Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary
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Deputy General Manager of Tungsram Gábor Boncz represented their company on the Greentech Conference held in Zalaegerszeg. The President of Hungary János Áder was the chief patron of the event and Minister of Innovation and Technology László Palkovics gave the opening speech. On the conference presenting sustainable, green technologies and the related national regulations Gábor Boncz introduced the human wellbeing concept of Tungsram as well as their UV Sanitizer, Agritech and Smart city solutions.
You can watch his presentation in Hungarian here.
World Food Day has once again brought more than 20 trucks full of donated food into the heart of Budapest – Coca-Cola HBC Hungary also joined them with a company car. As has been happening every year since 2006, the convoy, organized by FAO and the Hungarian Food Bank Association, made a short stop at Heroes’ Square before departing for the association’s warehouse to empty 90 tonnes of food. Over the past 15 years, FAO and the Hungarian Food Bank Association have collected more than 670 tonnes of food for needy families.
World Food Day, which marks the founding of FAO in 1945, supports efforts to provide healthy nutrition for everyone – a vision reliant on sustainable agriculture and the protection of our natural resources. The number 90 is also symbolic with FAO turning 75, while the Food Bank Association 15 this year.The food carried by the convoy was donated by several Hungarian and international food producing and distributing companies that are long-standing partners of the Hungarian Food Bank Association. The products (pasta, biscuits and canned vegetables, all with long shelf lives) ultimately will go to some 36 000 needy people in Hungary.
„The theme for this year’s World Food Day (‘Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together’) underpins the need for joint actions, partnerships and solidarity for a better future. This concept was developed before the pandemic broke out, which made the day’s theme even timelier. FAO turned 75 in 2020, an unprecedented year; now it is time to transform our world through food and agriculture” – said Vladimir Rakhmanin FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative
According to FAO estimates, one-third of all the food produced globally will never be eaten. To help demonstrate the extent of the problem, 29 September marked the first-ever International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.„Hungary is committed to providing sustainable local solutions to the issues of food insecurity. Food aid is important – especially in a time of a global pandemic – however, real help should have long-lasting effects that should be taken into consideration when developing any international programmes” – said Zsolt Belánszky-Demkó Deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.
„In the midst of the global COVID-19 crisis, World Food Day sends a strong reminder that we all have a role to play – ranging from making healthy food choices to not letting sustainable habits fall by the wayside. The Hungarian Food Bank Association is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, as does the food convoy, which has so far helped the needy with a total of 674 tonnes of food. World Food Day and the recently proclaimed Food Loss and Waste Awareness Day are closely linked to our goal of raising awareness around the issues of waste and poverty. While the prolonged impacts of COVID-19 are causing greater hardship, it is even more important that food surplus gets to the right place – delivering help without putting a burden on our environment” – added Balázs Cseh President of the Association.
Companies supporting the convoy: ALDI Magyarország Élelmiszer Bt., Auchan Retail Magyarország, Bio-Fungi ChefGomba, Bonafarm Csoport, Chef Market Food Service Company, Coca-Cola HBC Magyarország, Danone Magyarország Kft., Gyermelyi Zrt., HEINEKEN Hungária, Kifli.hu Online Szupermarket, Kometa ’99 Zrt., Metro Kereskedelmi Kft., Nestlé Hungária Kft., Nissin Foods, NUMIL Hungary Tápszerkereskedelmi Kft., Pek-Snack Kft., Penny Market Magyarország, Rauch Hungária Kft., Tesco-Global Áruházak Zrt., Upfield Hungary Kft.
100% paper, 100% recycled materials. The Coca-Cola Company is working for a World Without Waste. To achieve these goals, they have created the first paper bottle prototype together with the Paboco startup company. The special bottle is revealed in a video, which also give us a glimpse into the lab, where the prototypes are being tested.
Imagine a world where each and every piece of packaging produced and sold is also collected and recycled after use – a World Without Waste. That’s the stated goal of Coca-Cola: they aim to collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one they sell by 2030, while also substantially reducing their use of virgin packaging materials, and only using packaging materials that are 100% recyclable.
It will take continuing investment in innovation, exploration of different technologies and, crucially, partnership and collaboration to get there. This time they approached Paboco, the company most thoroughly examining the possibilities offered by the paper bottle.
The Danish Paboco launched its innovation community called the Paboco Pioneer Community last year, with Coca-Cola as one of the founding members. They are working to create the world’s first fully bio-based and recyclable paper bottle for packaging soft drinks, beauty products, and other everyday consumer products. The prototype of the recyclable paper bottle has already been created, but a lot of work still must be done. The first-generation paper bottle still contains some plastic.
„This first-generation paper bottle prototype consists of a paper shell with a plastic closure and a plastic liner inside. The plastic we use is made from 100% recycled plastic that can be recycled again after use. But our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any paper. The next step is to find a solution to create a bottle without the plastic liner” – said Stijn Franssen EMEA R&D Packaging innovation manager at Coca-Cola.
This is all part of the journey to find the most sustainable packaging solutions for people to enjoy Coca-Cola’s drinks in a way that is right for them, and that is right for our planet – the packaging innovation expert added.
You can watch the video revealing the paper bottle prototype here.
We are still aware of the importance of social solidarity and helping each other in the second wave of the coronavirus. As the market leader fleet management company we are committed to expand our activities in terms of social responsibility that’s why we are constantly following up the escalation of the pandemic. We believes in that we are stronger together so continued our initiative from March, LeasePlan donated cars with fuel cards and vignettes to support the organizations, who work hard to ensure social care to those in need.
During spring, LeasePlan started co-operations with local governments of IV. and XXII. districts and donated 5 cars with fuel cards and vignettes until July. As the number of coronavirus cases are intensively increasing, our support became necessary again for those who are deeply affected by the consequences and works in the front line. LeasePlan supported the centre of the Hungarian National Ambulance Emergency Service by donating 5 cars and the local government of the XXII. district with 2 cars. The OMSZ will use the cars for the logistics of COVID testing, colleagues of the local government keep serving elderly, indigent people at home by delivering staple food and medicine. To ensure complex support in mobility, fuel cards and vignettes were also attached to the car usage.
LeasePlan follows closely the updates of the coronavirus and they are ready to offer further help.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Shared Values were the topics on international master lecture held to Budapest Business School students.
Despite COVID-19 Budapest Business School students could learn about CSR in the frameworks of Business Diplomacy lecture with the help of online tools on 5th November. On the 1,5 hours lesson they get a glimpse of: Tungsram group, it’s locations, number of employees, market area and the 124 years
culture of “Doing good” in Zsuzsanna Thierry’s (Tungsram CSR Leader) presentation. According to the feedbacks students were well informed as Mr. Rajmund Kiss their lecturer said: “The presentation was very informative and helped our students to understand the concept of CSR in business practice. Tungsram is indeed a great example of how to be a successful company with great passion for our society.”
SPAR Hungary gives more important role to investment into environmental sustainability, participation in social issues, support of needy people and domestic entrepreneurs and high-quality commercial activity respecting the customer needs. For this work, the retail company was awarded with many prizes in 2020.
Similar to previous years, SPAR Hungary has won several prestigious prizes this autumn as well. The competition results mean the obvious acknowledgement of the company’s investments and work. The decisions of the competition bodies and the evaluation committees also shows that saving the natural environment, social care, helping the domestic market and improving the standards of retail trade shall play a dominant role in the life of the responsible economic operators.
„As a responsible trading company, SPAR Hungary has been carrying out activities for a long time in the field of sustainability issues. We involve our customers and partners into several environmentally-conscious business initiatives, and with our corporate social responsibility promotions, we contribute to the solutions of community problems. The professional acknowledgements show us that we are on the right way regarding the quality service of customers and supporting and patronizing the domestic market players” – said Márk Maczelka, Head of Communication at SPAR.
In 2020, the store chain has won the second place in the Effekteam Association’s Effekt 2030 – Community investments Award in the categories Green Balance and Economy of the Future for its programmes „SPAR collaborates together with its customers for saving the environment” and „Hungaricool by SPAR – SPAR supports the market access of Hungarian producers”. In the Opportunity-Creating Business category, „the initiative on products of Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta in the store of SPAR Hungary” was awarded with the third place.
Trade Magazin declared first this year the competition Symbol of Sustainability, into which the retail company has got as one of the winners with its work „SPAR committed itself to sustainable future”.
For the outstanding promotion co-operation, SPAR Hungary received the Commercial Prize for the Hungarian Products as professional special prize established by Hungarian Product Nonprofit Kft., Trade Magazin and the patronage of Minister of Agriculture.
The newest INTERSPAR store of the company, which was opened last year in Tata, has won the StarStore competition in the hypermarket category, which was also organized by Trade Magazin. The professional jury evaluated among others the design being the most appropriate for sales concept, external and internal appearance harmonizing with the needs of target group, product demonstration, the standard of staff and service.
Daikin Europe is expanding its circular economy programme to all VRV units manufactured and sold across Europe. The L∞P by Daikin programme saves 250,000 kg of virgin refrigerant from being produced yearly by giving Europeans access to recovered and reclaimed refrigerant. Independent certification guarantees that the reclaimed refrigerant fully meets quality standards and is correctly allocated to certified L∞P by Daikin VRV units. Daikin plans to expand the programme to other products and refrigerants as part of its global refrigerant policy.
Daikin, a market leader in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R), is today announcing an expansion of its L∞P by Daikin circular economy programme for refrigerants. The key principles of the programme are simple: Daikin recovers refrigerants from existing systems through its installer network, upcycles and reclaims them to virgin quality, and then allocates the reclaimed refrigerants to new VRV systems manufactured and sold across Europe.
The programme is a perfect example of a circular economy, leveraging the entire Daikin ecosystem and its business partners across Europe.
250,000 kg of virgin refrigerant production saved yearly
L∞P by Daikin was launched in 2019 for selected Daikin VRV units, but thanks to the programme’s success, the company is now expanding it to all VRV units produced and sold in Europe from November 2020. Specifically, L∞P by Daikin will now cover all EU member states, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
In total, L∞P by Daikin saves 250,000 kg of virgin refrigerant being produced yearly. Since its launch, L∞P by Daikin has proved popular in the European market. The programme makes it easier than ever before to reuse refrigerants, and has been adopted by companies such as Action. The Dutch retail chain with over 1,400 stores across Europe uses reclaimed refrigerant from their old stores in new or refurbished stores.
Perfect match with European Green Deal
The L∞P by Daikin programme fits perfectly with the ambitions of the European Green Deal Circular Economy Action Plan, which Daikin Europe fully supports. The European Commission aims to reduce waste, plastic and material use across the Union. Innovative circular projects such as L∞P by Daikin with a tangible impact on natural resource use are one of the HVAC-R industry’s contributions to the fight against material waste.
Furthermore, the reuse of reclaimed refrigerant has no impact on the EU F-gas Regulation quota and supports the growth of the HVAC-R industry in a sustainable way. An independent audit process guarantees that the reclaimed refrigerant meets the exact same quality standards as virgin refrigerant. This process also ensures the correct administrative allocation of the reclaimed refrigerant: for every certified L∞P by Daikin unit on the market, there is an equivalent 100% reclaimed refrigerant used at Daikin’s factories.
‘Potential to become an industry standard’
Daikin will continue to invest in its L∞P by Daikin programme as part of its sustainable strategy. The company is committed to further expanding the programme in the short term to cover more types of refrigerants and different product ranges.
“We extend a hand to all of our partners, installers and customers to join forces and pave the way to a circular, European economy. By doing so, every euro invested in reclaimed refrigerant boosts European business and reduces our environmental impact. We believe the L∞P by Daikin principle has the potential to become an industry standard, and will hopefully inspire other HVAC-R manufacturers,” concludes Toshitaka Tsubouchi, vice-president of Daikin Europe.
For more information on L∞P by Daikin, please visit www.daikin.eu/loop-by-daikin
Despite the difficulties, in the October of 2020 the third generation of Future Talents program has begun with our previous partner schools; in every city where Tungsram factories are present (Nagykanizsa, Zalaegerszeg, Kisvárda, Hajdúböszörmény, Budapest).
After the written and oral exam and interview we chose those 5 groups of 5 towns that could start their business English training. The students had prepared for the first of 10 Business English weekend trainings with great excitement. They received their exercise books, supplementary material and – as an additional present from us – a notepad, pen and face mask with our logo.
Protecting health and complying with the COVID regulations is primary thus this year the training takes place in the schools, outsourced institutions or by hybrid learning with the involvement of digital platforms. Fortunately, spacious classrooms are available thus the official regulations regarding keeping distance and wearing a mask are easy to comply with.
The first Future Talents training of the students took place in a good vibe, with a lot of work and plenty of new information. They have the chance to view a new field from a different perspective and they look forward to the next training.
The plant unit in Perbál of ZIMBO Perbál Húsipari Termelő Kft. became the property of SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft. After the successfully closed transaction, the company modernizes further the meat plant in Perbál handed over in 1998. Furthermore, the employee personnel of almost 200 persons continues to be in safe situation under the pine tree logo.
„The most important endeavour of SPAR is that we provide quality food deriving from Hungarian ingredients as much as possible for the table of the customers. It is the same in the segment of fresh meat and meat products as well, where by our Regnum Meatplant in Bicske, we can continuously adjust the production of the products to the changes of the customer demands. Over the last period, because of the increased demand we decided to extend our production capacity. By the plant in Perbál that now becomes our property, the SPAR-group is increased with an already tested unit that is capable of high capacity and keep in mind the high quality, which enhances our position on the domestic meat market” – informed Gabriella Heiszler, CEO of SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft.
The plant in Perbál is named as Regnum Meatplant Perbál in the future. The products produced here will be available in the own network of SPAR and in all of its franchise stores, moreover, the production processes of the plant in Perbál will be synchronized together with the processes of the plant in Bicske. In the near future, more significant developments is carried out in the new plant unit: the cooling technology is modernized among others. From a quality management view, similarly to the already existing plant, the processes in Perbál will also be operated by the ISO 22 000 system: the planned date to obtain the certification is the following two years.
„The plant of Zimbo in Perbál is operated further from 2nd November in the food-production business branch of SPAR. Our product range is increasing continuously and at the end of the year, the first SPAR products from Perbál arrives to the entire network of SPAR. The almost 200 employee here can continue to work further now within the SPAR-group. Together with them, almost 600 experts enhance the SPAR-team in the food-production business branch. With the increase, the range of our own-brand products becomes larger and the Hungarian product sortiment is strengthened. In the last year, we produced 40 thousand tonnes of meat products, our capacity is extended significantly from 2021” – added Ferenc Horváth, managing director of food industry at SPAR Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft.