Sustainable gastronomy is one of the main topics of METRO’s CSR activities is. METRO Hungary launched the METRO Sustainable Gastronomy Award in 2022. The prize is awarded in three categories to a person, a restaurant and an organization doing their best in the field of sustainable gastronomy. The award is presented every year in June in honor of Sustainable Gastronomy Day (18th June). This year, on June 8 10:00-14:00 the METRO Sustainable Gastronomy forum and award ceremony will be held at the METRO Gastronomy Academy in Budaörs. The accompanying program of the conference and the award ceremony is a great initiative supported by METRO: the Séf the World environmental competition cooking show organized by the Hungarian Association of Conservationists and the National Association of Caterers and Food Managers. Alternative protein sources, the upcycling method, sustainable canteens and clean energies are discussed at the forum. The highlight of the program is the presentation of the METRO Sustainable Gastronomy Awards!
The participation on the event is free, but registration is required! The detailed program is available on METRO’s website. Registration for the event: kommunikacio@metro.co.hu
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/METRO.png170450Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-31 09:44:142023-05-31 09:45:42„Séf the World” environmental competition at the METRO Sustainable Gastronomy Award ceremony
A new station was added to Shell’s European LNG network in April 2023, supporting the carbon reduction efforts of commercial road transport. The Hungarian site, the first in the region is located in Szigetszentmiklós, along the M0 ring road, connecting several trans-European corridors.
Commercial road transport is a key element of the world’s supply chain. The sector is responsible for 9% of global CO2 emissions. While the demand is expected to triple by 2050, the sector needs to become fully decarbonised, to which LNG as an alternative fuel can contribute.
In line with the commitments made in its Powering Progress strategy, Shell is supporting the decarbonisation efforts of its transport partners by offering lower emission fuels. The company offers LNG at more than 150 filling stations across Europe and bio-LNG blends throughout its network in the Netherlands. By using 100% bio-LNG, carbon emissions can be reduced to zero.
The new Hungarian LNG-station is part of the network expansion. The filling station, was opened on 13 April and is located next to the M0 ring road. The new site supports the supply of LNG as truck fuel within Hungary but also freight traffic to countries like Austria, Czechia, Germany, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia. The station, modernised to meet Shell’s high quality and safety standards across Europe, is planned to offer bio-LNG fuel in the future. At the opening ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó and István Kapitány, Global Vice President of Shell’s Mobility, welcomed the guests and expressed their commitment to reducing emissions from road transport.
Shell Hungary has also initiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which it signed with several energy and transport stakeholders at the beginning of April. The purpose of the agreement is to broaden the downstream usage of LNG and bio-LNG in commercial road transport. Waberer’s International, MVM CEEnergy, MVM Mobiliti, ECO-Tech Vision, Volvo Trucks Hungary, and Scania Hungária joined Shell Hungary zRt as signatories.
Shell will establish LNG stations in the region, amongst themAustria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Shell also intends to expand its Hungarian LNG filling station network along important transport routes and international transport corridors in order to cover the entire country and region.
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/shell.png170450Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-29 22:57:372023-05-29 22:57:37Shell Hungary opens its first LNG filling station in Hungary
Once again, SPAR Hungary has taken a major step towards environmental awareness. The company uses digital solutions to reduce the paper-based administration required for the operation of its stores. This measure will save 14 tonnes of paper by 2023.
“Environmental awareness is an important principle for SPAR. With this aim, we strive to implement new solutions in almost all areas of our daily operations. One of these key areas is cutting paper use: we are also striving for digital solutions in our store network processes, and since 2019 we have been working continuously to minimise paper consumption in this area as well,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.
The company’s latest initiative focuses on online solutions for administration. For example, the paper records of cleaning logs and refrigeration control sheets have been eliminated and replaced by digital data. As a result, almost 14 tonnes less paper will be used annually in 2023.
Under the SPAR sustainability programme, the SPAR Online shop has also recently turned green: the former printed delivery notes are now replaced with digital ones. This contributes to saving more than 3 tonnes of paper every year.
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/spar.png170450Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-29 22:30:542023-05-31 09:27:16SPAR uses 14 tonnes less paper from this year
Just as the optimization and “greening” of transport contribute to the sustainability of a city, the form in which travel entitlements are redeemed instead of individual car use in public transport, for example, is also important for a comprehensive assessment of environmental impacts. Why is mobile ticketing more environmentally friendly than traditional paper-based ticketing?
The „Mobiljegy for Public Transport” service, now almost four years old, is a national best practice promoting the digital use of local and interurban public transport services. The solution was developed in cooperation between transport operators, cities, and retailers to enable passengers to buy and use their tickets and passes easily and in their daily lives via a mobile application. Meanwhile, operators can also check boardings, and easily access revenue and travel statistics that can help them plan services more sustainably. In the wake of the pandemic, contactless solutions have gained in value, and the Mobiljegy service was introduced for intercity public transport and has since been deployed nationwide. Today, the share of mobile ticketing in relation to all sales channels varies from city to city, ranging from 8% to 30%. As an indication of its popularity, the number of transactions of the service has increased by 254% in one year and its turnover by 168% at the beginning of this year compared to the same period last year.
How does this contribute to increasing sustainability? Why is it good for the environment?
A wealth of data and studies is available on the environmental impact of cash production, manufacturing and logistics, and the emission of paper receipts. Therefore, a positive environmental impact can be achieved by reducing the use of cash and paper receipts. ESG team has analyzed the potential CO2 emissions savings per transaction based on industry estimates and calculated that the savings per transaction can be measured at 58.5 grams. Since the launch of the service in 2019, the more than 22 million transport transactions completed so far have saved 23 tonnes of CO2 emissions!
What about social and economic sustainability?
The digital service is not only important from an environmental point of view, but also from a social and economic point of view: the services are typically low-barrier, free of charge for users, and ensure the digital literacy of the population, in line with the overall social digitalization efforts. The service provides a nationwide, interoperable, transparent, and coherent system to meet the requirements of economic sustainability, thus having a significant economic development impact.
Source: 2021 Sustainability Report of the National Mobile Payment PlC., pages 19-20, page 50.
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Nemzeti-Mobilfizetesi-Zrt.png170450Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-29 21:55:592023-05-29 21:56:59Mobile payment for more sustainable transport!
ALTEO has launched a new control centre, modelled on its existing gas engine-based control centre, by integrating purely renewable power plants. The initiative, a pioneer in Hungary, will provide a control reserve for the entire Hungarian electricity system.
After increasing the flexibility of its gas engine-based control centre by commissioning a new electric boiler in the spring, ALTEO is taking another major step towards a more efficient operation of the Hungarian electricity system: in May 2023, it became the first in the country to establish a control centre integrating purely renewable power plants.
In October 2022, it fulfilled the system operator’s requirements for secondary regulation based on purely weather-dependent power plants, and obtained the so-called aFRR (Automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve) accreditation: a unit with this certification is able to implement the system operator’s regulation instructions in real time through tele-mechanical and process control systems, i.e. it can be regulated in real time.
“The new control centre is the best proof that solar power plants are also capable of real-time and continuous power control, of much more flexible operation than before, i.e. they can actively contribute to ensuring system balance,” said Péter Luczay, Deputy CEO for Asset-Backed Energy Trading & Business Development at ALTEO Group.
The integration of highly weather-dependent renewables into a predictable and stable system can be ensured by coordinating generation and consumption, and ALTEO and its peers play a major role in this by adjusting the imbalances in the system by boosting or curbing electricity generation according to the current demand.
While significantly expanding the company’s regulatory reserve market opportunities, the new regulatory hub will also provide the domestic electricity system with a significant amount of additional flexibility. This in turn could facilitate the deployment of additional weather-dependent renewable energy sources in the country, mainly solar and wind. The current renewable control centre of ~160 MW could be significantly expanded in the near future, adding significant additional flexibility to the electricity system.
ALTEO, with a portfolio of ~70 MW of solar and wind power plants, has been providing regulation reserve services for ten years, which until the establishment of the new regulation centre consisted of a system of nearly 100 MW of installed electrical capacity, typically natural gas-fired power plants and energy storage facilities. In addition, its commercial and generation management services are provided to over 1,500 MW of renewable generation, typically solar, representing almost half of the domestic solar market, excluding small domestic plants.
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Alteo.png170450Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-29 21:26:102023-05-29 21:26:10Renewables can also support the stability of the electricity system
Financial institutions have an important role to play in the transition to sustainability, not only through their own operations but also through the loans and investment opportunities they provide to households and businesses to drive the low-carbon economy. K&H’s Sustainability Month has also raised awareness of the importance of protecting the environment and is contributing to an innovative future with digital financial solutions, according to the K&H Group Sustainability Report 2022.
Sustainability and especially climate objectives are an integral part of K&H’s strategy.
The K&H Group has made significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint in its own operations and has developed innovative financial products that enable customers to operate and live a climate-resilient lifestyle. In line with the Hungarian National Bank’s green capital requirement discount scheme, K&H was the first in the market to introduce a green mortgage loan that is available not only for new but also for second-hand homes. The uptake of electric cars is supported by K&H green car leasing, which, like hybrid cars, can be covered by favourable compulsory vehicle insurance. In addition, responsible investments are becoming increasingly popular: 11.2 percent of all capital invested at the financial institution is already contributing to a more sustainable future.
Sustainability month
Last year, K&H also dedicated a special month to sustainability: in September, it turned off the exterior facade lights in 200 of its buildings, introduced energy-saving measures and launched the K&H Cooling Groves programme, under which a total of 555 trees and 1,110 shrubs will be planted in 100 educational institutions across the country by the end of May 2023.
Digitally active customers
Eco-friendly online banking is becoming increasingly popular among K&H customers: 88% of them are digitally active and make 3 million contactless payments every month. Last year, half of all bank account openings and 100 percent of personal loan applications were made online. And the latest innovative solution, a personal digital assistant called Kate, provided information to more than 154,000 customers last year.
The K&H Group Sustainability Report 2022 can be found here.
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/KH.png170450Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-29 21:18:022023-05-29 21:18:02K&H took another step towards a low-carbon economy
After the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, OPTEN switched to a well-developed hybrid work schedule, retaining flexible work from home, which increased employee satisfaction and productivity by reducing stress and helping to improve work-life balance, while also providing the positive effects of office community. The office’s energy consumption and waste production have also been greatly reduced, with switching to digital versions of brochures, postal letters, purchase orders, contracts, and other printed materials.
Starting from January 1, 2022, in response to the changes in the world, OPTEN was the first to provide an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) index that can be considered a market standard for all operating businesses in Hungary. The ESG index measures the Environmental, Social, and Governance performance of companies, taking into account various factors.
The OPTEN ESG index primarily helps Hungarian financial institutions, as it allows banks to access ESG information on even the smallest companies, providing an excellent basis for examining the ESG level of companies based on 75 carefully selected parameters.
The company has also created an ESG self-assessment platform through which even the smallest companies can express their intentions and performance in sustainable operation, thereby specifying their ESG index. The questionnaire also has an educational aspect, as it highlights the topics and areas that are worth focusing on and allocating resources to in the spirit of sustainability.
In addition to the index and platform, an ESG automated report has also been developed, which serves as an online report alternative based on the questions answered by the companies in the domestic reporting field. The process takes days instead of weeks, and the cost of the report is just a fraction of that of consulting reports, making the smaller companies able to request ESG reports that fit their resources.
OPTEN strives to draw attention to the importance of sustainability and encourage Hungarian companies, from the smallest to the largest, to focus more on these areas in the future. With the above developments, which they plan to progress in 2023 as well, OPTEN is trying to provide all possible assistance to companies, as sustainable future is in the interest of us all.
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/opten_logo.png4661024Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-29 19:16:202023-05-29 19:18:17OPTEN not only makes its own environment ‘greener’
Most food waste in Hungary is generated by households, amounting to 65 kg food on average per household that ends in the bin every year.[1] Not conscious consumer decisions make not only saving difficult, but also contribute to GHG emissions that drive climate change. Plan smart! by Nestlé Hungary and SPAR supports the development of environmentally aware consumer habits by niche information and budget-friendly practical ideas.
In total, around 1.8 million tonnes of food waste is generated in Hungary every year, and a family of four throws away around HUF 50,000 worth of excess food in that time.[2] This wasteful attitude makes it harder to fight hunger and increases greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent,[3] although it could easily be avoided with a little care.
A joint publication by Nestlé Hungary and SPAR Hungary helps to promote sustainable diets and prevent food waste. The Plan smart! guide provides specific, useful tips on how to store food correctly, how to increase shelf life, how to buy in an environmentally friendly way and on selective waste collection. The booklet will help readers find current fruits and vegetables in season, the meaning of the labels on the packaging, how long products can be consumed after the best-before date, and what types of plastic can be recycled. This way consumers can make more informed choices, finding out how to save money and energy by protecting the environment, and support smallholders in the domestic agricultural sector.
Joining forces for more sustainable customer decisions
This is not the first time Nestlé has released an awareness-raising publication. In 2019, Nestlé published its first guide on selective waste collection, followed in 2020 by a joint effort with SPAR to produce a summary entitled How to be an environmentally conscious consumer? with tips on sustainable living. This year’s guide is a continuation of this joint work as the focus is expanded to include food waste.
“It is rare to find an industry partnership nowadays that creates value like the one between Nestlé and SPAR.Our aim is to show that we are stronger together and we can make a real positive difference by pooling our resources,” said Noémi Csóka, Corporate Communication & CSV Manager at Nestlé. – The latest publication will be available not only online and as a supplement of certain magazines, but also in SPAR stores, giving consumers wider access than ever before.”
Building on the booklet, the two companies announced a nationwide school challenge in 2021, in which children could learn the basics of green living and selective waste collection. “The popularity of our initiative has confirmed our belief that there is a need for education on environmentally conscious lifestyles, and that we can also show the way for the future generation,” said Márk Maczelka, Head of Communications at SPAR Hungary. “That is why we teamed with Nestlé to launch our fun challenge for schoolchildren again this year, where participating classes receive useful tools to help them learn an environmentally conscious attitude,” – he added.
A cross-platform initiative
The school campaign for valuable prizes is just the beginning: the companies aim to spread the message of environmental awareness widely, as a more sustainable future requires reaching out to all social groups and all ages. To this end, the content of Plan Smart! will be disseminated in magazines and online channels.
Sustainability is also a strategic objective for SPAR Hungary in its commercial activities, food production, waste management and energy use. The company expands its sustainability initiatives every year: reducing the use of environment impacting substances, using energy-saving solutions in its store network, supporting local businesses and suppliers, and backing social causes. In all its endeavours, it reinforces its commitment to protecting the environment and, not least to positively affect the mindset of its employees and customers.
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Nestle-1.png170450Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-29 18:49:282023-05-29 18:52:16Reduce food waste. Plan smart. – The latest awareness raising guide by Nestlé and SPAR is out!
As we all know, the world we live in is facing a number of challenges, from climate change to dwindling natural resources. These challenges are complex and multifaceted, and we cannot solve them overnight. But there is one thing that we can do to make a difference, and that is to recognize that people are key to sustainability.
When we think about sustainability, we often focus on technologies and policies – renewable energy, carbon pricing, recycling programs, and the like. These are all important tools, and we need to continue to innovate and develop them. At Graphisoft Park, we believe and experience that it is up to people to succeed in building a sustainable future.
One of the key ways in which people are crucial to sustainability is through human connections, communities, and relationships. While technology and green solutions are important, they alone cannot solve the challenges we face. We need to work together, build relationships, and foster connections that promote sustainable practices and behaviors.
When we build strong and resilient communities, we create a culture of sustainability that can endure beyond individual projects or initiatives. We can work together to identify and address the root causes of environmental challenges, whether it’s by addressing social inequalities, creating sustainable jobs, or developing sustainable lifestyles. We can also share knowledge, skills, and resources to support each other in our efforts to live sustainably.
But what does sustainability really mean? For many people, sustainability is simply about reducing our carbon footprint or protecting natural resources. But I would argue that sustainability is about much more than that. It is about creating a world in which everyone can thrive, now and in the future. It is about creating a just, equitable, and sustainable world that recognizes the dignity and worth of every human being.
Sustainability is not just an environmental issue – it is a social issue, an economic issue, and a moral issue. We need to recognize that our actions have consequences, and that we have a responsibility to each other and to future generations. We need to think beyond our own narrow self-interests and recognize that we are part of a larger web of life, a community of human beings and other living beings that share this planet.
So, what can we do to promote sustainability in our own lives and in our communities? Here are a few suggestions:
First, we can reduce our own carbon footprint by making conscious choices about what we consume and how we consume it. We can switch to renewable energy, reduce our use of single-use plastics, we can introduce good recycling practices, eat less meat, and use public transportation or bicycles instead of cars.
Second, we can advocate for change at the local, national, and international levels. We can support policies that promote sustainability. We can also speak out against practices that harm the environment, such as deforestation or oil drilling in sensitive areas.
Third, we can build relationships and communities that promote sustainability. We can connect with others who share our values and work together to create sustainable solutions. We can also educate and inspire others to join us in our efforts to build a more just and sustainable world.
At Graphisoft Park, we organise a lot of community-building activities to build human relationships. We know about each other, we collaborate, we connect. The 5,000 or so people who work here are part of a cohesive community that is also a community of values. Together we are shaping a sustainable future.
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/graphisoft-park.png170450Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-29 14:30:452023-05-31 14:31:05Sustainability – Community
In Hungary, most food waste is generated by households. This means an average of 65 kilograms of waste food per year.[1] Consumer decisions that are not conscious of this not only make it harder to save money, but also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions which essentially fuel climate change. Nestlé Hungária and SPAR’s jointly released handbook ‘Tervezz okosan!’ (Plan smarter!) supports the formation of environmentally conscious consumer habits by providing gap-filling information and budget-friendly tips.
Every year about 1.8 tonnes of food waste is generated in Hungary and a family of four puts approximately 50 thousand forints worth of unnecessarily purchased food into the bin.[2] This wasteful attitude makes it harder to fight starvation and increases greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent,[3] which could be avoided with a little bit of effort.
Nestlé Hungária and SPAR Hungary’s jointly released handbook offers guidance on how to maintain a sustainable diet and reduce food waste. The ‘Tervezz okosan!’ (Plan smarter!) handbook provides useful tips on how to store food properly, delay expiration, learn environmentally-conscious shopping habits, and sorted (selective) waste collection. Thanks to this handbook customers can learn about the fruit and vegetables currently in season, what the different tags and signs on products mean, how long some of them can be stored for past their expiry date, and what types of plastics are recyclable. This way shoppers can make more conscious consumer decisions, learn how to save money and energy by being environmentally-friendly, and support the small producers of the Hungarian agriculture scene.
Together for more sustainable customer choices
This isn’t the first time Nestlé has released a book to raise awareness. In 2019 they published their first handbook on selective waste collection followed by a joint summary with SPAR called ‘Hogyan legyek környezettudatos vásárló?’ (How to become an environmentally-conscious customer?) which provided advice on maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. This year’s handbook is the next step in this cooperation, with an expanded list of topics and food waste featured as one of the focus areas.
“Nowadays it is a rarity to find a professional partnership that creates value as Nestlé’s and SPAR’s cooperation does. Our aim is to show that we are stronger together and if we combine our resources, we can create real and positive changes,” said Noémi Csóka, corporate communications manager at Nestlé. “Our latest handbook is available not only online or as an appendix in other magazines, but also in SPAR stores so it can reach a wider audience of shoppers than ever before.”
Using the booklet as a source, the two companies launched a school challenge in 2021 to enable students to learn more about the basics of an environmentally conscious lifestyle and selective waste collection. “The popularity of our initiative has proved that there is a need for education on environmentally conscious lifestyles, and it provides a tool to show the way to future generations as well,” summarised Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary. “Therefore, we launched the school challenge again this year in partnership with Nestlé and we provide applicants with useful tools to learn environmentally friendly attitudes,” he added.
Multi-platform initiative
The school campaign with valuable prizes is just the beginning. The companies aim to spread the environmentally-conscious views to a wider audience, as a pre-condition of a sustainable future is that all sections of society and age groups are invested in. To achieve this, the contents of the ‘Tervezz okosan!’ (Plan smarter!) handbooks will be distributed in different magazines and via online platforms as well.
https://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/spar.png170450Balasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariannhttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngBalasfalvi-Lukacsi Mariann2023-05-20 21:58:562023-05-31 09:25:15Don’t throw out food, plan smarter instead – Nestlé and SPAR’s latest awareness-raising guide is out now
