The Hungarian Food Bank Association’s fundraising campaign held last Friday and Saturday was a great success, with Lidl joining in with more than 100 stores nationwide. During the one-and-a-half-day collection Lidl customers contributed nearly 90 tons of food – one third of the total donations collected in the program – to help people in need in their neighborhood. The donations will be used by the Food Bank to put together a five-kilo parcel for people and families in need, which will be distributed across the country until the start of the summer holidays.

Lidl Hungary has joined the largest fundraising campaign of the Hungarian Food Bank Association so far, offering its customers the opportunity to help in 108 stores nationwide. “The aim was to collect as much non-perishable food as possible for families in need. We are very proud of the high level of solidarity we have seen from our customers, whose active participation and contributions have enabled a total of 17,936 donation packages to reach the deprived in their neighborhood. We are also grateful to the volunteers of the Food Bank and our colleagues for their work and support” – said Judit Tőzsér, the company’s Communications Manager.

The most popular product donated was pasta, followed by rice and flour, but there were also a lot of donations of canned goods and pasta sauces. The donated food will be distributed by the Food Bank to the people in need in the coming days and weeks, in parcels of 5 kilograms each, in cooperation with charitable organizations in the vicinity of the stores. The main target groups will be the elderly, large families, and single-parent families, but donations will also be made to family support services and children’s homes, people with disabilities, the homeless and people living in the most deprived areas of the country.

“We had a huge outpouring of help over the weekend! For two days, donations poured in at our collection points, and most unusually, we were often thanked by the donors themselves for the opportunity to help. So, we would now like to take the chance to express our gratitude to everyone who has been part of our efforts. A pat on the back also goes out to our donors, our volunteers and Lidl employees. The work is far from over, of course, as we still have to sort through all the donations, sort them and of course deliver them to the beneficiaries. Of course, the latter will be the most exciting part of the whole operation. We can’t wait to see once again what joy these aid packages can bring” – emphasized András Nagygyörgy, Director of External Relations of the Food Bank.

The Food Bank’s spring fundraising took place in a total of 410 stores in 202 municipalities across the country, with the participation of 5,500 volunteers. A total of 244,303 kilograms of donations were collected, from which the organization will prepare 48,881 relief packages.

Aligned with current global and local challenges, NUXON Hungary is committed to sustainability and innovation, as showcased by our participation in the InnoElectro and Cunstruma events.

At the InnoElectro event, we welcomed visitors to our booth, presenting how our products contribute to reducing the carbon footprint and promoting sustainable development. We engaged in meaningful conversations, building valuable connections for future collaborations.

During the Cunstruma exhibition, we proudly represented ourselves at the Hungary Green Building Council (HuGBC) stand.

Ferenc Márton’s presentation offered insights into our innovative solutions, while our CFO, Anikó Huber, received the #BuildingLife Zero Carbon Ambassador Certificate at the Green Future Conference. This recognition further solidifies our dedication to building a greener and more sustainable future.

We take pride in contributing to sustainability goals through the strength of our community and are grateful for our partners’ support as we work together for future generations.

Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (vans) account for about 19% of total CO2 emissions in the EU¹. To reduce emissions, the EU has set vehicle emission standards for new cars and vans, also referred to as the CAFE standards (corporate average fuel economy). Under the regulation, car manufacturers are required to align production with the emission targets set, but it is far from easy as demand is not yet keeping pace with this dynamic change and the transition to electric cars is still not happening at the pace expected by the regulation. The newly appointed Commercial Director of Ayvens, Viktor Hegedűs, gave a progress report on the details of the regulation and what it means for car manufacturers and companies with company fleets.

Key cornerstones of CAFE regulation:

2020 – 2024 (based on NEDC²):

• Cars: 95 g CO2/km
• Vans: 147 g CO2/km

2025 – 2034 (based on WLTP³):

• Cars: 93.6 g CO2/km (2025-2029) and 49.5 g CO2/km (2030-2034)
• Vans: 153.9 g CO2/km (2025-2029) and 90.6 g CO2/km (2030-2034)

2035: All new passenger cars and vans sold in the EU must be zero-emission.

Fines and flexibility

Starting in 2025, manufacturers will face fines for not meeting these targets, with estimates suggesting potential fines could reach around €20 billion if trends continue. This has led manufacturers to lobby the European Commission for more flexible targets. While the overall targets will stay the same, the European Commission may allow manufacturers to average their emissions over a three-year period from 2025⁴. This means they can have some flexibility in how they meet these targets, but the 2035 goals will (until now) remain unchanged. This is therefore seen as a temporary fix, as the industry must ultimately move towards more sustainable practices. This amendment is now subject to approval by European Parliament and Council.

The changing automotive landscape in 2025

The demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is rising, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are declining. Local laws and fiscal regimes are increasingly supporting EU’s strive for decarbonisation, adding more pressure on manufacturers to speed up their shift to electric vehicles. An example of this are the recent changes in benefit in kind taxation in France and Italy or the recent clampdown on plug-in hybrid vehicles in Hungary, which removes the tax and parking benefits for this type of vehicle.

In 2025, there will be more BEV models available than ever before, but there is still a gap between what is offered and what consumers expect. Although the average range of BEVs is improving – now reach 460 km in practice, not just on paper, for some models – the options are still limited for vehicles priced below €25,000.

Global electrification trends towards 2030

Europe and China are expected to lead in electrification, while the pace of change in the United States and other regions may be slower due to different regulations. Other parts of the world will also move towards electrification but at a slower rate.

As the EU aims to reduce CO2 emissions, car manufacturers face both challenges and opportunities in adapting to these new rules. With fines for non-compliance on the horizon, manufacturers must embrace more sustainable practices. Strategies such as increasing sales of electric vehicles, collaborating with others to meet emissions targets, and offering competitive pricing are becoming essential.

As the demand for electric vehicles grows, fleet managers need to keep an eye on the new laws and their potential impact on costs. Efforts to reduce emissions are significantly reshaping the industry, highlighting the need for strategic planning and the involvement of experts to effectively navigate this new landscape in the long term.

Sources:

CO₂ emission performance standards for cars and vans – European Commission

NEDC: New European Driving Cycle – previous standard emission test for vehicles. Replaced by WLTP

WLTP: Worldwide harmonised light vehicle test procedure

Commission proposes flexibility to help manufacturers comply with 2025 CO2 emission targets

This year’s report reveals a new workplace baseline, where success is no longer just about what we do, but also why we do it, how we do it, and who we do it with.

This new baseline is grounded in three pillars shaping the future of work:

🙋Personalization – talent want work to align with their unique values, ambitions, and life circumstances. Employers are catching on, with 32% now prioritizing personalized skills development and career mobility opportunities.
🤝 Community – a sense of belonging is essential for performance, well-being, and supportive workplace relationships. Yet, 44% of talent said they left jobs last year due to toxic workplaces—a wake-up call for leaders.
🧰 Future-ready skilling – opportunities to develop and sustain skills for tomorrow are now a deal-breaker for many workers. Nearly 90% of employers agree reskilling is critical, but over half remain unsure how to implement more impactful programs.

Employers face a clear mission: embrace this new baseline and align talent expectations with business priorities. Doing so strengthens teams, boosts productivity, and attracts and retains the talent needed to stay competitive.

📖 Download the full report and discover actionable insights that will help you deliver for your workforce. ➡️ click and download it now.