70% less plastic than before is used in the new innovative vacuum-formed film packaging of SPAR’s popular S-BUDGET pork mince. The saving on packaging also enables the Hungarian retail chain to reduce the consumer price of the product.

“It is a primary objective of our company to use less plastic in the packaging of our goods, while also complying with the strictest food safety and storage standards. With our environmental measures taken, we saved more than 550 tonnes of plastic packaging in 2022. This figure could now increase further as one of our most popular meat products, the 500g SPAR S-BUDGET pork mince is now available in INTERSPAR stores in film packaging with protective gas instead of the previously used plastic tray. Following the trial period until next February, we aim to switch to flow pack packaging for this product in all our stores, provided that customer feedback is positive,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

The new flow pack packaging of S-BUDGET pork mince in 500 g packs, produced in the company’s proprietary Regnum meat-processing plant, now uses 70% less plastic and a protective gas film with absorbent paper instead of a tray. The volume of plastic used is less than a third of the previous packaging, only 4.95 grammes. With the new packaging, SPAR is able to sell this mince for 899 HUF instead of the previous price of 1049 HUF, now available in INTERSPAR hypermarkets.

Flow pack technology is safe, preserves the freshness of the meat and uses only packaging material that meets the stringent international quality assurance standards of SPAR. Since the S-BUDGET pork mince is one of the most popular products of the retail chain (with nearly 40 000 packages transported from the meat-processing plant and reaching store shelves every month), this innovative packaging allows SPAR to significantly reduce its environmental impact.

Created in 2021, the Startup’s core driver is to produce products that make a significant contribution to the shift to carbon neutrality.

They are working on an “Upgrade Spray-coating” solution that works by absorbing light that is not useful for solar panels and emitting it in a spectrum that the solar panel can use, thereby significantly increasing their energy production immediately after application. Their solution can also be applied to solar panels already installed.

Lanus Solar contributes to increasing sustainability by optimising the use of solar energy by increasing carbon neutrality, reducing the environmental footprint and increasing the uptake of green energy.

They join BCSDH to increase their sustainability knowledge, participate in professional programs, and meet and share experiences with the membership.

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.

VIDEO

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.