Once again, SPAR Hungary has taken a major step towards environmental awareness. The company uses digital solutions to reduce the paper-based administration required for the operation of its stores. This measure will save 14 tonnes of paper by 2023.

“Environmental awareness is an important principle for SPAR. With this aim, we strive to implement new solutions in almost all areas of our daily operations. One of these key areas is cutting paper use: we are also striving for digital solutions in our store network processes, and since 2019 we have been working continuously to minimise paper consumption in this area as well,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

The company’s latest initiative focuses on online solutions for administration. For example, the paper records of cleaning logs and refrigeration control sheets have been eliminated and replaced by digital data. As a result, almost 14 tonnes less paper will be used annually in 2023.

Under the SPAR sustainability programme, the SPAR Online shop has also recently turned green: the former printed delivery notes are now replaced with digital ones. This contributes to saving more than 3 tonnes of paper every year.

ALTEO has launched a new control centre, modelled on its existing gas engine-based control centre, by integrating purely renewable power plants. The initiative, a pioneer in Hungary, will provide a control reserve for the entire Hungarian electricity system. 

After increasing the flexibility of its gas engine-based control centre by commissioning a new electric boiler in the spring, ALTEO is taking another major step towards a more efficient operation of the Hungarian electricity system: in May 2023, it became the first in the country to establish a control centre integrating purely renewable power plants.

In October 2022, it fulfilled the system operator’s requirements for secondary regulation based on purely weather-dependent power plants, and obtained the so-called aFRR (Automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve) accreditation: a unit with this certification is able to implement the system operator’s regulation instructions in real time through tele-mechanical and process control systems, i.e. it can be regulated in real time.

“The new control centre is the best proof that solar power plants are also capable of real-time and continuous power control, of much more flexible operation than before, i.e. they can actively contribute to ensuring system balance,” said Péter Luczay, Deputy CEO for Asset-Backed Energy Trading & Business Development at ALTEO Group.

The integration of highly weather-dependent renewables into a predictable and stable system can be ensured by coordinating generation and consumption, and ALTEO and its peers play a major role in this by adjusting the imbalances in the system by boosting or curbing electricity generation according to the current demand.

While significantly expanding the company’s regulatory reserve market opportunities, the new regulatory hub will also provide the domestic electricity system with a significant amount of additional flexibility. This in turn could facilitate the deployment of additional weather-dependent renewable energy sources in the country, mainly solar and wind. The current renewable control centre of ~160 MW could be significantly expanded in the near future, adding significant additional flexibility to the electricity system.

ALTEO, with a portfolio of ~70 MW of solar and wind power plants, has been providing regulation reserve services for ten years, which until the establishment of the new regulation centre consisted of a system of nearly 100 MW of installed electrical capacity, typically natural gas-fired power plants and energy storage facilities. In addition, its commercial and generation management services are provided to over 1,500 MW of renewable generation, typically solar, representing almost half of the domestic solar market, excluding small domestic plants.

After the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, OPTEN switched to a well-developed hybrid work schedule, retaining flexible work from home, which increased employee satisfaction and productivity by reducing stress and helping to improve work-life balance, while also providing the positive effects of office community. The office’s energy consumption and waste production have also been greatly reduced, with switching to digital versions of brochures, postal letters, purchase orders, contracts, and other printed materials.

Starting from January 1, 2022, in response to the changes in the world, OPTEN was the first to provide an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) index that can be considered a market standard for all operating businesses in Hungary. The ESG index measures the Environmental, Social, and Governance performance of companies, taking into account various factors.

The OPTEN ESG index primarily helps Hungarian financial institutions, as it allows banks to access ESG information on even the smallest companies, providing an excellent basis for examining the ESG level of companies based on 75 carefully selected parameters.

The company has also created an ESG self-assessment platform through which even the smallest companies can express their intentions and performance in sustainable operation, thereby specifying their ESG index. The questionnaire also has an educational aspect, as it highlights the topics and areas that are worth focusing on and allocating resources to in the spirit of sustainability.

In addition to the index and platform, an ESG automated report has also been developed, which serves as an online report alternative based on the questions answered by the companies in the domestic reporting field. The process takes days instead of weeks, and the cost of the report is just a fraction of that of consulting reports, making the smaller companies able to request ESG reports that fit their resources.

OPTEN strives to draw attention to the importance of sustainability and encourage Hungarian companies, from the smallest to the largest, to focus more on these areas in the future. With the above developments, which they plan to progress in 2023 as well, OPTEN is trying to provide all possible assistance to companies, as sustainable future is in the interest of us all.

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.