods and contributes to more sustainable operation and consumption,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

SPAR wins the Customer Choice Award based on customer feedback

SPAR Hungary is committed to supporting the marketing of domestic products and helping family and small enterprises put their high-quality products on the shelves of the retail chain. This effort has been recognised by the customers with the first ever Customer Award for Hungarian Products (Magyar Termékekért Vásárlói Nívódíj) based on customer votes, and by the industry with the Silver Award for the Trade of Hungarian Products.

The company’s commitment to Hungarian products has been recognised with numerous awards in the recent years: SPAR Hungary was awarded first place in the Award for the Trade of Hungarian Products competition in 2021 and 2018, and silver medals in 2023, 2022 and 2019.

SPAR cocoa swirl bun with purpur dough wins the Value and Quality Grand Prize

The new bakery product launched by the Hungarian chain this year, the SPAR cocoa swirl bun with purpur dough has won the Value and Quality Grand Prize for the highest quality of domestic products and services, and is now eligible to bear the trademark certifying this distinction. The use of the Value and Quality Grand Prix Certification Trademark and the award of the distinction is recognition of goods, services and companies that meet a complex set of criteria and demonstrate a commitment to quality in their business activities, and also comply with sustainability requirements.

Two popular SPAR private-label products have been awarded Food Awards

This year, “Nők Lapja Food Awards” has been presented for the second time, and two SPAR own-brand products won the 2023 awards: in the special main category gluten-free subcategory, the 500g “SPAR free from” gluten-free, fine-grain oatmeal, and in the non-carbonated drinks category, the 1l SPAR 100% apple juice. This year’s competition was again open to food products and beverages that are available in Hungarian stores. Shoppers could vote for their favourites on the noklapja.hu website and 7600 votes were cast to choose this year’s winners of the Food Awards 2023 competition.

Acclaims for INTERSPAR hypermarkets

In the StarStore – Retailer of the Year 2023 competition organised by Trade magazine, the INTERSPAR unit located at “Bécsi út” in Budapest won the title “HYPERMARKET OF THE YEAR 2023” and the “STORE OF THE YEAR 2023” award as well, as the absolute winner of the competition based on the combined results of all the candidates.  SPAR Hungary, as a committed supporter of domestic products and sustainability, has also been awarded the title “HYPERMARKET CHAIN OF THE YEAR 2023” in the Hypermarket category, based on the assessment of the professional jury. Also in the “For a more sustainable future” competition launched by Trade magazine, SPAR Hungary was awarded the Sustainability Symbol 2023 in the corporate category, based on the assessment of the professional panel.

Ferenc Horváth, food industrial director of SPAR Hungary appointed MATE Visiting Professor

At the 170th anniversary celebration of the Buda Campus of the Hungarian Agricultural and Life Sciences University (MATE), held in honour of the founder Ferenc Entz, the title of “MATE Visiting Professor” was bestowed upon Ferenc Horváth, the food industrial director of SPAR Hungary, in recognition of his dedicated work in the field of education and research, which has greatly contributed to the practice-oriented educational efforts of the institutes on campus.

Seven SPAR staff members listed among the country’s most outstanding communication and marketing professionals

Head of communications Márk Maczelka and head of marketing Károly Németh have been included in Marketing&Media magazine’s ranking of the top 50 most successful PR and marketing communications decision-makers in the country. In this year’s new ranking of PR professionals, Márk Maczelka was ranked 11th, while head of marketing Károly Németh was ranked 24th in the eighth edition of the marketing top list.

Petra Székely-Németh, deputy head of communications, Katalin Varga, digital marketing communications manager, Krisztina Gulyás, digital manager, Mária Lénárt, loyalty promotions manager and Kinga Pál, POS manager have been voted among the top operational professionals in the sector in the Signature 40 competition.

04.12.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/spar.png 170 450 Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-12-04 18:02:562023-12-04 18:07:08Season of awards at SPAR: acclaimed products, stores, campaigns and professionals

Our new member is Pureco Ltd.

Member News

The Pureco Ltd. is a 100% Hungarian-owned international company with more than 10 subsidiaries, developing, manufacturing, and selling its sustainable and affordable water management solutions, products, and technologies in over 20 countries and 4 continents. In addition, they oversee various comprehensive water and environmental management projects from the planning stage to implementation. They focus on environmental protection primarily through their own developed, partly patented products and services. Their solutions encompass rainwater collection, treatment, storage, and recycling, as well as creating water and wastewater collection and distribution systems. Their activities also include drinking water, industrial, landfill, and other wastewater treatment. Alongside high quality, PURECO places a strong emphasis on cost-effectiveness. In addition to product development, design, and manufacturing tasks, they optimize the operational and maintenance costs of individual products.

 

Their own-designed drinking water and wastewater treatment plants guarantee the highest technical standards and quality while offering them to their partners at an affordable, accessible price for everyone. This makes their technological solutions available even in less developed regions of the world.

In addition to everyday planning and executions, their product development engineers support the company in finding innovative, environmentally friendly solutions through research and development activities. In recent years, several of their intellectual products have been included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promoting “water” technologies that accelerate the achievement of these goals.

Especially important for them is for their commitment to the environment to be the cornerstone of their social responsibility. As a result, they have created a familial, homely, yet creative and inspiring environment for their employees.

They actively involve their employees in decisions affecting the community and work together for the greater social well-being, whether in charitable, voluntary work, or in the form of financial support.

Their operation is carried out along clear and transparent ethical norms, where mutual respect and compliance with human rights are expected from both internal and external partners.

In the fall of 2023, they completed their first voluntary ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) report, implemented as part of the Budapest Stock Exchange Ltd.’s Pilot ESG Advisory program, within the framework of GINOP-1.1.7-17-BÉT-6. Their objectives also include achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

By being a member of BCSDH, their goal is to contribute to the success of responsible and value-creating business activities by accelerating the transition towards a sustainable world.

04.12.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Pureco_logo2019.jpg 846 2000 Takacs Ivett https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png Takacs Ivett2023-12-04 13:54:052023-12-04 14:12:50Our new member is Pureco Ltd.

Electric Boilers in the Service of Renewable Energy

Member News

Following the installation of an electric heating boiler at its Sopron power plant, ALTEO has integrated two new devices into its Regulatory Centre: the boilers at the heating plants in Kazincbarcika and Tiszaújváros will enable the conversion of electricity generated from renewable energy sources into heat, while the hot water produced will be connected to the local district heating system.

The two electric hot water boilers, each with a capacity of 6MW, installed with a total investment of HUF 1.9 billion, will further increase the flexibility of the ALTEO Control Centre with their rapid load switching capability. “The expansion of our flexible portfolio, which can contribute to ensuring system balance, will give us even greater flexibility in renewable energy generation” said ALTEO’s Deputy CEO for Generation Management and Business Development. Péter Luczay added that the investment, which was entirely financed from own resources, made use of the elements of the development previously carried out in Sopron, which are related to the energy IT system for managing and optimising the power plant’s electricity production.

04.12.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Alteo.png 170 450 Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-12-04 10:33:302023-12-05 10:33:53Electric Boilers in the Service of Renewable Energy

Our new financial services member: MFB Zrt.

Member News

MFB (Hungarian Development Bank) was founded in 1991 and is 100% owned by the Hungarian State. Its main objective is to provide financing in areas where commercial banks cannot lend effectively, and it focuses on filling market gaps. As a development bank, MFB Zrt. acts as one of the drivers of Hungary’s transition to a fair and sustainable economy through financing. In line with its mission as a development bank, it considers it an important mission to contribute to Hungary’s sustainable economic growth and emission reduction and to facilitate the transition to a climate-neutral and environmentally friendly economy with the right technologies, while ensuring that this transition is compatible with the needs of society.

MFB Zrt. published its first ESG (Sustainability) Report 2021 in December 2022 and the ESG (Sustainability) Report 2022 in September 2023.

MFB Zrt. has introduced the Green Office Program as part of its environmental responsibility and obtained the Green Office Program certification in 2022. It regularly measures its carbon footprint (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) using the Bilan Carbon tool developed by the French ABC (Association Bilan Carbone). It has developed a Sustainable Financing Framework with 6 green and 3 social objectives in line with international standards (GBP, SBP, GLP, SLP), which allows the Bank to coordinate its sustainability-related borrowing and lending activities (including “green” and “social”). The certification of the Framework was carried out in February 2023 by Sustainalytics Morningstar with the issuance of an SPO (Second Party Opinion). It has started to develop a system to measure the environmental and social impact of its sustainable financing activities.

MFB Zrt. “green” and “social” financing portfolio in line with international standards (ICMA, LMA recommendations, EU Taxonomy Regulation) 06.2023. As of 30.03.2023, the following were structured as follows: green buildings: HUF 19,378.00 million; renewable energy projects: HUF 37,974.00 million; green corporate bonds: HUF 93,400.00 million; micro, small and medium enterprise programme loans: HUF 322,155,726.302 million; financing for the Student Loan Centre: HUF 64,646.00 million; green guarantees: HUF 35,240.00 million.

MFB Zrt. attaches great importance to ensuring ethical and responsible operations, has a Code of Conduct and Ethics, an Ethics Committee and an independent and autonomous ethics procedure for investigating reports of violations within the Bank.

The Bank is committed to respecting human rights, fundamental human values and diversity, to condemning all forms of discrimination and to ensuring equal opportunities within the organisation.

The Bank ensures transparency in the organisation by operating a compliance function, which is an important element of the Bank’s corporate governance and internal control system.

By joining the BCSDH, it aims to strengthen its role in addressing environmental and social sustainability challenges. It is expected that the membership will contribute to MFB Zrt. increasing its financing activities related to sustainable development through new, innovative financial products based on the financing needs of its member organisations, as well as to developing long-term, value-creating cooperation, knowledge and experience exchange with responsible business leaders and organisations committed to the topic.

01.12.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MFB_logo_2017-scaled.jpg 739 2560 Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-12-01 14:41:202023-12-01 14:46:14Our new financial services member: MFB Zrt.

An overwhelming majority of companies say ESG reporting is a business advantage – BCSDH’s second ESG survey

News

Budapest, 13 November 2023 – Nine out of ten companies expect to see business benefits from ESG reporting within five years, and more than half of the BCSDH member companies surveyed report regularly. The social and governance leg of ESG is at the forefront of importance, with companies preferring to systematically collect and process this type of data. Biodiversity, on the other hand, is barely represented within the environmental dimensions, and strengthening this could be a priority for companies. There are several factors slowing down the integration of ESG aspects in companies, the main barriers being too many standards and the difficulty of producing data/KPIs of sufficient quality.

In 2023, the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) conducted its second ESG survey among its member companies, with KPMG as its professional partner. In the survey, 70 companies from 14 industries shared their experiences along 22 questions, in which the respondents covered, among other things, their ESG reporting and data collection habits, the main motivating and limiting factors related to ESG, and the role of ESG in the life of their organisations.

90 percent of survey respondents believe that ESG-based reporting could benefit their business in the next 5 years, and six out of ten companies (61 percent) already regularly produce ESG reports, most often at the international or parent company level and based on the GRI standard. Many have also come across the upcoming legislative requirement for ESRS standards under the CSRD, but their uptake is still low. A similar proportion of companies that already prepare ESG reports and those that are planning to do so prefer a standalone (34 percent) or integrated (33 percent) reporting format for the disclosure of their ESG data. The main drivers for ESG reporting include enhancing reputation, meeting shareholder expectations, and meeting regulatory requirements.

61 percent of companies believe they are prepared for reporting under the CSRD, and have a practice of reporting, while 84 percent publicly disclose information about their company’s performance.

In contrast to the 2021 survey, when companies rated the environmental dimension of ESG as the most important for their operations, this year there is a greater emphasis on social and governance issues, and this is reflected in their data collection and management practices. 85% of the companies surveyed collect some form of ESG data, most commonly in the areas of health and safety, employee information such as education, and carbon emissions. For at least one ESG topic, 78 percent of responding companies set targets, but this proportion will certainly become more robust in the future along the lines of CSRD expectations. These targets are discussed occasionally in management meetings by less than half of the member companies.

However, the picture is different when looking at the dimensions included in ESG reports. In this respect, environmental areas (such as carbon emissions, and energy consumption) continue to stand out. Biodiversity is the area where the least data is collected: six out of ten companies surveyed (62%) do not collect any data at all, although biodiversity has become a key sustainability issue this year and in the coming period, and is an area where progress is needed.

37 percent of responding member companies have already requested data from their stakeholders on carbon emissions, ethical operations, circular economy, and alternative energy and efficiency, while half of their customers (54 percent) are requesting data along environmental and governance dimensions. From the financing side, one in four companies is still asked to show progress on carbon emissions, alternative energy and efficiency, waste management, and health and safety.

In terms of organizational functioning, 72% of the companies surveyed have a dedicated ESG manager at the decision-making level. Half of companies have a dedicated ESG specialist in their sustainability department, a significant shift from two years ago.

Lack of sufficient detail in the legal requirements, too many standards, and insufficient quality of data/KPIs were the main constraints to incorporating ESG considerations in companies, as highlighted by respondents.

A summary of the Survey results can be downloaded here.

Thank you to our sponsors!

30.11.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ESG-a-fenntarthatosagi-keretrendszer-1.png 628 1200 Galambosne Dudas Zsofia https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png Galambosne Dudas Zsofia2023-11-30 15:40:202023-11-30 15:40:20An overwhelming majority of companies say ESG reporting is a business advantage – BCSDH’s second ESG survey

Is the circular economy the Swiss army knife of ESG reporting? – Report about the sixth Circular Economy Summit

News

As a complex system, the circular economy is associated with efficient tools for addressing climate change, biodiversity, and ESG issues. This key message was at the forefront of the sixth Circular Economy Summit, which took place on November 23, 2023, attracting close to 180 participants and significant interest. During the event, the ‘The Tulip Award for Sustainability’ was presented.

‘Each year, we use 1.75 times as many resources as Earth can replace to sustain our lifestyles, and the supply of ecosystem goods and services cannot keep up with our needs. Damaged ecosystems exacerbate climate change, undermine food security, and put people and communities at risk. While real social needs could be met with 30% less material consumption, our economy is still continuously using more material. In this situation, accelerating the transition to a circular economy is in our common interest, as the associated reduction in consumption alone would represent a solution to numerous climate and ecological crises. Immediate action is also needed in this area.’ – said Attila Chikán Jr., President of BCSDH, in his speech.

 

The index of global material use is deteriorating. While in 2018, 9.1% of all raw materials used in the world economy came from recycled materials, this number had dropped to 7.2% by 2023. And as business as usual continues, the amount of material used globally may increase by up to 84% by 2050, while global social needs could be met with 70% of the material that is currently used. Reducing consumption to this extent would significantly positively impact several ecological tipping points

Today, the Circular Economy Platform, established at the initiative of the Hungarian Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSDH), the Dutch Embassy, and the Hungarian Ministry of Innovation and Technology, consists of 99 members. These institutions have highlighted knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and immediate action as the platform’s most important tasks.

According to the BCSDH’s second survey on the state of the circular economy in Hungary, 73% of domestic companies see the transformation of production processes as crucial, while 66% focus on extracting resources from waste, and 62% are prioritizing waste management for the future. Consumer behaviour change will not be the primary driver of these changes, but a significant proportion of current initiatives target consumers and could play a crucial role in fostering awareness. However, systemic changes are still lacking.

Dr. Anikó Raisz, State Secretary for Environment and Circular Economy at the Ministry of Energy, spoke about the current regulatory environment for the circular economy in Hungary.

In Hungary, phasing out single-use plastics, implementing an extended producer responsibility system, introducing a new mandatory deposit system, and the newly operational concession-based waste collection system are seen as the sole opportunities to meet EU and Hungarian climate goals. These initiatives could also mark significant progress toward adopting a circular economy. Our goals are ambitious, and the OECD study released this spring, in which BCSDH played a significant role, provides guidance for achieving them.

According to the BCSDH survey, 69% of companies expect assistance transitioning to a circular economy involving government incentives, while 59% look to regulatory measures for support. There is great anticipation regarding these ongoing changes.

Among our internationally recognized speakers was Vincent GRUIS, Prof. Dr.ir., Professor of Housing Management at Delft University of Technology, who discussed the transition path towards more circular and sustainable construction—an essential area. Joost van Dun, the Circular Economy Lead at ING Bank, showcased through examples how circular economy criteria can be applied in sustainable finance during his presentation.

Camilla Visconti, Consultant at Circle Economy Consulting, highlighted during her presentation on the CSRD toolkit that it is the first reporting system in which reporting on progress in the circular economy is mandatory.

The role of SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) in the transition to a circular economy is crucial, and they may be supported on their path towards sustainability by the OPTEN ESG Index. Dr. Hajnalka Csorbai, Strategic Director of OPTEN Informatikai Kft., introduced this index during the event.

A panel discussion focused on the relationship between the circular economy and ESG. Participants, including Tibor Bodor, CEO of ING Bank; Kam Jandu, CEO of Budapest Airport; Károly Gábor Nyári, Vice President and Head of FP&A at Grundfos; and Richárd Végh, CEO of the Budapest Stock Exchange, explored the significance of ESG compliance across various sectors and how fulfilling ESG criteria can be supported by the principles of the circular economy. The roundtable was moderated by Irén Márta, Managing Director of BCSDH.

Transitioning towards a circular economy and sustainable operations involves the crucial integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors into the investment process. This framework ensures transparent, sustainable business practices that are measurable and reportable. Both the circular economy and ESG are pivotal for mitigating investment risks, meeting commitments to climate protection and biodiversity, and leveraging new forms of sustainable growth.

Az event’s second panel discussion focused on reforming Hungary’s waste management system, moderated by Bálint Bartha-Horváth PHD, Senior Sustainability Consultant at CBRE. Participants included Martin Basila, Founder and CEO of Sensoneo; Dr. Viktória Bodnár PHD, Managing Director of IFUA-Horváth & Partners Ltd.; and Tivadar Runtág, Material Flow Director at MOHU MOL Waste Management Ltd.

The new comprehensive waste management system has launched with the aim of achieving 90% functionality within three years. There are many unforeseen challenges ahead. Several smaller, older players did not register in the system, and the extent of illegal waste imports exceeds initial estimates. The stakes are high as significant volumes of valuable materials are ending up in the trash. The mandatory deposit return system starts with the installation of approximately 2000 return machines nationwide, which could increase to 4000-6000. Educating stakeholders is crucial, thus a significant and multi-layered campaign is launching to ensure that consumers across various age groups and market players understand every detail of the new system.

The Hungarian Green Building Council (HuGBC) has made an unprecedented and meaningful zero-carbon recommendation specifically for buildings in our country. This recommendation urges action from stakeholders within the construction industry to achieve the crucial 2050 climate goal. Gábor Szarvas, President of the HuGBC, presented this recommendation.

 

‘The Tulip Award for Sustainability’

For the first time, the Circular Economy Summit hosted the presentation of the “Tulip Award for Sustainability,” established by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hungary.

The aim of the award is to annually recognize SMEs, startups, companies, or nonprofit organizations that demonstrate outstanding performance in sustainability within a particular industry. This year’s award theme was the ‘Sustainable and Circular Construction Industry.’

“The circular economy remains an important priority for the Netherlands as the country wants to be fully circular by 2050. To achieve this ambitious goal, we should also build more sustainably as the construction sector accounts for half of the raw material consumption in the Netherlands,” – emphasized Désirée Bonis, Dutch ambassador to Hungary, in her speech.

This year, the prize was won by a young architectural company, Equinox International, for its holistic approach to the sustainability of its residential buildings. A special prize was given to Café Plusz Kft. for promoting hempcrete as a sustainable construction material.

A six-member professional jury evaluated the applications that were submitted, comprising:

Dr. Barbara Botos, Travelling Ambassador for Climate Affairs and Climate Diplomacy, Ministry of Energy

Zsombor Barta, Ambassador of the Hungarian Green Building Council (HuGBC)

Andrea Istenesné Solti, President of the Hungarian Business Leaders Forum (HBLF), Shell Hungary Zrt. Chair

Zoltán Krázli, Program Director of GS1 Hungary Nonprofit Ltd., Coordinator of the Lean & Green Platform

Irén Márta, Managing Director of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Hungary (BCSDH)

Katinka Zinnemers, President of the Dutch-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce (Dutcham), Managing Director of Abacus Medicine A/S

BCSDH – one of the founders of the Circular Economy Platform – strives to be a community of highly committed companies and business leaders and is encouraging and supporting its more than 140 member companies – and, following them, the business sector as a whole – to go ‘beyond emissions’ and focus on biodiversity conservation and restoration and reverse growing social inequality.

This is what our Time to Transform 2030 (a decade-defining program built on the achievements of Action 2020) is all about, to which our Circular Economy Platform is also connected.

 

Thanks to the main sponsor of the Summit:

Thanks to our sponsors of the Circular Economy Platform 2023:

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What is a circular economy?

In the current linear economic model, technical and biological components are extracted from nature, transformed, and, after use, treated as waste, much of which is not recycled.

In the circular economy model, on the other hand, metabolic processes occur in a closed loop, waste is almost 100% recycled, and biological and technological components are returned to circular processes without any loss of quality.

Therefore, the shift to a circular economy involves rethinking the relationship between markets, consumers, and natural resources through the responsible management of natural resources.

23.11.2023
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSC_6774-e1700753231808.jpg 650 1099 eszter.chikankovacs https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.png eszter.chikankovacs2023-11-23 16:21:592023-11-28 15:31:14Is the circular economy the Swiss army knife of ESG reporting? – Report about the sixth Circular Economy Summit
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