Member News Archívum - Page 10 of 66

A Positive Vision and Financial Incentives: A New Approach to Sustainability

For decades, climate change communication has largely relied on alarming predictions and dire consequences. But is this truly the most effective way to mobilize people toward a more sustainable future? Zsombor Barta, founding partner of Greenbors Consulting, highlighted in an interview with Portfolio that a new approach is emerging in the field of sustainability: the focus is shifting toward positive examples and financial incentives.

According to the expert, achieving sustainability goals requires more than just raising awareness about risks – businesses and decision-makers must also showcase the benefits of adopting an environmentally conscious business model. A great example of this trend can be observed in the real estate market, where sustainable developments are not only beneficial for the environment but also prove to be financially rewarding investments.

Barta emphasized that companies are increasingly integrating ESG principles into their operations, and not just to meet regulatory requirements. Innovative developments such as Edge Technologies’ intelligent and sustainable buildings demonstrate that environmentally friendly solutions can enhance productivity and increase corporate value.

Financial incentives also play a crucial role. Aligning with ESG frameworks can lead to better financing conditions, while energy-efficient investments reduce long-term costs. In Hungary, more green financial solutions are becoming available, but there is still room for growth in this area.

Overall, Zsombor Barta pointed out that the key to a successful transition to a sustainable economy lies in presenting a positive vision and applying the right financial incentives. We fully support this perspective: we believe that sustainability is not about restrictions but about creating new opportunities for businesses and society alike. When companies and consumers view sustainability not as a burden but as a business and economic advantage, it can drive real and lasting change.
Read the whole article on Portfolio:

https://www.portfolio.hu/uzlet/20250221/nem-mukodnek-a-riaszto-klimajoslatok-uj-megkozelites-hodit-742203

10.03.2025

SPAR’s event recognises professional excellence and helps build employee community

Member News, Uncategorized

As an employer, SPAR places great importance on valuing its colleagues: it does not only provide them with competitive income and fringe benefits, but also pays special attention to building a community of colleagues and recognising them.

In addition to the quality of customer service, SPAR treats employee satisfaction as a priority area. By 2025, the number of employees working under the SPAR brand had increased to 17,000 people. Thanks to events that build community and recognise hard work, the company’s management meets thousands of colleagues in person every year.

Top Seller, SPAR Master and SPAR Master Pro trainings and awards

The training opportunities provided by the employer greatly contribute to employee satisfaction. With this in mind, the company operates numerous programmes, one of which, the Top Seller training programme celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2024. The aim of the programme is to train professionals who are well-versed in fresh goods and store operations, and whose knowledge acquired during the training course provides a good basis for their further development, as well as helping them to advance within SPAR and support their career path. Over the past 10 years, more than 400 employees have obtained the Top Seller title which is proof of the success of the training programme. SPAR management presents the graduates with their certificates during a gala ceremony where they also commend those who have completed the SPAR Master and SPAR Master Pro trainings.

Retirement Farewell and Anniversary Celebration

Colleagues with 15, 25 and 40 years of service, as well as those retiring in the current year, are recognised every year by the company’s management and invited to a gala, where they can meet each other during a celebration and lunch.

Professionals of the Year Competition and Awards Gala

For many decades, the company has been rewarding colleagues in the logistics and food production departments who have outstanding professional knowledge and whose work is recognized by managers and employees, i.e. those who can be held up as role models to the community. Every year, SPAR announces the “Logistician of the Year” competition in 14 categories and the “Food Production Professional of the Year” competition in 11 categories. The awards are presented to the winners by the company’s managers during a gala event.

Golden Fir Competition and Gala

The company’s largest internal event is the Golden Fir Gala, to which the managers of nearly 350 self-operated stores (SPAR, City SPAR, INTERSPAR) are invited, as well as all employees working in the sales area. Awards are presented to the employees in customer service, the best of the SPAR online shop, and the most successful stores at a gala. Colleagues who perform their work outstandingly and precisely are the ones awarded. The stores also compete with each other in their respective store type categories, and the employees of the winning units receive a cash prize. This event is an excellent opportunity for exchanging experiences, the direct transfer of information, and team building.

Golden Fir Franchise Competition and Gala

SPAR is not only recognising the performance of its own stores. For years, it has also been reviewing the performance of franchise units through mystery shopping research and, based on additional objective data they select the best SPAR partner and SPAR market stores. They also reward the colleagues of the stores with the highest sales growth. The announcement of the results of the competition takes place in a ceremonial setting, where all franchise store owners can meet each other and the company management, as well as colleagues who play an important role in nurturing bilateral relations.

Family days in logistics centres

Family days, which attract large numbers of employees and feature a rich programme, are a huge success among colleagues, to which they can also bring their relatives and friends.

Team building for local communities

SPAR also supports direct collaboration between communities within the company by providing opportunities and financial support for team building activities among co-workers. Every year, employees can sign up for a number of sports, scientific or artistic trips. In addition to relaxation, these opportunities also strengthen the mental and physical health of employees.

04.03.2025

Our innovative drinking water service debuts in Ghana

Member News

Assin Amoabin in Ghana, with 2000 inhabitants, has no piped water supply. Residents get water from a community borehole, but it is unfit for drinking. There are visible traces of bacteria and iron and manganese contamination in the water. Community members have often complained about the bad taste and smell of the water, and they also find it challenging to use the water for household activities.

Our company has been working in Ghana for several years so we are familiar with the local wastewater and drinking water problems. This is how, after joint reflection and problem identification, we developed the most appropriate innovative, cost-effective and sustainable drinking water supply system for the site, the PurAID®-based IDWP project, which was delivered and launched in the Assin Amoabin municipality at the end of 2024.

At the heart of the IDWP concept is the PurAID®, a modular drinking water treatment system manufactured by Puraset Ltd, a member of our Group. The UN-recognised drinking water treatment technology uses regenerable adsorbents to remove contaminants such as iron, manganese, ammonia, arsenic, fluoride and bacteria making good quality potable water.

Our healthy drinking water kiosk is easy to install and provides safe drinking water for residents. The drinking water is sold at an affordable price for local residents so that safe drinking water is not an additional burden. PurAID® IDWP brings significant social and environmental benefits. The water is supplied in 18-litre jerry cans with taps that can be refilled over a long period of time, so the project is a positive response to the otherwise serious problem of plastic waste pollution.

Other benefits of IDWP include:

no water loss,
the drinking water is purified using renewable adsorbents, no hazardous waste generated,
local jobs are created,
facilitates access to safe drinking water for children and women.

The introduction and installation of the PurAID® IDWP would not have been possible without the support of the leaders of Assin Amoabin and the local community. The success of the project was also supported by the local drinking water provider (Community Water and Sanitation Agency, CWSA) and the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), which provided significant support for the piloting and roll-out of the solution.

Building on the success of the first IDWP project, we plan to deploy similar systems in the medium term to provide a sustainable solution for all communities that need access to safe drinking water.

04.03.2025

BASF and research partners collaborate to optimize mechanical recycling of plastics

Member News

BASF has teamed up with Endress+Hauser and TechnoCompound as well as the Universities of Bayreuth and Jena to study how the mechanical recycling of plastics can be improved. With funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the SpecReK project aims to reliably and precisely identify the composition of plastic waste during the recycling process and thus improve the quality of recycled plastics. This will be achieved by combining state-of-the-art measuring techniques with artificial intelligence (AI).

The researchers are using spectroscopic methods which interpret how the material interacts with light to gain information about the chemical structure of the recycled plastics. The project partners want to use this data to determine in real time during processing which plastic grades, additives and contaminants are contained in the material. In a subsequent step, an AI algorithm will recognize patterns in the measurement data and recommend which additional components should be added or how the recycling process should be adapted to improve the quality of the recycled plastic output.

“We do not currently have the necessary analysis tools to determine during processing exactly which components are contained in the mechanically recycled plastics,” explained Dr. Bernhard von Vacano, head of the Plastics Circularity research program at BASF. This information is needed, however, to evaluate and improve the quality of waste plastics. “This will enable us to use more mechanically recycled plastics to produce high-quality products and to make recycling processes more efficient and sustainable,” said von Vacano.

Strengthening the circular economy for plastics

At present, most of the plastic waste that is sent for recycling is mechanically recycled. The waste is collected, sorted, crushed, cleaned and then melted. Depending on the input material and the degree of sorting, this melted material can contain different types of plastics, additives and contaminants. Therefore, the quality of the recycled output often varies and is not always sufficient to be transformed back into high-value plastic products.

“With the increasing demand for high-quality recycled materials, and given the current legal framework, it will be crucial to perfectly understand the material properties and composition of mechanically recycled plastic waste and to optimize the process. In this way, we will strengthen the circular economy,” von Vacano said.

In this joint project, BASF is cooperating with Endress+Hauser, TechnoCompound, the University of Bayreuth and Friedrich Schiller University Jena. The total project volume is €2.2 million, with two-thirds financed by BMBF funds from its quantum systems research program and one-third financed by the project partners.

Circular economy needs chemical and mechanical recycling

In cases where mechanical recycling of plastic waste is not technologically feasible or too complex, plastics can also be brought back into the material loop via chemical recycling. Both recycling processes – chemical and mechanical – are important for a functioning circular economy and can complement each other. That is why BASF is working to continuously improve both types of recycling.

More information about how BASF is exploring new ways to make the lifecycle of plastics more sustainable can be found here: Plastics Hub

04.03.2025

Our new member company: HighVibes Ltd.

Member News, New member

Established in 2018, the company organises memorable corporate events based on the principles of sustainability. Its operations follow its own set of sustainability principles, which naturally include employee well-being, ethical competition, circular thinking, and partnerships with clients and suppliers.

The HighVibes team frequently delivers awareness-raising, charitable and educational programmes at their events. On the subject of environmental protection, the company openly shares its expertise through blog articles, lectures and free guides, supporting community development. For its clients, they offer sustainable alternatives across seven areas of the event management process instead of traditional, often environmentally polluting solutions. After every event, they calculate the event’s carbon footprint with the assistance of WWF Hungary and also take care of carbon offsetting – in recent years, it has supported a habitat restoration project to restore the Tisza floodplain.

Led by Szabolcs Pécsi, the enterprise is a member of numerous communities, including MaResz and ByBrigdeBudapest, and it supports Fairtender’s sustainable and ethical procurement guidelines.

They joined BCSDH because they aspire to be part of a professional community committed to sustainability, where members can help and inspire each other to make the events industry greener.

27.02.2025

Our new member company Jász-Plasztik Kft.

Member News, New member

Founded in 1990 and now employing more than 2500 people, the company is engaged in plastics processing, battery production and recycling. Since its foundation, the company has been family-owned and has built its reputation on its plastics processing activities.

The company, led by Kasza Lajos János and his family, with almost 35 years of experience, is currently working on the renewal of its operations according to the principles of the circular economy model.

They operate an ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System. Their climate protection objectives include CDP reporting and corporate carbon footprint calculation.

They operate in accordance with the audited Principles of Business Conduct document, for which they also conduct regular self-audits and are subject to second and third party audits.

A sustainability report has not yet been issued, but is being prepared.

They have joined BCSDH because they agree with the sustainability values represented by BCSDH and wish to be part of the professional community.

26.02.2025

Our new member company Carbone.Crane Zrt.

Member News, New member

Founded in 2024, Carbone.Crane is a startup company that helps its partners committed to sustainability reduce their digital carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency, with a website and email focus.

The digital carbon footprint is currently one of the “blind spots” in corporate carbon footprint studies. The mission of Carbone.Crane led by Huszics György and Bodnár József is to make this area visible and include it in the scope of the study. As a first step, they will make the magnitude of carbon emissions and energy consumption and the opportunities to reduce them tangible through websites and emails, offering an immediate solution to address them.

The company seek to mainstream sustainability into as many aspects of its operations as possible. The most important area is the service itself, which is the embodiment of their mission: to reduce the rapidly growing carbon footprint of the digital asset base. They have made it a priority to create their service with the lowest possible carbon footprint.

Their operations are characterised by transparency and a strong sense of community, both towards investors and employees. They engage in continuous, open and engaging communication, creating space for collective thinking and for exploring and exploiting synergies within the organisation.

They have joined BCSDH because they want to be part of a community that is taking forward-thinking and exemplary steps to promote sustainable business practices as widely as possible.

26.02.2025

Our new member company: EXIM Hungary

Member News, New member

For more than 30 years, EXIM Hungary has been paving the path to global success by providing innovative financing solutions to support the growth of domestic businesses. As the official export credit agency of Hungary, EXIM specialises in international trade, foreign market expansion and foreign investment. In addition to export finance, it has been providing domestic loan programmes for over a decade to enhance the international competitiveness of Hungarian companies. The pair of institutions, headed by CEO Kornél Kisgergely, aims to offer customised loan, insurance and guarantee products to companies with outstanding growth and foreign expansion potential. Since its inception, EXIM Hungary has helped bring Hungarian products or services to nearly 150 countries around the world.

EXIM Hungary is fully dedicated to the ESG approach in its economic activities and operations, which is based on three pillars:

Environmental Responsibility (E): based on international and domestic regulations and best market practices, EXIM Hungary has established a Green Finance Framework to support sustainable development and green investments through favourable financing opportunities. The aim is to increase their green portfolio instead of carbon-based activities.
Social Responsibility (S): EXIM Hungary is committed to educating the next generation, through a long-term partnership with prestigious higher education institutions to offer specific courses and trainings to students. EXIM Hungary also maintains close links with professional organisations to ensure access to the latest export finance knowledge for the widest possible audience. It also promotes the well-being of the employees as a family-friendly and sustainable workplace, and strengthens the community through active internal communication and wellbeing activities.
Responsible Corporate Governance (G): EXIM Hungary does its utmost to operate in a transparent and sustainable manner and has therefore developed an ESG strategy in line with the business objectives and established a dedicated ESG Centre, which operates on the basis of an annual programme plan. It also pays particular attention to integrating sustainability considerations into the decision-making processes, ensuring long-term and responsible corporate governance.

EXIM Hungary has joined the BCSDH to share its existing experiences and to learn new good practices. With the creation of the ESG Centre, EXIM Hungary aims to make progress in the field of sustainability and become one of the key players in the banking sector.

13.02.2025

Our new member company: RTG Corporate Resonsibility Consulting Kft.

Member News, New member

RTG., founded and managed by Tamás Radnai and Gabriella Tóth, is a sustainability and ESG consultancy company that has worked in this field since its establishment in 2006 to promote sustainability in the domestic corporate environment.

The founders of RTG and the company itself are ESG consultants accredited by the SZTFH.

They build long-term, sincere professional relationships with their partners based on a commitment to sustainability. The different thinking, insights, and experience of the professional team members complement each other well while contributing to the different aspects of social responsibility and sustainability.

The company maximises gender equality, with equal participation of founders in the success of the business. RTG is a flexible workplace that helps to achieve a good work-life balance.

The company, which is in a growth phase, aims to makme a long-term contribution to the latest advances in sustainability and ESG consulting.

They joined BCSDH to support these goals: they want to be active and useful members of the professional community.

10.02.2025

New Member Company: Lidl Hungary

Member News, New member

Lidl Hungary is a leading retail player. The company, managed by Zita Szlavikovics places a strong emphasis on sustainability, environmental protection, and ethical operations, while also prioritizing compliance with increasingly stringent EU regulations.

The company’s sustainability strategy is built around the principles of “Good for the planet, good for people, good for you,” focusing on six key areas: biodiversity protection, climate protection, resource preservation, health promotion, ethical operations, and dialogue.

It has developed its sustainability strategy around the principles of “Good for the planet, good for people, good for you”, which covers six focus areas: biodiversity protection, climate protection, resource conservation, health promotion, ethical operations and dialogue. Lidl’s cross-country goal is to achieve net zero emissions across its entire supply chain, including Scope 3 emissions, by 2050. These are the areas where more than 90% of the company’s total emissions are generated. To achieve the climate targets, the company is working closely with its partners and requires its largest suppliers, who are responsible for 75% of product-related emissions (Scope 3), to set their own climate targets by 2026 within the framework of Science Based Targets.

Sustainability ambitions are underpinned not only by strategic targets but also by concrete results. Lidl Hungary regularly publishes national sustainability reports based on the GRI Standards. The first two were created based on GRI Core option, the latest one is in accordance with GRI, covering the financial years 2022-2023.

The company also aims to promote circular economy, reduce food waste or source critical raw materials from certified sustainable sources. In addition, respect for human rights and occupational health and safety are also a priority in their operations.

Through its membership, Lidl aims to actively contribute to the BCSDH community by sharing best practices and deepening its expertise in areas such as circular economy, emission reduction, and biodiversity.

05.02.2025