Social Media and Regulation Are Reshaping Sustainability Communications – Highlights from the Communications Working Group Meeting

What can companies do to communicate credibly and comply with regulations in a fast-changing social media landscape? How can communicating sustainability results help build a more credible corporate image? And how will this evolve in light of the EmpCo Directive, which is about to take effect?

These questions were at the heart of the Communications Working Group meeting held on 22 September 2026. The host, Zsuzsa Beke, Head of Group PR, CSR and Government Relations at Richter Gedeon Plc, welcomed participants attending in person and online. She also gave a well-received presentation on Richter’s sustainability efforts and achievements, highlighting the challenges of communicating credibly in a media landscape where regulation is unevenly applied.

Bálint Horváth, Chief of Staff and Head of Communications at the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH), provided an overview of the latest greenwashing regulations and how they are applied in Hungary. The EU EmpCo Directive, which enters into force on 27 September, tightens the rules on environmental claims and green labels to protect consumers and companies taking genuine action. Responsibility for green communications is shared across corporate communications, compliance teams, agencies and partners.

The discussion following the presentation highlighted how difficult many companies still find it to navigate the new rules. The Competition Authority, however, is ready to work with companies that are committed to credible environmental communication. BCSDH and its member companies also want sustainability efforts to be communicated, and good practices to reach and inspire the wider business community—while ensuring that these examples are genuine and credible.

The programme concluded with an exclusive guided tour of the award-winning Richter Headquarters, led by András Csiszér, Design Director at Zoboki Architecture & Design.