December 2025

The Vast Majority of Companies Have Not Postponed Their Sustainability Efforts – ESG Survey of Hungarian Companies

Budapest, 26 November 2025: 95 percent of sustainability-committed companies in Hungary state that being able to operate sustainably is their goal, while ESG activities and reporting are tools that can help make this possible. The number of companies that feel prepared to meet their ESG obligations has increased by 42 percent, according to the latest survey conducted by the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) with professional support from KPMG.

According to the survey results, the motivating effect of regulatory compliance has increased significantly in recent times. In 2025, fulfilling legal requirements will already be the main driver of ESG integration, alongside growing emphasis on meeting owners’ expectations and customer and client needs.

“Despite changes in reporting regulations, most companies are not slowing down: more than half of the leading companies have expanded their ESG capacities and are continuing sustainability developments that are already underway. Over the next two years, most companies will continue to develop their ESG activities and reporting according to their planned schedules. Overall, the survey indicates that Hungarian companies are steadily developing more sustainable and transparent operations,” summarized Irén Márta, Managing Director of BCSDH, regarding companies’ future plans.

Most companies plan to expand the scope of their ESG activities over the next two years, and the majority also intend to continue their reporting processes as scheduled. Few large enterprises or SMEs are taking advantage of the opportunity to postpone, and only a minority intend to wait for regulatory decisions before determining their ESG reporting plans.

“The results show that 87 percent of the surveyed companies already feel prepared to meet the requirements of the CSRD and the ESG Act, which represents significant progress compared to 2023. Among the respondents, recognition of the business benefits of ESG has clearly increased. According to 91 percent of companies, ESG ratings provide a competitive advantage, and 87 percent believe that better ESG performance will become an even more decisive business factor by 2027. Small and medium-sized enterprises perceive these advantages even more strongly than large corporations. For respondents, employee engagement and improved management of ESG risks remain key benefits,” highlighted Ágnes Deme, Senior Manager at KPMG.

Companies now have more mature goals and active implementation programs in social and governance areas. This finding is consistent with the previous survey, which also identified these areas as highly important. In the human value domain, 55 percent are in the ‘active implementation’ phase with regard to developing working conditions, equal treatment, and employee well-being. In the environmental domain, companies typically focus on carbon emissions, energy use, and waste management. This is where future development plans are most prevalent: 31 percent of respondents already plan to set biodiversity targets, and more than 25 percent intend to develop objectives related to climate adaptation. This is unsurprising, as 70 percent of companies identify climate change as a threat, while 80 percent of respondents view climate adaptation as a profitable business activity.

In summary, companies are aware of the impact of climate change on their operations and recognize the need for systemic change. Ninety percent agree that the true challenge of the green transition and achieving sustainability goals lies not in technology but in economic viability and mindset change.

About the BCSDH ESG Survey

For the third time, BCSDH has conducted a comprehensive survey among its member companies to assess how ESG aspects are being incorporated into their daily operations and value chains, and to understand their future expectations regarding sustainability. KPMG served as the professional partner for the survey.

Data collection for the survey concluded in October 2025. The results were published on 26 November 2025.
Of the questionnaire sent to BCSDH’s 155 member companies, 77 responses were received from 15 industries, including 23 companies listed in the HVG TOP200.

03.12.2025

COP30: Momentum is Unstoppable – Business at the Heart of Accelerated Implementation

News

COP30 unfolded in a year marked by geopolitical tension and concerns over a roll back of climate leadership. Yet, although consensus negotiations were constrained, the message from Belém was unequivocal:

“The global transition towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development is irreversible and the trend of the future.”

COP30 was also a moment of restructuring and refocusing. The Paris Agreement was designed around bottom-up delivery based on national priorities, not top-down diktat. Ten years on, in the country where the UNFCCC was born, the full rulebook has been negotiated, and implementation has become the currency of climate action. Progress depends on identifying where interests align and creating momentum through practical collaboration, which is the way that the Paris Agreement was designed – around bottom-up delivery based on national priorities, not a top-down mandate.

This became apparent not just through the elevation and restructuring of the Action Agenda – which mobilizes 480+ initiatives involving 190 countries, tens of thousands of businesses, investors, and cities – as the engine of delivery to unblock barriers and scale solutions. This was also visible in the COP30 outcomes – where no consensus was available, countries agreed to move forward on voluntary initiatives on transitioning away from fossil fuels, deforestation and a Global Implementation Accelerator to close the gap on NDCs.

For business, these developments matter because business has been at the heart of the Action Agenda and this represents a shift towards greater political focus on the enabling conditions for investment. This means both opportunity and responsibility:

Identifying where clearer investment signals and frameworks are needed.
Contributing to platforms to shape standards and influence policy.
Working collaboratively to de-risk investments and technologies.

Businesses need to move from calling for ambition, to identifying the practical actions and implementation barriers that turn climate goals into investable opportunities. And businesses did come out in force. At the pre-COP São Paulo business week, over 1500 business leaders and investors emphasized the need to work across value chains to achieve competitive and resilient outcomes and attract investment and during COP30 businesses from all sectors and continent were engaged.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) detailed summary of COP30 is AVAILABLE HERE.

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At the Race to Zero working group meeting on November 25, Dr. Barbara Wassen, Ambassador-at-Large for Climate reported firsthand on developments and key decisions. You can read the related news and further information HERE.

02.12.2025

From paper to digital: SPAR saves several tonnes of paper with solutions aligned with international trends

Member News

SPAR Hungary is reducing paper usage in its logistics centres by introducing new best practices, while digitalisation in other areas is also delivering significant environmental benefits.

At SPAR Hungary’s logistics hubs in Bicske and Üllő, new measures have been introduced to cut paper consumption. Multi-page labels used for marking loading units are now printed double-sided, reducing paper usage by nearly half a tonne within the first four weeks after implementation. On an annual basis, this is expected to save around 5.5 tonnes of paper – fewer resources wasted, with no loss in efficiency.

“Sustainability is no longer just a principle for SPAR – it has become part of our everyday operations, from logistics right through to store management. We are proud that, thanks to the creative and responsible approach of our colleagues, we can deliver tangible results year after year in reducing paper consumption,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

Sustainability efforts, however, go beyond the warehouses. In recent months, SPAR Hungary has introduced several digitalisation measures that have significantly reduced paper use: paper-based cleaning and refrigeration control logs have been phased out, electronic work orders and service logs have been introduced, and training materials have moved online. Together, these initiatives are reducing the company’s annual paper needs by several dozen tonnes. SPAR is continuing its digital innovations in Hungary, having already rolled out electronic shelf labels in more than ten franchise partner stores, as well as in three company-owned supermarkets – in Budapest, Debrecen and the newly opened store in Szentendre. This paperless solution simultaneously enhances the customer experience, streamlines workflows, and supports sustainable operations. Based on these promising results, SPAR aims to introduce the technology in further stores.

Paper saving is also a global trend: digital transition brings not only environmental but also economic benefits. Companies that recognise the opportunities offered by the digitalisation of administration and documentation in good time can become more flexible, efficient, and sustainable in the long term. SPAR Hungary’s goal is to be at the forefront in this field as well, setting an example within the domestic retail sector.

01.12.2025

The role of solar energy is growing in retail – more SPAR stores now powered by solar panels

Member News

The role of renewable energy sources in the retail sector is expanding rapidly: major chains are striving to reduce their carbon footprint through energy efficiency investments and locally generated green electricity. Responding to the growing demand for renewable energy, SPAR Hungary is further expanding its solar panel systems, providing modern, environmentally friendly energy for its stores in Nyíregyháza and Székesfehérvár. SPAR was among the first in the Hungarian retail sector to implement solar developments, and the programme continues to expand.

The latest installations were completed in the first half of 2025 at the supermarket on Tiszavasvári Road in Nyíregyháza and the store on Palotai Road in Székesfehérvár. At both sites, 50 kW systems have been put into operation, capable of generating tens of thousands of kilowatt hours of electricity annually. As a result, at least 15% of the electricity consumption of the affected stores will now be covered by renewable energy.

“Making our energy use more efficient and increasing our reliance on renewable sources is extremely important for SPAR. In 2024, SPAR Hungary used a total of 912 GJ, or 253,256 kWh of renewable electricity, all generated by the solar panel systems installed on the roofs of our own stores. With every new investment, we aim to ensure that solar panels meet the store’s electricity needs as effectively as possible, thereby supporting our commitment to energy-conscious operations” said Márk Maczelka head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

SPAR launched its solar panel programme in Szeged in 2020, followed by installations in Pécs and Dorog in 2022, Göd in 2023, and Dunaföldvár as well as the Pécs INTERSPAR hypermarket in 2024. The largest development so far has taken place at the INTERSPAR in Pécs, where the system, combined with an energy storage unit, can save one month’s worth of electricity consumption for the store. Thanks to projects to date, the company’s annual renewable energy production exceeded 253,000 kWh in 2024 – equivalent to the annual consumption of 80 average family homes.

With the newly launched systems in Nyíregyháza and Székesfehérvár, SPAR is further reinforcing its commitment to ensuring that the shops of the future are not only modern retail spaces but also environmentally responsible units generating their own energy. With each new investment and renovation, the company examines the potential for applying solar solutions, and further installations are planned in the coming years.

01.12.2025

The Green Factory Program Continues: The Theodora Nature Trail Renewed

Member News, Uncategorized

To the delight of nature lovers, the Theodora Nature Trail has been completely renewed after two decades, thanks to an exemplary collaboration between Szentkirályi Magyarország and the Balaton-Uplands National Park. The development is one of the key elements of the company’s Green Factory Program, proving that economic operation and nature conservation can exist in harmony and strengthen each other.

Szentkirályi Magyarország’s plant in Kékkút — where the popular Theodora Calcia mineral waters are bottled — operates in a unique environment, in the heart of the Balaton-felvidéki National Park. This proximity is both a source of inspiration and a responsibility: the factory aims to operate in harmony with the surrounding landscape and leave the smallest possible ecological footprint.

This exemplary project, which resulted in the complete renewal of the Theodora Nature Trail after twenty years, was realized here. The development, created through the cooperation between Szentkirályi Magyarország and the Balaton-felvidéki National Park, goes beyond a simple tourism investment: it sends a clear message that economic growth and nature conservation can complement, rather than oppose, each other.

When we think of a factory, we usually imagine a noisy place full of machines – but in Kékkút, a different path was consciously chosen. The company’s management decided to operate a facility that blends into nature, does not burden its environment, and even enriches it. With this mindset, Szentkirályi Magyarország launched its Green Factory Program in 2022, built on six pillars: energetics, waste management, pollution reduction, biodiversity protection, water stewardship, and environmental education.

Next to the Kékkút plant lies the country’s oldest mineral water well. The most important rule of water management here is the balance: only as much water is extracted as is naturally replenished. The amount of water reserves is continuously monitored using observation wells. A wetland has also been created in the factory courtyard, where so-called grey water from the plant is directed. This not only helps retain water locally but also provides a refuge for local wildlife.

The company’s energy-saving efforts are also tangible: gas-powered forklifts have been replaced with electric ones, and with the planned installation of rooftop solar panels, these vehicles will soon run on solar energy. The machinery is continuously being modernized, with outdated equipment replaced by more energy-efficient models. Decommissioned machines are not simply discarded – their parts are reused, just as packaging materials are recycled and reintroduced into circulation through partner companies.

Although factory operations naturally involve light and noise emissions and air pollution, Szentkirályi Magyarország minimizes these impacts as well. The site uses downward-facing lighting fixtures to avoid disturbing nocturnal birds and insects, and truck routes are optimized to reduce the burden on nearby settlements as much as possible.

To preserve biodiversity, the plant has established several habitats: the artificial pond in the factory courtyard has become a favorite meeting place for dragonflies, water bugs, and birds, while a former pile of rubble has been transformed into a home for swallows, bats, and insects. Birdhouses, insect hotels, and meadows planted with native species around the site further support the local ecosystem.

In implementing the program, the company works closely with the Balaton-felvidéki National Park Directorate, jointly developing nature conservation projects.

Thus, the Kékkút plant has become a model of responsible operation — now enhanced with yet another valuable initiative.

The 7-kilometer-long Theodora Nature Trail showcases the natural and geological treasures of the Káli Basin. The route leads from hundreds-of-millions-year-old red sandstone formations, through the rich wildlife of the Sásdi Stream, to the surroundings of Lake Kornyi, where numerous protected plant and animal species can be observed. The renewed trail offers an experience for visitors of all ages. Guests can not only enjoy the beauty of the landscape but also gain new knowledge about sustainability and environmental protection. Alongside the information boards, interactive features and online content further enhance the learning experience.

The audio guide for the trail is narrated by Pál Mácsai, Kossuth and Jászai Mari Award-winning actor, allowing even those with reading difficulties or visual impairments to share in the experience. The meeting of nature and art gives the trail a special atmosphere, making it accessible and inclusive for everyone.

The renewal of the Theodora Nature Trail is the result of the joint work of Szentkirályi Magyarország and the Balaton-Upland National Park. The company’s financial support and the Park’s professional guidance have created a partnership that ensures the long-term presentation and preservation of the region’s natural values.

At the opening of the trail, Ferenc Nemere, Director of Szentkirályi Magyarország’s Kékkút plant, said:

“Our goal is for our factory to blend into nature — not only to minimize its environmental impact but to actively support the enrichment of its surroundings. We are convinced that economic success and environmental protection are not contradictory concepts.”

The renewal of the Theodora Nature Trail is a tribute to the past, a commitment to nature, and a responsibility toward the future. With this, the company once again demonstrates that nature and humanity can grow together — when decisions are guided by awareness, expertise, and long-term thinking.

01.12.2025