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NUXON Hungary at the InnoElectro and Cunstruma Events

Aligned with current global and local challenges, NUXON Hungary is committed to sustainability and innovation, as showcased by our participation in the InnoElectro and Cunstruma events.

At the InnoElectro event, we welcomed visitors to our booth, presenting how our products contribute to reducing the carbon footprint and promoting sustainable development. We engaged in meaningful conversations, building valuable connections for future collaborations.

During the Cunstruma exhibition, we proudly represented ourselves at the Hungary Green Building Council (HuGBC) stand.

Ferenc Márton’s presentation offered insights into our innovative solutions, while our CFO, Anikó Huber, received the #BuildingLife Zero Carbon Ambassador Certificate at the Green Future Conference. This recognition further solidifies our dedication to building a greener and more sustainable future.

We take pride in contributing to sustainability goals through the strength of our community and are grateful for our partners’ support as we work together for future generations.

What next after the Omnibus package and the changes to the ESG law? – ESG working group meeting at Colas

The ESG legislative framework in Europe and in Hungary (CSRD, CSDDD, Hungarian ESG Act) is going through a turbulent period. What changes are expected? How will this affect the preparation of companies?” – we sought the answers on 15 April together with more than 40 of our member companies at the BCSDH ESG working group meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mátyás Bellaagh, CEO of Colas Hungária Zrt. IIR welcomed the guests. He emphasized that we have witnessed significant changes in the field of sustainability reporting in recent years, especially in this significantly changing environment.

On 3 April 2025, the European Parliament and on 14 April the EU Council voted in favour of the European Commission’s “stop-the-clock” proposal, which delays the implementation deadlines for the most important sustainability regulations – the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

Zsófia Reizinger, ESG Consultant and Ákos Veisz, Managing Director of BDO Hungary ESG Consulting Ltd. They confirmed that it is worth continuing to prepare and to pay attention to strategic initiatives. They also gave a brief presentation on the planned amendments to the Hungarian ESG Act.


Although less publicised, the VSME (Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs), which can support companies in voluntary reporting, was finalised in December 2024. Julianna Nagy, Senior Manager at KPMG, pointed out that for companies that will no longer be covered by the CSRD, the Commission will adopt a voluntary reporting standard based on the VSME developed by EFRAG through a delegated act.

The presentations were followed by small group discussions where participants could directly share their experiences. Thank you to the working group members Julianna Nagy, Nora Stancsics and Ákos Veisz for moderating!

Thanks to our sponsors!

 

E.ON and Duna-Ipoly National Park flock together to protect birds

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The two organisations announced their joint bird protection efforts, including working  together to increase nest- and utility pole safety, at a press conference near the Fényes Tanösvény in Tata.

  • E.ON Hungária Group and the Duna-Ipoly National Park Directorate have signed an agreement on bird conservation.
  • The energy firm, which operates the Transdanubia, Pest County and Budapest electricity grids, has pledged to develop safe and bird-friendly grids.
  • E.ON is providing support to the National Park for the installation and maintenance of stork nesting installations, tagging of birds in summer, and the emergency rescue of protected birds.
  • E.ON has spent HUF 1 billion on bird-friendly developments over the past two years.

E.ON Hungária Group has made the power grid near the Fényes Tanösvény in Tata safe for birds. In a meadow near this nature trail, power poles have been redesigned so that they do not pose a danger to birds flying over them. E.ON Hungária Group has also signed an agreement with the Danube-Ipoly National Park Directorate to protect bird habitat.

Having renewed its cooperation with the Duna-Ipoly National Park, the utility is undertaking the maintenance of stork nests it installs and maintains, managing overgrown and dangerous nests, and the installation of new nests, bird perches or bird decoys. The energy company has pledged its support, including a bucket lift truck and technicians, for tagging young storks, kestrels and falcons, and to assist in emergency situations, such as rescuing abandoned or fallen nestlings, or providing immediate intervention after a storm.

Each year, the National Park’s nature conservation officers identify points along the network where E.ON will carry out bird-friendly modifications to ensure safe habitats. Interventions involving protected species are always carried out under the professional supervision of the National Park.

Within its jurisdiction, E.ON has installed and maintains 3200 stork nests, two-thirds of which were utilised for breeding last year. The company has so far installed more than 170  bird-of-prey nesting boxes on its high-voltage poles in the Transdanubia region, and plans to install new ones later this year. Wildlife cameras are also to be placed at some nests from spring to autumn to help experts monitor the development of the chicks and inform any necessary feeding. Moreover, E.ON will give priority to all requests for wildlife conservation assistance.

E.ON Hungária Group and the national parks located in its grid coverage area have been working together for more than two decades. Presently, E.ON is renewing its bird protection contract with those organisations. In addition to that with the Duna-Ipoly National Park, agreements with the Duna-Dráva, Balaton-Felvidék, Őrség, Kiskunság and Fertő-Hanság National Parks will also be reaffirmed.

A Climate-Adapted Lifestyle Must Also Be Sustainable – Report from the BCSDH Communications Working Group Meeting

How willing are consumers to change their habits for a 1.5-degree lifestyle? Would people be more likely to give up meat or their car? Are there values strong enough to drive a shift in attitudes? How is the current difficult economic situation affecting the market for sustainable consumer goods? Can we achieve our goals without a sustainable lifestyle and individual action? Are climate adaptation and sustainable living compatible?

Following her presentation on the results of the 1.5-Degree Lifestyle Project, Edina Vadovics, Executive Director of the GreenDependent Institute, engaged in a discussion with Márk Maczelka, Head of Communications at SPAR Hungary, and Zsuzsa Károlyi, Head of Brand and Marketing at E.ON, moderated by Irén Márta. The conversation explored the above questions, as well as the topic of sustainable and resilient lifestyles, their challenges, the current situation, and the road ahead. At the working group meeting held on March 12, 2025, participants were welcomed by Olivér Martin, Group Head of Internal Audit and Compliance at Szentkirályi Hungary, who acted as host. Nikolett Van der Wildt, Sustainability and PR Manager, gave a presentation on the company’s sustainability achievements.

Research from the 1.5-Degree Lifestyle Project reveals that if the top 10% of earners in society were to take visible steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle, mitigating climate change could become a realistic goal. The decarbonization of industry alone will not be sufficient — individual and household-level action, as well as systemic change, are also necessary.Technological investments and lifestyle changes that require only minor adjustments are generally more accepted. However, much more drastic action is needed to achieve meaningful climate impact.
There is also potential for shifts in attitudes.

The roundtable discussion and the informal dialogue that followed revealed that existential concerns often override sustainable purchasing decisions — but we must not give up. An individual — or even a company — can act as a nano-scale catalyst that steers processes in the right direction. It is a Sisyphean task, but if everyone moves in the same direction, progress will come. We are halfway to 2050. Much has been done, but even more lies ahead. We must find the right answers. We need to decide where to allocate our resources — where they can have the greatest impact. We must view our products and services through the lens of how they support, or could support, individuals on the path to a sustainable lifestyle.

Only change is permanent: update on the CAFE regulation

Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (vans) account for about 19% of total CO2 emissions in the EU1. To reduce emissions, the EU has set vehicle emission standards for new cars and vans, also referred to as the CAFE standards (corporate average fuel economy). Under the regulation, car manufacturers are required to align production with the emission targets set, but it is far from easy as demand is not yet keeping pace with this dynamic change and the transition to electric cars is still not happening at the pace expected by the regulation. The newly appointed Commercial Director of Ayvens, Viktor Hegedűs, gave a progress report on the details of the regulation and what it means for car manufacturers and companies with company fleets.

Key cornerstones of CAFE regulation:

2020 – 2024 (based on NEDC2):

  • Cars: 95 g CO2/km
  • Vans: 147 g CO2/km

2025 – 2034 (based on WLTP3):

  • Cars: 93.6 g CO2/km (2025-2029) and 49.5 g CO2/km (2030-2034)
  • Vans: 153.9 g CO2/km (2025-2029) and 90.6 g CO2/km (2030-2034)

2035: All new passenger cars and vans sold in the EU must be zero-emission.

Fines and flexibility

Starting in 2025, manufacturers will face fines for not meeting these targets, with estimates suggesting potential fines could reach around €20 billion if trends continue. This has led manufacturers to lobby the European Commission for more flexible targets. While the overall targets will stay the same, the European Commission may allow manufacturers to average their emissions over a three-year period from 20254. This means they can have some flexibility in how they meet these targets, but the 2035 goals will (until now) remain unchanged. This is therefore seen as a temporary fix, as the industry must ultimately move towards more sustainable practices. This amendment is now subject to approval by European Parliament and Council.

The changing automotive landscape in 2025

The demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is rising, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are declining. Local laws and fiscal regimes are increasingly supporting EU’s strive for decarbonisation, adding more pressure on manufacturers to speed up their shift to electric vehicles. An example of this are the recent changes in benefit in kind taxation in France and Italy or the recent clampdown on plug-in hybrid vehicles in Hungary, which removes the tax and parking benefits for this type of vehicle.

In 2025, there will be more BEV models available than ever before, but there is still a gap between what is offered and what consumers expect. Although the average range of BEVs is improving – now reach 460 km in practice, not just on paper, for some models – the options are still limited for vehicles priced below €25,000.

Global electrification trends towards 2030

Europe and China are expected to lead in electrification, while the pace of change in the United States and other regions may be slower due to different regulations. Other parts of the world will also move towards electrification but at a slower rate.

As the EU aims to reduce CO2 emissions, car manufacturers face both challenges and opportunities in adapting to these new rules. With fines for non-compliance on the horizon, manufacturers must embrace more sustainable practices. Strategies such as increasing sales of electric vehicles, collaborating with others to meet emissions targets, and offering competitive pricing are becoming essential.

As the demand for electric vehicles grows, fleet managers need to keep an eye on the new laws and their potential impact on costs. Efforts to reduce emissions are significantly reshaping the industry, highlighting the need for strategic planning and the involvement of experts to effectively navigate this new landscape in the long term.

 

Sources:

CO₂ emission performance standards for cars and vans – European Commission

NEDC: New European Driving Cycle – previous standard emission test for vehicles. Replaced by WLTP

WLTP: Worldwide harmonised light vehicle test procedure

Commission proposes flexibility to help manufacturers comply with 2025 CO2 emission targets

The Carbon Cost of the Digital – Carbon.Crane at UNICEF Conference

At the UNICEF Climate Heroes Conference, György Huszics, co-founder and CEO of Carbon.Crane, joined a panel discussion focused on the carbon footprint of technology. Speaking directly to an audience of 13–18-year-olds, he addressed the environmental impact of digital tools, highlighting issues such as digital carbon emissions and energy efficiency.

During this unconventional session, the audience had the chance to measure the carbon footprint of their own social media use in real time using their smartphones. The collective annual footprint—more than 20 tonnes—was visualized instantly through an interactive display, sparking surprise among the attendees.

UNICEF Hungary’s flagship event gathered nearly 1,500 participants, mostly upper primary and secondary school students. The tech-focused panel also featured Péter Szabó, Managing Director of Microsoft Hungary, and Dr. András Márton, Assistant Professor at Corvinus University and sustainability expert. The discussion was moderated by UNICEF Youth Ambassador Anna Bársony.

Following the roundtable, Carbon.Crane experts led a hands-on workshop for interested students and teachers. The interactive session explored key questions about digital carbon footprints and gave participants the opportunity to test professional tools and learn practical tips for improving the energy efficiency of their devices.

Carbon.Crane developed its educational program in 2023 and tested it in collaboration with four Hungarian universities. By 2024, the CarbonClass program became available nationwide to partner institutions. Alongside its original interactive workshop format, the company has also introduced two new versions: a condensed, gamified edition tailored to younger audiences, and a version adapted for corporate sustainability trainings. The gamified format was showcased for the first time at the UNICEF conference.

Budapest, 2025.04.09.

 

A new workplace baseline is emerging – find out in Randstad Workmonitor 2025 report

This year’s report reveals a new workplace baseline, where success is no longer just about what we do, but also why we do it, how we do it, and who we do it with.

This new baseline is grounded in three pillars shaping the future of work:

🙋Personalization – talent want work to align with their unique values, ambitions, and life circumstances. Employers are catching on, with 32% now prioritizing personalized skills development and career mobility opportunities.
🤝 Community – a sense of belonging is essential for performance, well-being, and supportive workplace relationships. Yet, 44% of talent said they left jobs last year due to toxic workplaces—a wake-up call for leaders.
🧰 Future-ready skilling – opportunities to develop and sustain skills for tomorrow are now a deal-breaker for many workers. Nearly 90% of employers agree reskilling is critical, but over half remain unsure how to implement more impactful programs.

Employers face a clear mission: embrace this new baseline and align talent expectations with business priorities. Doing so strengthens teams, boosts productivity, and attracts and retains the talent needed to stay competitive.

📖 Download the full report and discover actionable insights that will help you deliver for your workforce. ➡️ click and download it now.

Latest news on ESG legislative changes

CSRD: „Stop-the-clock”

On 2 April 2025, the European Parliament voted in favour of the European Commission’s “stop-the-clock” proposal to delay the implementation deadlines for key sustainability regulations – the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

What does the proposal contain?

  • Large companies with more than 250 employees would start reporting CSRD in 2028 for the financial year 2027, while listed SMEs would start reporting one year later.
  • The first group of companies covered by the CSRDD, including EU companies with more than 5,000 employees and a turnover of €1.5 billion, would start applying the rules from 2028, with an additional year for Member States to transpose the rules into national law.

The European Commission has also instructed the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) to finalise technical advice on the CSRD’s European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) within seven months. This could allow companies to optionally implement the new standards as early as the 2026 financial year.
The decision was approved by the European Council on 14 April. The proposal requires Member States to transpose the changes into national law by 31 December 2025.

Amendments to the ESG law expected

On 19 March 2025, the Ministry of National Economy submitted a draft law amending the ESG legislation for public consultation. Under the proposed changes, large companies covered by the law will have an additional two years to prepare their first certified ESG report, so that they will have to publish their first public report in 2028.
Another important element is that under the amendment, domestic micro, small and medium-sized enterprises would be fully exempted from all ESG reporting obligations until mid-2027, after which they would only have to complete a significantly shorter questionnaire.
Information on the public consultation has been shared by BCSDH with all its member companies.

More than 1.1 million Munch food rescue packages have sold across SPAR stores

In total, more than 1.1 million Munch food rescue packages have been purchased by SPAR customers since the launch of the innovative service in 2022. Among these, around 500,000 bakery product and more than 400,000 vegetable packages were sold at up to 60 percent cheaper than their original price.

“Food waste management is a global problem. Even though only 5% of food waste is generated in trade, SPAR Hungary treats this issue as a priority within its strategically important sustainability programme. Our company joined the Munch food rescue in 2022, through which the remaining, but still good quality food can reach our customers at a significantly lower price compared to their market price. Following the test period, we introduced the service in all SPAR and INTERSPAR stores because of the positive experience. It has become part of our employees’ daily routine to separate fresh products by determining what might go into a Munch package. We are very pleased that the programme was a great success among our customers, and more than 1.1 million food rescue packages have been purchased to date,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

“The results of the Munch and SPAR collaboration clearly demonstrate that significant progress can be made towards food waste reduction. These results reflect not only our efforts, but also the commitment of customers to saving food. Together, we are proving that small steps can make a big difference in the fight against food waste. Based on the feedback of our community, using Munch is easily integrated into everyday life. Not only do we do good for our environment, but we can also save time, energy and money while trying new types of food,” said Albert Wettstein, co-founder of Munch.

Up to 60% discount on Munch packages

In SPAR Munch food rescue packages, shoppers can find vegetables, fruits, juices, pre-packaged and unpackaged breads, various bakery products, savoury and sweet delicacies, dairy products, pasta, salami, cold cuts, fresh eggs and other products that do not require refrigeration.  These packages can be purchased for almost a third of the original price, with a discount of up to 60%. In practice, this means a “Munch price” of 1200 HUF for a package worth around 3000 HUF, and 600 HUF for a package worth 1500 HUF. The operation of the system is simple: the selected package must be reserved via the free mobile application or the website, then paid for and collected in the store within a specified time slot.

Customers took home almost half a million Munch bakery packages

Since the launch, the most popular SPAR Munch packages have been bakery products, with approximately 500,000 being sold since the service was introduced. More than 400,000 of the fruit and vegetable Munch packages, 203,000 of the refrigerated Munch packages, and 23,000 of the packages that do not require refrigeration were sold. Customers show the greatest interest in these packages in the cities of Szeged, Debrecen, Győr, Miskolc, and Pécs, as well as Budapest. There is significant interest in baked goods in Hatvan and Dunaújváros, while fruits and vegetables are the most popular in Sárvár and Kozármisleny. The strongest demand for refrigerated food is in Abony and Hatvan. According to statistical data, the busiest months are January, February, and September, but a higher demand is experienced in summer and during the Christmas period.

In the SPAR food rescue programme, food that isn’t sold through Munch is not wasted either. The high-quality products are given to people in need in cooperation with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta. Finally, food that is not purchased through Munch before the expiration date or does not reach the Charity Service is offered by SPAR to animal shelters and wildlife parks. As a last resort, animal food waste is turned into biogas, while non-animal waste is composted as biowaste – where possible.

Further information on the operation of the food rescue initiative can be found at the following link: https://www.spar.hu/munch

E.ON installs kestrel boxes on the banks of Rákos stream

  • Red kestrel nesting boxes have been placed on E.ON Hungária Group’s high-voltage pylons in the Zugló district of Budapest.
  • The nest installations were done by a specialist from the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society according to Zugló’s request.
  • More than 170 artificial nesting boxes host birds of prey on E.ON’s network in Pest County, Budapest and Transdanubia.

E.ON Hungária Group has placed red kestrel nesting boxes on pylons along the Rákos stream. The 132 kV high-voltage network’s pylons along the stream are suitable for nesting, according to Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society recommendations. The installations also provide a safe breeding site for red kestrels, free from human disturbance and other predators. The wild and tended areas of the stream’s banks are an excellent place for the kestrels to find food such as voles, lizards and grasshoppers.

These shelter areas for birds are made of wood, are waterproof, and are protected from the sun by an aluminium cover. E.ON mounted them at a height of 6 metres on the high-voltage poles. The condition of the nests, their occupancy and the development of the nestlings inside will be monitored by volunteer experts from the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society.

The red kestrel is a common bird in the capital, breeding in tall buildings, fixed windows, gaps in buildings, and occasionally occupies the nests of other birds, such as crows and magpies. It nests in a number of streets in Zugló, and breeding pairs are known to inhabit the roofs of Budapest’s Geological Museum and Hungary’s Parliament building.

Last year, E.ON measured an 80 per cent occupancy rate for these artificial nest boxes on high-voltage power poles. So far this year, the electricity company has provided more than 170 artificial nests for birds of prey, and plans to install more throughout the year.

 

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