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Can bee pastures be part of business strategy?

On 16 November, at our last Race to Zero Working Group this year, we got a better insight into the operations and long-term commitment of two of our member companies, and a definitive “yes” to the question in the title.

With the help of our host, János Kocsány, CEO of Graphisoft Park, we were able to learn about the history of the brownfield project, which is unprecedented in Europe. We chose this as one of the topics of the meeting because this year Graphisoft Park won the Sustainable Future Award in ‘Business Solution – Biodiversity‘ category for its forward-thinking solutions. Moreover, the park, with 60% green space, has an outstanding tenant loyalty index (15 years) and is not just building offices, but a cohesive community, with a special focus on nature conservation and restoration.

Graphisoft Park’s case study with results and inspiring thoughts so far is also available in the Business Solutions sub-page under Resources on BCSDH’s website, along with several other examples of companies promoting biodiversity and climate adaptation.

The presentation by András Zakar, Director General of FŐKERT Division for Urban Park Management of Budapest Public Utilities Nonprofit Plc. showed that the Főkert is responsible for the maintenance and protection of 6 million m2 of green space in 479 locations. In addition to the more familiar bee pastures, he talked about the Stockholm tree planting method, low-impact plant protection and the Miyawaki mini-forests, of which there are already six in Budapest. They have their own plant nursery and a strong focus on monitoring and testing, and then applying best practices based on the results. Sustainable operations are supported by a fleet of electric vehicles, and waste management is also a priority. The main tasks of Főkert are public, but they are also keen to help companies to protect natural diversity, either by working with them to develop or rehabilitate a new area, or by involving employees in voluntary activities. Education and awareness-raising are a priority in all activities, as they know that the only way to protect nature is to involve people.

Andrea Nagy, BCSDH’s project manager, briefly presented this year’s Race to Zero programme and the professional materials, films and presentations related to the 2023 biodiversity flagship theme, which can provide a good summary and inspiration for further strategic thinking. This was followed by the 2024 targets, where there will be a continued focus on showcasing good business practices and collecting business solutions. In addition to the traditional workshops, we will also visit external sites.

Finally, Dorka Veress, HR and PR Manager of Graphisoft Park, gave an unusual behind-the-scenes tour of the site, where we could see how an old forge is transformed into a high-tech office space, what an unused area looks like, and we also had the chance to see the Generator House. In the close-to-nature office park you can find a bee pasture, a wetland with lots of fish and plants, lots of trees and of course the Danube bank, in addition to 22 species of birds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many thanks to the hosts and speakers for their inspiring presentations and ideas, and to the sponsors of the Race to Zero programme for their support:

“We heat the locomotive, but the steam is used for hooting not for starting.”

November 13-án és 16-án tartotta a Nemzeti Fenntartható Fejlődési Tanács (NFFT) a BCSDH-val együttműködve a Nemzeti Fenntartható Fejlődési Keretstratégia megújításához kapcsolódó egyeztetéseket építőipar, élelmezés és mezőgazdaság, logisztika és szállítmányozás, valamint pénzügy témákban. A közel 50 résztvevővel zajló egyeztetéseken a vállalatvezetők kiemelték a rendszerszintű változások és a valódi tettek szükségességét, valamint a holisztikus szemlélet és az edukáció fontosságát. A javaslatok aggregált módon beépülnek a következő 12 éves stratégiába.

On 13 and 16 November, the National Council for Sustainable Development, in cooperation with the BCSDH, held consultations on the renewal of the National Framework Strategy on Sustainable Development on the topics of construction, food and agriculture, logistics and transport, and finance. In discussions with nearly 50 participants, business leaders highlighted the need for systemic change and real action, as well as the importance of a holistic approach and education. The recommendations will be integrated in an aggregated way into the next 12-year strategy.

We thank the participants for the honest and constructive discussion and the professional organisations for their cooperation:

  • Federation of Hungarian Food Industries (FÉSZ)
  • Hungary Green Building Council (HuGBC),
  • National Association of Facility Management, Building Operation and Maintenance Service Providers (LEO)
  • Hungarian Lean & Green Program
  • Hungarian Banking Association
  • Hungarian Logistics, Supply and Stockholding Company (MLBKT)

Our new member company: Mazars Ltd.

Mazars is an international, integrated and independent organisation providing audit, accounting, tax, financial, legal and business advisory services to its clients. Mazars is present in more than 95 countries worldwide. Mazars has been present in Hungary since 1991 and is one of the leading Hungarian audit and consulting firms. With 190 highly skilled and dedicated professionals, Mazars provides a full range of services to clients in all sectors. Mazars is globally committed to sustainability, and naturally takes sustainability to heart in its domestic office, with goals of commitment and continuous improvement in all three areas of ESG.

To this end, it has taken several steps in recent years. As a service provider, one of their key assets and resources is their employee community, and the S and G areas are also a priority for them. They place great emphasis on regular communication with employees and listening to their views. They have a number of programs on diversity and human values, such as the Work-Private-Life-Mazars program, talent management, comprehensive professional and soft skills training program, reintegration of new mothers, health care programs, etc. Each member company reports annually to the parent company about the implemented programs, as well as the composition of employees, diversity, the position of women, and the average earnings of men and women. The Code of Conduct, which all Mazars employees are obliged to know and comply with, sets out their beliefs on human rights and fundamental human values and diversity.

To achieve net-zero operations as an environmentally responsible company, the Group will introduce carbon footprint and GHG emissions measurement (under the GHG Protocol): this is already in place in more than 80 countries, which together represent 95% of Mazars’ total headcount and emissions.

Mazars has joined the SBTi (Science Based Targets Initiated) initiative and is developing a country-level decarbonisation program. They are consciously reducing business travel, opening up to sustainable and environmentally neutral solutions in procurement, and have established a supplier code of ethics, which will be followed by a sustainability rating of their suppliers. To increase biodiversity and restore the natural environment, they run subsidiary-level programmes involving their employees.

A sustainability report has been prepared at Mazars Group since 2019. In 2024, Mazars Ltd. has committed to produce and publish a sustainability report locally for the financial year 2022/23. The Hungarian office was awarded EcoVadis Silver certification in September 2023.  For a green future, they will continue to make the necessary efforts to operate in a sustainable way.

Mazars has joined BCSDH because it believe it is important to have the sustainability competencies to help its clients achieve conscious and sustainable operations, reporting and future development, and to apply them in their own operations. Mazars’s employees consider it is important to train themselves continuously, learn from others and share the knowledge they have acquired. They aim to be active, valued and useful members of this community.

‘Our job isn’t to predict the future, but to shape it.’– Rodney Irwin’s address at the BCSDH Future Leaders Talent Program 10th Anniversary Celebration

Budapest, November 8, 2023 – ‘Educating the heart is as much as important as educating the mind’ – said Rodney Irwin, the COO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and leads the WBCSD Education program at the Jubilee Event where approximately 100 alumni members, mentors, and experts celebrated the 10th anniversary of the BCSDH Future Leaders Talent Program. He spoke about the importance of closing the sustainability skills gap.

“In a unique way within the Global Network, we adapted the WBCSD Future Leaders program with the participation of recognized domestic experts and have been continuously developing it since. Today, the Alumni community, comprised of graduate students, has grown to over 300 members, who have become a vital driving force for sustainability transformation,” – said Irén Márta, the Executive Director of the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH), in her welcome speech.

At the anniversary event, Rodney Irwin emphasized, “There is a need to transform our systems and ourselves. To achieve this transformation, we need an understanding of sustainable development, the ability to make decisions in a complex and integrated world, innovation, collaboration, resilience, and a learning mindset. The purpose of business is no longer just profit generation but to produce profitable solutions to the problems of people and planet.”

 

The Future Leaders Talent Program plays a significant role in this transformation. We cannot solve problems using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. It is essential to take the time to reflect on who we are, learn from one another, and pursue education and lifelong learning. Systems thinking is critical to ensure we avoid unintended consequences.

 

“The Talent Program, launched ten years ago, is one of the greatest sources of pride for our organization, the Business Council for Sustainable Development Hungary (BCSDH), as it offers a unique opportunity for participants to become committed leaders in sustainability, capable of addressing the ever-changing challenges of the future,” added Attila Chikán Jr., the President of BCSDH, in his speech.

Rózsai, CEO of KPMG, provided participants with insights into the results of the KPMG CEO Outlook 2023 survey conducted among over 1,300 CEOs of the world’s largest companies. Currently, geopolitics and broader political uncertainty represent the most significant risks to a company’s business success. While dealing with this increasingly uncertain situation, the strategic priorities for business leaders remain the following: technology-digitalization-AI, the ESG framework, and the workforce-talent trio.

 

Thank you for the event sponsors:

Highlighted Sponsor: 

Sponsor:

 

Our new member, the regenerative farmer Szeredi Ltd.

Szeredi Ltd., a family farm founded in 1992, is a regenerative farming company that cultivates arable crops on 1,200 hectares which is complemented by 112 hectares of self-planted forest. They grow autumn durum wheat, edible and oil sunflowers, soya beans, autumn fodder peas (including seed), autumn poppy, autumn spinach, oregano and maize on arable land.

The operation of a regenerative system is a sustainable alternative with the aim to let nature fulfill its role  while eliminating the artificial elements continuously until it reaches the stage where it produces a higher nutrient and vitamin-rich food source without cultivating the soil, minimising C02 emissions with the help of biology.

On their farm, they create mowable grass strips, field-protected forest strips. They solve the regularly occurring field vole overpopulation by increasing birds of prey with the involvement of the  Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society. They are introducing more and more species into their cropping patterns, or increasing the biodiversity of a field by sowing several species together.

It shows their long-term and sustainable thinking that their goal is to see as many farms as possible in their surrounding switch to regenerative farming, so that they do not just act as a regenerative “farm island”, thus serving the shift of the ecological system in a positive direction. They are also cooperate with professional organisations, both to provide practical help and share experiences with farmers, and to promote systemic change.

By joining the BCSDH, they want to know other sustainability good practices and learn from these, as well as to meet similar people who are deeply committed to sustainability and to strengthen their network in regenerative farming.

The 2023 ’For a Sustainable Future Awards’ were presented, recognising outstanding sustainable corporate and leadership achievements.

A record number of exceptional submissions were received for the 2023 ’For a Sustainable Future Awards’. These awards were established to acknowledge outstanding corporate and leadership performance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and driving systemic change. According to the decisions of the professional jury, the winners in various corporate categories were IKEA, Nestlé, Graphisoft Park, Opten, and Generali Biztosító. Balázs Báthory (Market Építő Zrt.) received the Change Leader award, while Andrea Koncsikné Káli (BDL-Pureco Group) and Krisztina Schubauer (EXIM Magyarország) were honoured with the Leading Women award. The awards were presented during a ceremonial event at the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary’s (BCSDH) business lunch on October 12.

Irén Márta, Director of BCSDH and a professional jury member, explained, “The 2023 ‘For a Sustainable Future’ Award received an outstanding number of submissions for the seventh time this year. The business world and the world around us are changing rapidly, presenting continuous challenges to companies. This should further motivate us towards swift action and the sustainable transformation of our systems. The ‘For a Sustainable Future’ Award evolves in step with changes in the business environment and responds to current challenges. This year, the awards were focused on areas where companies have the most significant impact by transforming their systems. Reading the submissions, it’s heartening to see an increasing number of solutions that are bringing about real change, with companies integrating sustainability into their operations.”

The panel of judges, consisting of Dr. Gábor Bartus, Szilvia Krizsó, Irén Márta, István Salgó, and Prof. Dr. Diána Ürge-Vorsatz, selected the award recipients.

CHANGE LEADER AWARD:

Balázs Báthory
Deputy CEO Responsible for Innovations and Strategic Developments

Market Építő Ltd.

Balázs Báthory is an innovative, future-shaping, visionary leader who plays a prominent role in making the construction sector more sustainable and addressing numerous social issues.

Due to his absence, Balázs Báthory, he was able to “virtually receive” the award.

 

LEADING WOMEN AWARD:

Koncsikné Káli Andrea
Communication Leader, ESG Coordinator

BDL-Pureco Group

A committed, conscious, and responsible leader who plays a significant role in creating value for water and sustainable urban water management.

 

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Krisztina Schubauer
Executive Director of HR, Marketing, and Communications
EXIM Hungary

 

A motivating, value-creating leader who, with their innovative approach, contributes significantly to establishing a sustainable workplace culture in corporate and other positions.

 

 

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AWARD:

Circular economy category

 

IKEA – Second Life For Furniture

IKEA is effectively contributing to creating a circular economy by taking a leading role in extending the lifecycle of its products.

 

The award was received by Attila Bálint, the Sustainability Leader of IKEA.

 

 

Climate protection and adaptation category

Nestlé Hungária – Regenerative farming project

Nestlé’s regenerative agricultural program serves as a driving force for the complete revitalisation of the sector, with a critical focus on preserving and restoring biodiversity and climate adaptation at a domestic level.

The award was received by Anna Hőgyész, the Sustainability Leader of Nestlé, and Dr. Gábor Tompa, the Director of Corporate Communications and Government Relations.

 

 

Conservation and restoration of biodiversity category

Graphisoft Park SE – Natural Office Park

Through long-term, sustainable development and the restoration of biodiversity, Graphisoft Park has created a high-quality, nature-oriented office park in an urban environment.

The award was received by CEO János Kocsány.

 

 

Facilitating business transformation category

OPTEN ESG Solution

Opten’s self-developed ESG self-assessment tool promotes sustainability and strategic transformation among domestic small and medium-sized

The award was received by Dr. Hajnalka Csorbai, Strategic Director, and Gergely Ferenczi, Director of the Company Information Business Unit.

 

 

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION AWARD

 

Generali Hungary

Generali views business transformation for sustainability as a conscious investment in the future.

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The award was received by Dániel Imre Orosz, Head of the Strategic Management Department.

 

 

Thanks for to the sponsor of this year:

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!

 

 

 

Dramatic biodiversity loss has become a business risk – it poses a greater near-term problem than climate change.

The decrease in biodiversity poses a more significant and immediate threat than climate change; immediate action is even more crucial. All companies are dependent on and affected by nature. Business leaders have a considerable responsibility and opportunity to achieve positive changes in this area. This was the focus of the BCSDH’s (Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary) business lunch on October 12, 2023, which emphasised biodiversity restoration and nature-positive climate solutions.

Budapest, October 12, 2023 – Life is intertwined with nature, and so is business, as nearly half of global GDP is directly dependent on nature and its services. How has biodiversity become one of the fastest-growing ESG topics? What role does nature play in achieving net-zero goals? What should companies do in this regard?

The Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) presented a three-point recommendation at its business lunch to help the business world take steps in the field of biodiversity.

For a sustainable future, systemic changes are necessary. In addition to utilising the low-tech solutions provided by nature, it’s crucial to leverage the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. This topic was discussed by Greta Nagy, a member of the BCSDH Board, in a conversation with Dr. George Tilesch, an expert and consultant in artificial intelligence (AI) who works with various sectors and industries, primarily in the transatlantic region.

“The most powerful tool that humanity has been given, thanks to artificial intelligence, is also the best instrument to solve civilisational problems. However, this only works if we can make it human-centric. The one who can steer it towards socially beneficial results and manage risks correctly will achieve the greatest long-term success. We need to create alternative technological visions and paradigms,” explained Dr. George Tilesch.

 

However, technological solutions alone will not provide the answer; we need ecosystem services provided by nature. Nature accounts for one-third of climate solutions.

In his opening remarks, Attila Chikán Jr., president of BCSDH, emphasised, “The decline in biodiversity can pose an even greater problem than the climate crisis, as we are on the brink of [biodiversity] collapse. The World Economic Forum (WEF) annual report already lists the disappearance of biological diversity as among the most serious risks. Biodiversity provides important adaptation functions in the context of climate change, as the more diverse and varied a system is – including the business [ecosystem] – the more resilient it is to external impacts. It has a much better chance of survival or adaptation.”

The time for action is undoubtedly now. Within our Time to Transform 2030 framework this year, which addresses the topic of biodiversity, we have formulated the following three recommendations that can assist the business sphere in taking the necessary steps:

  1. Conduct organisational impact assessments and set goals for preserving and restoring natural and biological diversity.

  2. Identify relevant areas and implement strategic initiatives incorporating natural diversity into decision-making processes.

  3. Adopt and apply a holistic approach and mindset throughout the value chain, fostering partnerships and collaboration.

“How to embark on this journey?” was the focus of the executive roundtable discussion featuring Gábor Décsi, CEO of Dome Facility Services Kft., János Mészáros, Deputy CEO for Strategy and Economics at BKM Budapesti Közművek Nonprofit Zrt., and Anita Simon, Deputy CEO of the ALTEO Group. The discussion was moderated by Irén Márta, Director of BCSDH.

This year’s highlighted sponsors of the Race to Zero program were Deloitte and E.ON, with additional support from Alteo, ALD|Leaseplan, and Unilever. ALD|LeasePlan was a sponsor of BCSDH’s carbon-conscious events.

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Dr. George Tilesch

An expert in artificial intelligence (A.I.) and senior executive and consultant, working primarily in the transatlantic space across sectors and industries, specialising in AI Strategy, Ethics, Impact, Policy, and Governance.

He is Founder and President of the PHI Institute for Augmented Intelligence with the mission of putting machine intelligence in the service of enhancing the human condition for all. As a global senior executive and strategy consultant, Dr. Tilesch has worked for 25 years with a wide array of actors: government leaders on all continents (the EU, the White House,  the U.S. Navy, NASA, Dubai, New Zealand), for corporations (Microsoft, Ipsos, and other companies from the Fortune 50 Tech list), and international organisations and global think tanks (World Economic Forum, Club de Madrid), in addition to startups, scaleups and global social innovation leaders. He is the co-author of the 2022 World Economic Forum AI C-Suite Toolkit, read and implemented worldwide by big enterprise CEOs. Dr. Tilesch is also the co-author of the book Between Brains: Taking Back our AI Future, published in 2020. Dr. Tilesch has American and Hungarian citizenship and is based in Silicon Valley.

Regional Treasures programme also launches in Budapest

The top-quality domestic products of small Hungarian enterprises, producers, artisanal companies, small wineries and breweries are now available not only in six regions of the country, but also in Budapest, and are now available on the shelves of SPAR Hungary stores in the framework of the Regional Treasures programme.

“When we launched the Regional Treasures initiative in 2021, our aim was to bring Hungarian small producers and consumers closer together. For this purpose, we provided market access for family enterprises that can continuously supply their high-quality products from within a few tens of kilometres of the respective regional centres of SPAR Hungary, shortening transport chains and generating as little environmental impact as possible. Feedback over the past two years has shown that consumers like these unique, typically small-series food products, and we have created opportunities for businesses to showcase their products not only in small farmers’ markets, but also to a wider audience as partners of one of Hungary’s largest domestic retail chains. The initiative has also helped many of them to reach foreign markets through the additional skills and experience they have gained through our mentoring programme and by working together. We are pleased to announce that the Regional Treasures network has been extended to Budapest and is now complete,” explained Mark Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

From cold-pressed oils, craft beers and wines to various jams, pickles, dairy products, pastas and biscuits, more than 400 products from 86 suppliers are available – with a constantly renewed assortment – in different regions of the country within the framework of the programme. Of these, 56 products of 12 partners form the permanent assortment of the Budapest region, available in 13 SPAR supermarkets and 7 INTERSPAR hypermarkets in the capital and its vicinity.

The Regional Treasures programme, which is best recognised by the “red apple” logo in supermarkets, has been launched in 2021, with the Székesfehérvár region joining the initiative first, followed by Zalaegerszeg and Hódmezővásárhely. One year later, in 2022, the network was expanded to include the regions of Pécs, Nyíregyháza and Győr. The companies participating in the programme to support small producers and businesses throughout the country employ a total of more than 600 people, generate jobs in small regions where larger enterprises are rarely present.

For detailed information about the Regional Treasures programme please visit the following link: https://www.spar.hu/regiokkincsei

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