July 2024 - BCSDH

Our new member company: DS Smith Packaging Hungary Kft.

DS Smith is present as a provider of sustainable packaging solutions, paper products and recycling services in more than thirty countries worldwide. The company plays a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods, food and beverage, and industrials. DS Smith is committed to sustainability and transition to a circular economy. They launched their Now & Next Sustainability Strategy in 2020 by set ambitious near and long-term targets that confirmed their commitment to the Circular Economy and their Purpose of Redefining Packaging for a Changing World.

Their goal is to reach Net Zero GHG emissions by 2050. On the way to this, many objectives have been settled. Their goals to be achieved by 2025: measure and improve biodiversity in their forests and assess their dependencies on nature, launche biodiversity programmes in place at each of their paper mills, 100% paper mills and packaging sites to have water management plans, optimise fibre for individual supply chains in 100% of new packaging solutions, help their customers take 1 billion pieces of problem plastics off supermarket shelves, test up to 5 reuse pilots and continue to manufacture 100% recyclable or reusable packaging. Their objectives to be achieved by 2030: reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 46% compared to 2019, 10% reduction in water-withdrawal intensity at paper mills at risk of water stress compared to 2019., optimise every fibre for every supply chain, send zero waste to landfill. In addition their aim is for all their packaging to be recycled or reused.

They have a range of policies, including on social and governance issues. DS Smith operates as a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace and playing an active role in their communities. They set an aspiration of other protected characteristics and aim to to improve gender diversity towards 40% women in senior leadership by 2030. They aim is to engage 100% of their people on the circular economy by 2025 and by 2030 By 2030, engage ten million people on circular economy and circular lifestyles.

Their ESG ratings: the annual MSCI assessment since 2012 (Current rating AA); the annual EcoVadis assessment since 2014 (Current rating – Gold), Circulytics -Rated A-, the annual CDP submission since 2010 (Current rating: Climate Change A; Forests A-; Water Security A-), S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (DJSI) – Rated 73, LSE Green Economy mark – Awarded by the London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) new green economy mark accreditation, AB Sedex members since 2014, the annual Sustainalytics ESG assessment (Current rating 12.9 ‘Low Risk’), Member of the UN Global Compact since 2013, the annual WWF Environmental Paper Company Index (EPCI) since 2015.

DS Smith has published a sustainability report since 2014 at a group level.

The company considers it is key wherever it operates, to do everything possible to achieve sustainability and transition to a circular economy, so it looks to BCSDH as a startegic partner. The council offers a valuable opportunity to cooperate and build relationships with several companies and experts sharing best practices and learning from each other.

16.07.2024

Plastic-free July: SPAR launches awareness campaign

Member News

SPAR Hungary has also joined the plastic-free July. This month-long awareness initiative aims to highlight the importance of reducing plastic waste to shoppers and more than 14 000 employees of the company.

Responsible waste management is an important part of the sustainability programme of SPAR Hungary, including the reduction of plastic waste as a key objective. The company also pays great attention to raising awareness. The ten-part animated series ÖKO KALAND (ECO ADVENTURE), available on SPAR’s YouTube page, tells preschoolers and pupils about topics such as the importance of sorted waste collection and avoiding single-use plastics. The “Tervezz okosan!” (Plan smartly!) publication, also available online, issued in partnership with Nestlé Hungária, supports the development of environmentally-conscious consumption habits with comprehensive information and practical tips that are easy on the wallet.

“Plastic waste generated in households is a major challenge in waste management. This is why our company has launched the Plastic-free July campaign from the first day of the month to raise awareness among our customers and almost 14 000 employees about the importance of reducing plastic use. In addition to the SPAR website, the initiative is also launched on store posters, the company’s Instagram page, flyers and the MySPAR app during the month of July,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

The company is offering its customers a reusable, easy-to-clean fruit and vegetable bag package at the special price of 99 HUF, to support cutting the amount of non-degradable waste. At the same time, shoppers are also reminded that reusable bakery bags are suitable for buying vegetables and fruit as well. According to SPAR, it is also important that consumers choose reusable shopping bags made from recycled materials and that they use their own flasks instead of disposable bottles.

With rethinking consumer habits, planning shopping well and using environmentally-friendly products, everyone can minimise waste. SPAR will also be publishing useful tips on its Instagram platform, and will be encouraging its conscious shoppers with a prize draw during the campaign.

The company is also trying to reach its almost 14 000 employees with useful sustainability messages that will help them to reduce the amount of paper and water they use at work and at home, in addition to the plastic waste they generate. For example, using their own mug and aluminium flasks, saving energy in common areas, using water sparingly, using elevators less and collecting waste separately. The company will also organise biodiversity and sustainability presentations for its employees on 22 July 2024, which will be made available for them to watch.

The SPAR ÖKO KALAND animated series is available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRb8nyc9fvU&list=PL7ShKg970sBDwhWud5KomzqkakUfP-oe4

The “Tervezz okosan!” (Plan smartly!) publication issued jointly with Nestlé Hungária is available at: https://www.sparafenntarthatojovoert.hu/tervezzokosan/

The SPAR Instagram page is available via the link: https://www.instagram.com/sparmagyarorszag/

03.07.2024

Our ‘Future Leaders’ Talent program wins European Enterprise Promotion Award

News

The Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) was awarded first place in the category “Encouraging Sustainable Transition” in the national round of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) with its ‘Future Leaders” Talent program. The award ceremony took place on 2 July at the Ministry of National Economy (NGM), where the award was presented to Irén Márta, Director of BCSDH, and Zita Szederkényi, Head of the ‘Future Leaders’ Talent program, by Márton Nagy, Minister of National Economy.

The EEPA aims to recognise and showcase Europe’s best entrepreneurship development initiatives, highlighting best practices and the added value of entrepreneurship. The competition for the award is divided into six categories, with a particular focus on promoting a sustainable transition.

The BCSDH’s ‘Future Leaders’ Talent program has been running successfully since 2014 and aims to equip graduates with the skills to respond to sustainability challenges and integrate sustainability principles into corporate decision-making. Over the past decade, 130 companies have participated in the program, contributing to a dynamic knowledge exchange. In total, we have worked with 256 experts from a wide range of industry and academic disciplines. In addition to the corporate sector, universities, researchers, social organisations and regulators have participated as experts and speakers, increasing the impact and relevance of the program. Participation in the program has become an asset for all parties. Over the past ten years, 316 leaders have graduated in the program, are now actively leading the sustainability transition of their companies and are members of the program’s Alumni organisation.

“This recognition is a great source of pride and reaffirms that we are on the right track in driving the shift to sustainable business. Special thanks go to the mentors, speakers, hosts, sponsors and participants of the program, without whom we could not have achieved this success,” said Irén Márta, Director of BCSDH.

02.07.2024

Efficiently operating solar panels in the Pécs INTERSPAR hypermarket

Member News, Uncategorized

The solar panel system installed at the INTERSPAR hypermarket in Pécs, with an investment of around 80 million HUF, saves a month’s worth of energy annually.

“For SPAR, environmental sustainability is extremely important, and as a major energy consumer, our priority is to achieve the most efficient use of energy possible. The largest share, more than 60 percent, is the electricity consumption of our stores, logistics centres, food production plants and offices. With the investments in improving energy-efficiency, in 2023, the company’s total energy consumption was cut by more than 5.5% compared to the year before. And last year, we have already installed solar systems in our stores in Szeged, Dorog, Pécs and Göd,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

SPAR Hungary’s annual renewable electricity production in 2023 was 779 GJ (216 419 kWh) which came from the production of solar systems installed in the stores. This amount is roughly equivalent to the total electricity consumption of 70 average residential houses. In the case of each investment, the company assesses the possibility of effectively operating a solar panel system to help serve the electricity needs of the unit.

As part of a pilot project with a 80 million HUF investment in the INTERSPAR hypermarket in Pécs, a solar power system and battery storage with smart control to reduce the simultaneous power consumption from the grid has been installed. This solution allows the stored electricity to be used when peak consumption is detected. There are several advantages to using this system: on the one hand, the building only needs less power supply from the grid, and on the other hand, the monthly charges for the generated power are also saved. Experience over the last almost two years has shown that the peak period is in July, with the lowest production of the system detected in January. A comparison of actual production and consumption data shows that the hypermarket saves 1 month of its 12 monthly energy consumption with the system installed.

02.07.2024