This semester, university students once again excelled in the CarbonClass interactive workshops delivered by Carbon.Crane’s experts.

The training, now available nationwide since last year, aims to equip tomorrow’s professionals and decision-makers with an understanding of the carbon emissions and energy efficiency associated with digital infrastructures – encouraging them to integrate these aspects into their decision-making criteria.

University students are particularly affected by this topic: as members of the “digital native” generation, they are active users of such technologies. However, as the workshops have shown, many are surprised by the environmental and energy-related impacts of the tools they use every day.

During the interactive sessions, participants had the chance to try out tools used by industry experts. This hands-on experience enabled them to analyze the carbon and energy footprint of selected websites, identify the root causes, explore optimization options, and calculate potential reductions in emissions and energy consumption.

In addition, students could assess their own social media footprint, explore their “eco-emotions,” learn about the rising energy demands of technology, examine possible responses, and ultimately reflect on their newly acquired knowledge.

Based on the tests completed at the end of each session, students in all groups once again achieved an average score above 20 out of 25 this semester – thereby earning the CarbonClass Certificate, which can be proudly displayed on LinkedIn.

According to participant feedback, the CarbonClass workshop continues to maintain a 4.7/5 satisfaction rating and a 100% recommendation rate – now for the fourth consecutive semester.

Universities that have participated in the program so far include:

BGE, BME, Corvinus, University of Debrecen, University of Public Service, Neumann János University (Kecskemét), University of Pannonia (Veszprém), University of Sopron, University of Szeged, and Széchenyi István University (Győr). University of Pécs

The CarbonClass program is offered free of charge to universities, made possible through the support of its main sponsor, Mastercard.

The introduction of the National Mobile Payment System has created a true win-win situation: it has not only streamlined interactions between businesses and consumers, but also provided new momentum for sustainability and economic competitiveness. Launched in 2014, the nationwide system initially enabled electronic payments for parking and road usage, and has since evolved into a complex digital ecosystem. Today, it connects 144 service providers and 56 resellers, serving millions of customers in a sustainable manner.

The platform’s dynamic growth is evident: with an average annual increase of 35%, its transaction volume has grown nearly twentyfold over ten years, while the number of transactions has risen more than eightfold—from 8.5 million to 73 million. Following the pandemic, the system not only returned to its previous stable growth trajectory but experienced a sharp surge in all key indicators: user base, transaction volume, and total turnover. The range of services has also expanded significantly: the introduction of the ’Mobiljegy for Public Transport’ service in 2019 now accounts for roughly one-third of the platform’s total volume and transaction count. Its rapid nationwide rollout played a key role in ensuring seamless, cashless access to public transport during the pandemic.

Digital Infrastructure with Measurable Benefits

Beyond replacing paper-based administration, the platform contributes to sustainability by delivering significant cost savings and efficiency gains for service providers. Automated processes and data-driven decision-making reduce administrative burdens, speed up customer service, and enhance the overall user experience. The platform’s statistical data is not only useful for monitoring but also supports operational planning and financial forecasting.

Inclusivity and Environmental Impact

Thanks to its low entry barriers, the digital platform makes modern solutions accessible to a broad segment of society, supporting both financial and technological education. Reaching 7 million users demonstrates the growing adoption of digital services. The environmental impact is also substantial: over 400 million transactions in the past decade have resulted in an estimated 23,000 tons of CO₂-equivalent savings by replacing cash and paper-based solutions.

The Digital Business Model of the Future

The platform’s ten-year journey clearly illustrates how technological advancement can drive sustainable economic growth. It has simplified and improved everyday life for users while tangibly reducing environmental impact. Looking ahead, further innovations and service expansions will enhance the platform’s ability to support partner competitiveness, elevate the digital customer experience, and contribute meaningfully to achieving sustainability goals.

Nemzeti Mobilfizetési Zrt.

Ready to Walk for the Planet? Budapest Hosts a 24-Hour Challenge with Heart

Meijer &Co is organising a 24-hour walk for the second time in Varosliget, raising funds to regreen the planet!

What started as a ‘crazy’ idea in 2021—four friends walking non-stop for 24 hours in Amsterdam to raise funds against climate change—has blossomed into a global movement. Now, 24 The Planet is making its mark in cities like Amsterdam, New York, London, Munich, Prague, and for the second time, Budapest. The mission is simple yet impactful: participants walk continuously for 24 hours in a park to raise funds and awareness for the battle against global climate change. All proceeds go to Justdiggit, an NGO dedicated to regreening dry and degraded land in Africa to cool down the planet. ​

This year, the 24 The Planet Walk returns to Budapest’s Városliget on September 12–13, 2025, from 4 PM to 4 PM. The event is organized by four enthusiastic locals—Thijmen Meijer, Enikő Tóth, Eszter Nagy, and Lili Győr —who are eager to welcome both expats and locals to this unique experience.​

Participants are encouraged to commit to the full 24 hours (yes, really!), but don’t worry—it’s not a race. In between walks, there’ll be mini events to keep everyone energized and connected: think shared meals, coffee breaks, quizzes, yoga, mini challenges, a costume party, and more.

24 The Planet is not a race; walkers determine their own pace. Our “slowest” walker covered 52 KM, while our “fastest” walker completed 116 KM. The commitment is to walk for 24 hours, with short breaks permitted.

Since its inception in 2021, 24 The Planet has grown exponentially, increasing by thirteenfold. Last year, 161 24-hour walkers completed the 24-hour challenge, while over 900 individuals showed their support. Over the past three years, we’ve raised over EUR 200,000, enabling us to regreen an area three times the size of Central Park in Africa!

Contact us for the sponsor packages for CSR purposes. We are looking for walkers who are joining us as individuals and raising money with their friends and family (via the platform). Companies can buy Sponsor packages or buy tickets for their employees in the form of a teambuilding activity.

Last year, the Budapest team raised almost €8,000, and this year they’re dreaming even bigger. Whether you’re new in town or just up for a joyful challenge, this is your chance to walk with purpose—and have a blast doing it. Join the movement now!

You can find here the aftermovie of 2024 and feel to contact us at planet24@meijerandco.com.

The Hungarian Food Bank Association’s fundraising campaign held last Friday and Saturday was a great success, with Lidl joining in with more than 100 stores nationwide. During the one-and-a-half-day collection Lidl customers contributed nearly 90 tons of food – one third of the total donations collected in the program – to help people in need in their neighborhood. The donations will be used by the Food Bank to put together a five-kilo parcel for people and families in need, which will be distributed across the country until the start of the summer holidays.

Lidl Hungary has joined the largest fundraising campaign of the Hungarian Food Bank Association so far, offering its customers the opportunity to help in 108 stores nationwide. “The aim was to collect as much non-perishable food as possible for families in need. We are very proud of the high level of solidarity we have seen from our customers, whose active participation and contributions have enabled a total of 17,936 donation packages to reach the deprived in their neighborhood. We are also grateful to the volunteers of the Food Bank and our colleagues for their work and support” – said Judit Tőzsér, the company’s Communications Manager.

The most popular product donated was pasta, followed by rice and flour, but there were also a lot of donations of canned goods and pasta sauces. The donated food will be distributed by the Food Bank to the people in need in the coming days and weeks, in parcels of 5 kilograms each, in cooperation with charitable organizations in the vicinity of the stores. The main target groups will be the elderly, large families, and single-parent families, but donations will also be made to family support services and children’s homes, people with disabilities, the homeless and people living in the most deprived areas of the country.

“We had a huge outpouring of help over the weekend! For two days, donations poured in at our collection points, and most unusually, we were often thanked by the donors themselves for the opportunity to help. So, we would now like to take the chance to express our gratitude to everyone who has been part of our efforts. A pat on the back also goes out to our donors, our volunteers and Lidl employees. The work is far from over, of course, as we still have to sort through all the donations, sort them and of course deliver them to the beneficiaries. Of course, the latter will be the most exciting part of the whole operation. We can’t wait to see once again what joy these aid packages can bring” – emphasized András Nagygyörgy, Director of External Relations of the Food Bank.

The Food Bank’s spring fundraising took place in a total of 410 stores in 202 municipalities across the country, with the participation of 5,500 volunteers. A total of 244,303 kilograms of donations were collected, from which the organization will prepare 48,881 relief packages.