Power lines and poles to disappear from Natura 2000 sites in the Buda Landscape Protection Area

The Buda Landscape Protection Area, also known as the “lungs of the capital”, is crossed by the E.ON backbone network built in the 70s and 80s, which provides electricity to the surrounding settlements – Nagykovácsi, Máriaremete, Remeteszőlős, Solymár, Pesthidegkút, Pilisszentiván, Pilisvörösvár, Piliscsaba – and more than 40,000 consumers.

In response to the growing consumer demand, E.ON has completely renewed the Solymár substation, which serves these most energy-intensive settlements in the region, and has also started to dismantle part of the medium-voltage network in the surroundings and protected forests and replace it with underground cables.

In the context of the project, E.ON is removing and replacing more than 450 poles and 50 kilometres of overhead lines with underground cables in Natura 2000 areas and residential areas in the Buda Landscape Protection Area. The installation of an underground cable network will significantly reduce the exposure of the area’s electricity supply to the forces of nature, thus ensuring safer operation. The upgraded sections will eliminate storm damage and power outages caused by falling trees and will eliminate the need for felling in residential areas and continuous opening management in protected forests.

In addition to operational safety, underground cable is a major step forward from a nature conservation perspective. The dismantling of the medium-voltage network can significantly increase the area covered by trees by several hundred hectares, and the artificially straight lines of the openings can be healed by self-reforestation or by planting native tree species.

The complete renewal of the Solymár substation and the development of the electricity network with underground cables by 2025 will cost more than HUF 2 billion. The investment will be partly financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) with pre-financing and support from the Hungarian Government, and partly self-financed by the E.ON Hungaria Group.

E.ON is also taking sustainability aspects into account in the further use of the hundreds of tonnes of dismantled raw material: the 50-60 year old iron poles removed from their former locations will be cast in, the pole switches installed a few years ago will be reused, and the dismantled cables will be recycled as aluminium.

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Daikin has published its global Sustainability Report 2023. The report summarizes Daikin’s worldwide ESG data and outlines the fundamental strategy of the Daikin Group in advancing towards a sustainable society through its business activities. The English edition of the report by Daikin Industries Ltd. (DIL), the Japanese mother company of Daikin Europe N.V. (DENV), also covers the company’s fiscal 2022 results and plans for the future.

Brussels, September 2023 – In recent years, there has been a worldwide push to reduce carbon emissions. As a leading company in the HVAC-R industry, Daikin introduced its Environmental Vision 2050 back in 2019, a commitment to attain net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across the full life cycle of its products and solutions. Its commitment to reach carbon neutrality is a key theme in the Group’s strategic 5-year management plan called Fusion 2025. In the plan’s mid-term review in May this year, Daikin introduced further actions in addition to existing activities. New objectives include establishing net-zero CO₂ emissions at all its HVAC-R offices and factories by 2030, as well as supporting the adoption of heat pumps in the European heating market. Daikin is committed to pursuing the growth of the Daikin Group, while taking up its responsibility in building a more sustainable society.

Highlights from the Sustainability Report 2023

Information disclosure aligned with the TCFD Framework

The company endorsed the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) in 2019, conducted an analysis of the risks and opportunities posed by climate change to its business, and reflected them into its management strategies and risk management.

During this fiscal year, Daikin made projections for the anticipated carbon tax in 2030, considering both 4°C and 1.5°C scenarios, and presented the resulting financial impact.

Reaching carbon neutrality with heat pumps

In contrast to traditional combustion heating methods, heat pump heating is gaining recognition for its capacity to substantially diminish CO₂ emissions. This section of the report showcases key initiatives in Europe, where the market is experiencing rapid growth, and outlines forthcoming strategies for business expansion.

Human capital: advancing business transformation through digital transformation

Daikin established its Information and Communications Technology College in 2017 to cultivate internal talent for digital transformation. The report includes real stories of how alumni have played pivotal roles in different departments by harnessing digital technology, leading to the inception of new ventures and enhanced operational efficiency.

Outcomes of sustainability initiatives in the fiscal year 2022

The report presents a comprehensive account of the strategies, organizational setups, performance objectives, and outcomes pertaining to fiscal year 2022 for each of the ESG domains: Environmental, Social, and Governance.

Data

Quantitative data along with various philosophies and policies have been compiled.

More information

Starting with the 2023 edition, this report will be made available in PDF format on the Daikin website to enhance the accessibility of ESG information. Access is available via www.daikin.com/csr/report

Since its establishment EUROAPI Hungary Kft. has been paying special attention to the development of pharmaceuticals in a more environmentally sustainable and energy saving way, and is constantly researching new opportunities in this regard.

The KÖVET Association for a Sustainable Economy organized its 28th Conference on Adaptation and Cooperation, on November 14, 2023 in Budapest. At the event best examples from an environmental and social point of view were presented: the prizes for the best applicants of the “Money Thrown in the Window” and the “Green Office, Green Event” program were granted. As with BCSDH, the company also closely cooperates with KÖVET Association in order to actively do for a more climate-neutral and greener operation. EUROAPI is very proud to have received two awards at the event: a shared award in the “Biggest high-hanging fruit” category – investment paying off over 3 years – and “Carbon Savings Special Award” in the Company category, with the most CO2 equivalent savings for accompanying measures.

The award was accepted by the colleagues who participated in the preparation of the application, Annamária Gazdag, Erzsébet Kapuiné Nagy and Viktória Sebesi.

SPAR Hungary is committed to continuing its solar power investments and plans to develop further projects that will contribute to reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

Within the SPAR retail network, four supermarkets in Szeged, Pécs, Dorog and Göd are supported by installed solar power systems. Each of these small power generation units has a capacity of 50 kW and together they generate 230-240 MWh of electricity per year, covering 12-13% of the total consumption of the respective store.

“The first solar power system was installed at our ‘Csillag tér’ store in Szeged in May 2020, followed by the Pécs unit in 2022 and the Dorog unit in 2022, while this year our store in Göd was partially converted to this environmentally-friendly operation. In the case of future investments, we also adhere to the principle of using solar energy, wherever possible, for the operation of our stores, so we are also planning our future developments along these lines,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary. He explained that the use of photovoltaic energy is an important cornerstone of the company’s energy-conscious efforts, also kept in mind for new investments and the renovation of existing store units. “In all our construction and modernisation projects throughout the recent years, we have sought to install state-of-the-art LED lighting, heat-pump cooling and heating systems, and where possible use the so-called waste heat generated during operations, for example to produce hot water,” he stressed.

In the interiors of the modernised SPAR stores, energy-efficient commercial refrigeration systems and door-mounted coolers help to conserve even more electricity, while the building façade insulations also bring further savings in energy consumption. When shops are renovated, windows and doors are also almost always replaced. All these factors together contributed in 2022 to the domestic chain having to purchase less natural gas, district heating and electricity from external sources than in the previous year, 2021, and the overall energy consumption was also significantly lower than in the previous period.

In recent weeks, SPAR Hungary has received prestigious awards and recognitions for its support of Hungarian products and enterprises, health-conscious lifestyles, as well as for its commitment to value and quality.     

“Our company is very proud that both the industry and customers confirm our efforts to put as many high-quality, mostly domestic products as possible on the shelves of our stores, which further expands the range of quality goods and contributes to more sustainable operation and consumption,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

SPAR wins the Customer Choice Award based on customer feedback

SPAR Hungary is committed to supporting the marketing of domestic products and helping family and small enterprises put their high-quality products on the shelves of the retail chain. This effort has been recognised by the customers with the first ever Customer Award for Hungarian Products (Magyar Termékekért Vásárlói Nívódíj) based on customer votes, and by the industry with the Silver Award for the Trade of Hungarian Products.

The company’s commitment to Hungarian products has been recognised with numerous awards in the recent years: SPAR Hungary was awarded first place in the Award for the Trade of Hungarian Products competition in 2021 and 2018, and silver medals in 2023, 2022 and 2019.

SPAR cocoa swirl bun with purpur dough wins the Value and Quality Grand Prize

The new bakery product launched by the Hungarian chain this year, the SPAR cocoa swirl bun with purpur dough has won the Value and Quality Grand Prize for the highest quality of domestic products and services, and is now eligible to bear the trademark certifying this distinction. The use of the Value and Quality Grand Prix Certification Trademark and the award of the distinction is recognition of goods, services and companies that meet a complex set of criteria and demonstrate a commitment to quality in their business activities, and also comply with sustainability requirements.

Two popular SPAR private-label products have been awarded Food Awards

This year, “Nők Lapja Food Awards” has been presented for the second time, and two SPAR own-brand products won the 2023 awards: in the special main category gluten-free subcategory, the 500g “SPAR free from” gluten-free, fine-grain oatmeal, and in the non-carbonated drinks category, the 1l SPAR 100% apple juice. This year’s competition was again open to food products and beverages that are available in Hungarian stores. Shoppers could vote for their favourites on the noklapja.hu website and 7600 votes were cast to choose this year’s winners of the Food Awards 2023 competition.

Acclaims for INTERSPAR hypermarkets

In the StarStore – Retailer of the Year 2023 competition organised by Trade magazine, the INTERSPAR unit located at “Bécsi út” in Budapest won the title “HYPERMARKET OF THE YEAR 2023” and the “STORE OF THE YEAR 2023” award as well, as the absolute winner of the competition based on the combined results of all the candidates.  SPAR Hungary, as a committed supporter of domestic products and sustainability, has also been awarded the title “HYPERMARKET CHAIN OF THE YEAR 2023” in the Hypermarket category, based on the assessment of the professional jury. Also in the “For a more sustainable future” competition launched by Trade magazine, SPAR Hungary was awarded the Sustainability Symbol 2023 in the corporate category, based on the assessment of the professional panel.

Ferenc Horváth, food industrial director of SPAR Hungary appointed MATE Visiting Professor

At the 170th anniversary celebration of the Buda Campus of the Hungarian Agricultural and Life Sciences University (MATE), held in honour of the founder Ferenc Entz, the title of “MATE Visiting Professor” was bestowed upon Ferenc Horváth, the food industrial director of SPAR Hungary, in recognition of his dedicated work in the field of education and research, which has greatly contributed to the practice-oriented educational efforts of the institutes on campus.

Seven SPAR staff members listed among the country’s most outstanding communication and marketing professionals

Head of communications Márk Maczelka and head of marketing Károly Németh have been included in Marketing&Media magazine’s ranking of the top 50 most successful PR and marketing communications decision-makers in the country. In this year’s new ranking of PR professionals, Márk Maczelka was ranked 11th, while head of marketing Károly Németh was ranked 24th in the eighth edition of the marketing top list.

Petra Székely-Németh, deputy head of communications, Katalin Varga, digital marketing communications manager, Krisztina Gulyás, digital manager, Mária Lénárt, loyalty promotions manager and Kinga Pál, POS manager have been voted among the top operational professionals in the sector in the Signature 40 competition.