Budapest, 12 October 2021 – Coca-Cola HBC AG today announced a commitment to achieving net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. Via an existing, approved science-based target, by 2030 the company will reduce its value chain Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in scopes 1,2 and 3 by 25%, with a further 50% reduction in the following decade.  To address the 90% of emissions in scope 3 resulting from third party actions, CCH will broaden its existing partnership approach with suppliers.  Wherever the issue cannot be eliminated entirely, the business will mitigate these by investing in other climate protection measures.

Commenting on the announcement, Zoran Bogdanovic CEO of Coca-Cola HBC AG said, “This commitment is the ultimate destination of a journey that we started many years ago. It is fully aligned with our philosophy to support the socio-economic development of our communities and to make a more positive environmental impact.  Both are integral to our future growth. Although we don’t yet have all the answers, our plan, track record and partnership approach give us confidence that we will deliver”.

A Robust Plan

To achieve its goal Coca-Cola HBC will:

• Invests €250 million by 2025 in initiatives that aim to significantly reduce GHG emissions from business operations
• Decarbonise further direct operations by switching to 100% renewable electricity and low carbon energy sources through continuous improvements and innovations in energy efficiency
• Accelerate its journey to a more circular, lower carbon packaging approach by increasing rPET use, adopting packageless and refillable options, removing plastics in secondary packaging
• Provide energy-efficient and eco-friendly coolers to customers
• Reduce GHG emissions from agricultural ingredients
• Implement a “Green Fleet” programme to switch to low and no carbon alternatives

In addition, Coca-Cola HBC has introduced CO2 emission reduction targets as one of the elements in its long-term management incentive plans.

A Strong Track Record

 Coca-Cola HBC was one of the first companies to commit to and deliver science-based targets.  In the last decade, the company has halved its direct emissions and the CO₂ reduction plan to 2030 is already endorsed and approved on the 1.5-degree pathway.  In March 2021, Coca-Cola HBC was rated the world’s most sustainable beverage company by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the 5th time in the last 7 years, achieving its highest ever score. It is also ranked among the top sustainability performers in ESG benchmarks such as CDP, MSCI ESG and FTSE4Good.

Partnership

“We are delighted to work together with our customer Coca-Cola HBC on our mutual 2030 science-based greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and longer-term net zero aspirations. By working as a team, we will strive to cut the product carbon footprint of beverage cans in half by 2030.” – Kathleen Pitre, Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer, Ball Corporation

“Crown is proud to be a supply partner of Coca-Cola HBC and of its commitment to sustainability. Their ambitious new sustainability goals align with our own initiatives, including our own Net Zero and science-based-targets, and we are fully on board for this journey.”, – Dr. John M. Rost, Vice President, Sustainability & Regulatory Affairs, Crown Holdings, Inc.

“As Tetra Pak also has a net zero target and SBTi approved 1.5o aligned 2030 targets, we look forward to working with Coca-Cola HBC to reduce GHG emissions and together achieve our joint aims.” – Markus Pfanner, Vice President Sustainability Tetra Pak

The new commitment is also endorsed by the “We Mean Business” coalition and Coca-Cola HBC has joined the list of companies supporting the “Race to Zero” initiative.

More information:

Juli Szegedi                                                                                                       György Márton

+36303385434                                                                                                  +36209312233

julia.szegedi@lwp.hu                                                                                          martongyorgy@lwp.hu

Coca-Cola HBC Hungary

Coca-Cola HBC Hungary is a member of the Coca-Cola HBC AG Group, which serves 615 million consumers across 28 countries. The Dunaharaszti-based company operates two facilities in Hungary that employ 1,050 people. Its overall production line provides jobs for nearly 13,000 people. Coca-Cola Hungary has so far invested HUF 125 billion in the country. The company is one of the most important players of the food and beverage sector, it ships its products to 26 countries. Nearly two-thirds of the materials used in production come from domestic suppliers.

As a result of the developments in recent years, Coca-Cola HBC Hungary distributes over 90 non-alcoholic beverages: carbonated drinks (Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola light, Coca-Cola zero, Coca-Cola zero lemon, Fanta, Fanta zero, Sprite, Sprite zero, Kinley, Royal Bliss), natural mineral waters (NaturAqua, Römerquelle), flavored mineral waters (NaturAqua Emotion, Aquarius), innovative waters (Smartwater), juices, nectars and fruit drinks (Cappy, Cappy Pulpy, Cappy Junior, Cappy Lemonade, Cappy+), ice teas (Fuzetea, Fuzetea zero), sports drinks (Powerade), energy drinks (Monster, Burn), (as well as plant-based drinks (AdeZ). The Rainforest Alliance Certified premium coffee, Costa Coffee is also a part of the Total Beverage Company’s product portfolio since May 2020, and Caffé Vergnano will soon join its product range. Coca-Cola HBC Hungary also distributes premium alcoholic beverages, including the Rézangyal, Jack Daniel’s, Finlandia, Bacardi, Famous Grouse and Campari brands.

Coca-Cola HBC AG

Coca-Cola HBC AG is a growth-focused consumer packaged goods business and strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company. The Group creates value for all its stakeholders by supporting the socio-economic development of the communities in which the company operates and believes building a more positive environmental impact is integral to its future growth. Together with its customers, the company serves more than 600 million consumers across a broad geographic footprint of 28 countries on three continents. Its portfolio is one of the strongest, broadest and most flexible in the beverage industry, offering consumer-leading beverage brands in the sparkling, juice, water, sport, energy, plant-based, ready-to-drink tea, coffee, adult sparkling and premium spirits categories. These beverages include Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Schweppes, Kinley, Costa, Valser, Römerquelle, Fanta, Sprite, Powerade, FuzeTea, Dobry, Cappy, Monster and Adez. Coca-Cola HBC AG fosters an open and inclusive work environment amongst its more than 26,000 employees and the company is ranked among the top sustainability performers in ESG benchmarks such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, CDP, MSCI ESG and FTSE4Good. Coca-Cola HBC has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:CCH) and is listed on the Athens Exchange (ATHEX:EEE). For more information, please visit https://www.coca-colahellenic.com.

As result of the proceedings of the Hungarian Competition Authority, the retail chain establishes a new regional partnership programme for Hungarian small producers and small enterprises. The vast market provided through directly supporting domestic farmers and small family enterprises, and the nationwide network of the company, also enables creating new jobs. Shoppers will be identify these products from the red apple logo and the “Régiók Kincsei” (Treasures of Regions) label in SPAR stores.

“Our company prioritises supporting Hungarian producers and enterprises, domestic agriculture, which is demonstrated by the fact that almost 90% of all the food products we distribute are sourced from Hungary. The newly-formed network of local small suppliers will further contribute to this in practice. This establishes new purchasing and distribution routes, in addition to the existing sales channels. The Treasures of Regions (Régiók Kincsei) initiative provides tangible support to small family enterprises and private businesses trading with locally-produced agricultural products to take a step forward,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

Following the proceedings of the competition authority, SPAR is developing a new regional supplier system in 2021, with implementation fully completed by 2022. The program with a budget of 1.7 billion HUF will increase the sales opportunities of Hungarian small producer suppliers, and will also create new jobs. The aim of the new supplier system integrate many small suppliers carrying out top-quality production activities at the regional level.

The initiative seeks small Hungarian suppliers and producers that provide high-quality domestic products at affordable prices, and ensure product availability in the long term. They are viewed as a well-known and respected enterprises, “Local Heros” in their region, and they set examples for others with their products and activities, creating value that is compatible with SPAR’s corporate principles.

The programme directly supports strengthening local economies. The development effectively contributes to introducing domestic products to the market, which follow traditions and ensure quality and craftsmanship, providing small producers with an opportunity to develop, and also guides the international retail chains to increase the proportion of Hungarian products on their shelves compared to imported products. This initiative also aims to find the shortest supply route, contributing to sustainable economy and production. So far, the “Treasures of Regions” initiative is creating 23 new jobs at SPAR by the end of 2022 and it is also expected to increase employee numbers of the suppliers.

In order to extend the sales opportunities of local small producer suppliers, SPAR gradually establishes six regional supplier centres in major towns, including Nyíregyháza, Pécs and Győr, as well as Székesfehérvár, Zalaegerszeg and Hódmezővásárhely. The centres are already opening in the latter towns in 2021. The regional system targets new micro, small and medium enterprise suppliers in 90%, and also means an extension of current small producer partnerships of the chain. In addition, it improves the chances of domestic small local producers as a whole, supports the development of the local economy and stimulates the demand for local products. The company is also creating a “supplier academy”: it also helps suppliers with training in quality assurance, logistics, warehousing and marketing.

10-13 SPAR stores located in the vicinity of the county regional centres are linked to the new programme. These are selected to make sure that based on base area and retail space, range of products and turnover they can be the most efficient to support the initiative. The selection of the units also takes into consideration sales experience and ideal logistics routes. Producers that meet the requirements of regular goods delivery are primarily sought after based on the latter criteria, as it is in the common interest – of the new partner, the company and the customers – to get the products on the shelves as soon as possible, keeping in mind the quality guarantee as well. In each case, the retail chain relies on the local resources and capacities of the regions of each centre.

The company has established a dedicated interface for those who wish to join the SPAR supplier family. It is easy to apply using the already operating www.beszport.spar.hu website, by providing the requested information. The targeted provision of information to customers related to local goods is supported by dedicated awareness-raising goods dispensers in the stores – shelves in the INTERSPAR hypermarkets and display booths in the SPAR supermarkets. A website assisting customers is also operated, available through the following link: www.spar.hu/regiokkincsei.

SPAR considers it very important that according to the plans, following the complete establishment of the system, at least a hundred small producers will become supplier partners of the corporation, thus also extending the range of goods with domestic products. The addition of products designated with the red apple logo, from producers known by local residents will contribute to shopping experience and will develop a more direct connection between the stores and the consumers.

For more information please contact:

Márk Maczelka, head of communications

SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft. ∙ 2060, Bicske, SPAR út

Mobile: +36 20 823 7891 ∙ E-mail: maczelka.mark@mmspar.hu

The retail chain will launch a series of ten animated mini films for kids in kindergartens and primary schools in September. The mini films will tell stories using children’s language about topics on sustainability such as selective waste collection, or food waste management.

“Over the past two years, our company has been developing a strategic framework to summarise the social and environmental issues needed for a sustainable future. We have invested significant intellectual and financial resources in this program to ensure we take effective action, and together with our customers we have introduced several measures such as emission reduction, and waste management that significantly reduced our environmental impact. We believe in the importance of raising awareness, built on a foundation of easily understandable information. Since it is never too early to start raising awareness in environmental consciousness, we would like to engage kids in kindergartens and primary schools with our SPAR ÖKO KALAND (SPAR ECO ADVENTURE) animated mini film series. These ten short episodes introduce the topics of selective (sorted) waste management and disposable plastic materials in an engaging and educative way. Furthermore, the films touch on other important issues such as fundraising to help others, or food waste management,” said Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.

The store chain has launched its action plan framework containing issues concerning sustainable development in 2019. The main pillars of the system named “SPAR – for a sustainable future” are environmental protection, promotion of healthy lifestyles, food safety, employee support, and social responsibility.

The new SPAR ÖKO KALAND (SPAR ECO ADVENTURE) project launching this September, is another milestone in the ongoing commitment to sustainability. During the ten 40-second long animated episodes, the characters symbolising the elements of the Earth (Wind, Water, Fire, Earth and Heart), go on different instructive adventures. Kids of a young age will easily understand more complex issues such as the importance of a healthy diet, the impact of the use of non-disposable products, and the support of Hungarian products through these short, cheerful videos containing easily digestible pictures and videos. All five characters were assigned two episodes each, built around funny stories that are easy to understand, that start with a situation introduced in a playful way and will finish with a clear message on the subject of sustainability.

The animated mini film series will be promoted on the online channels of SPAR, including Facebook, Instagram and Youtube, as well as the sustainability website: www.sparafenntarthatojovoert.hu/okokaland

For more information please contact:

Márk Maczelka, head of communications

SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft. ∙ 2060, Bicske, SPAR út

Mobile: +36 20 823 7891 ∙ E-mail: maczelka.mark@spar.hu

September 20, 2021. Budapest – The National Bay Zoltán Applied Research Institute Network was formed in the Ministry of Information and Technology, with the participation of the Minister for Innovation and Technology, Prof. Dr. Palkovics László. Founding members of the Network are: Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Kft., ÉMI Nonprofit Kft., KTI Nonprofit Kft. and Autóipari Próbapálya Zala Kft.

The aim and mission of the Network is to support its members and the Hungarian national economy in increasing their competitiveness, through the coordination of applied research and development, and entrepreneurial activities of the affiliated institutions. In conjunction with the strengthening of the competitiveness of its members and the national economy, the Network’s clear aim is to exploit the synergies between its members and to support the knowledge and technology transfer, and also to emphasize an interdisciplinary approach. The Network also aims to strengthen the competiveness of the Hungarian national economy by involving new entrants, and to encourage the creation of high value added jobs.

„I look forward to working with the members of the Network with great excitement and enthusiasm. It is in the mutual interest of us all to use our research and infrastructural resources with plans in sight, facilitating the most efficient use and sharing of available capacities, thus providing direct professional support for the research and business activities of the members.” – said Dr. Grasselli Norbert, Managing Director of Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Kft., and Head of the Network for its first year.

The synergies between the competences of the Network members are already visible. All of the members are currently involved in several „green” projects, which will mean visible and tangible results for the industry in the near future, such as raw materials for building, alternative transportation resources, the application of smart technologies, and the reuse of secondary raw materials.