Circular economy is a flagship in the European Union: it appears in ecological and economical discussions and becomes more and more important in the research – development – innovation activities as well. One of the most important actors of the subject in Hungary is the Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Ltd. for Applied Research. There are several research activities within our organisation, focusing on this subject. However, the dissemination and education actions related to circular economy are very important as well, supported by our newly established Science Shop. For us it was quite obvious to join the European Waste Reduction Week and to organise several events.

Our first event within the week was the 14th LCA Conference, which was organised with the support of the CIRCE2020 project. It was held on 18-19 November 2019 in Szentendre, with the title “Circular solutions, innovation – challenges in field of lifecycle management”. The 2-day conference attracted nearly 60 participants from the corporate, research and academic sectors interested in industrial symbiosis and greening industrial processes. Lecturers from our organisation informed the audience about the CIRCE 2020 project achievements, with a special view to the life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost assessment (LCC) learning procedures that have been carried out in the consortium.

On 19th November 2019, we joined the „Science Mosaic 4.0.” festival at the CsoPa Science Centre. The main focus of our prorgamme was the circular economy, and our aim was to show how applied science can contribute to achieving the circularity within the economy. Participants could study about the critical raw materials, check an interesting experiment related to these materials and could learn about how to become Raw Material Ambassadors within RM@Schools 3.0 project. There was an opportunity to clean water, to make recycled paper or to learn about avoiding wasting food. The head of Circular Economy area of Bay Zoltán Research Centre, Péter Chrabák held a lecture for pupils about the basics of circular economy and what can anyone do for a sustainable life.

On 23th November, an open event was held in Szimpla Kert, called „Waste reduction in everyday life”. Our aim was to show how we can re-use the everyday waste or how to reduce quantity of food waste. Our young and enthusiastic scientists showed how to prepare jewellery from PET bottles or lipbalm from home ingredients. There was an opportunity to refresh old metal stuff or to learn how the old clothes can start a new life. A workshop was also organised with the title of „The role of re-use in the circular economy”.

This interactive discussion started with a presentation, in which participants could hear about the waste produced in the European Union. It was surprising to learn how low percentage of this waste is recycled or re-used. Re-use was in the focus of the workshop, as it is studied within the SURFACE project. After the presentation, participants discussed the difficulties of re-use and their own experience.

Düsseldorf – Henkel extends its collaboration with the social enterprise Plastic Bank for another five years. Following the achievements of the partnership launched in 2017, Henkel will support ongoing projects in Haiti, the Philippines and Indonesia and significantly contribute to developing an infrastructure of more than 400 Plastic Bank collection points in Egypt. Alone in 2020, Henkel will integrate more than 600 tons of the recycled material – called Social Plastic® – in its product packaging.

As part of its commitment for a circular economy and against plastic waste in the environment, Henkel was the first global consumer goods company to partner with Plastic Bank. The joint goal is to reduce plastic waste in the oceans while improving the lives of people in poverty – especially in countries that lack waste management infrastructure. The idea behind: At dedicated centers, the local population can return collected plastic waste and exchange it for money, goods, or services. This material is then integrated back into the plastic value chain as Social Plastic®.

Since the start of the collaboration, Plastic Bank opened additional collection centers in Haiti. Furthermore, Henkel helped the organization to establish a supply chain to ensure the collected plastic waste can be processed and recycled to finally be integrated back into the value chain. Earlier this year, Henkel launched a range of Beauty Care and Laundry & Home Care products with packaging including up to 50 percent Social Plastic®. In total, more than 200 tons of Social Plastic® were already processed by Henkel. This milestone received external recognition: For example, Henkel received Packaging Europe’s “Best Practice” Sustainability Award and Ecovia’s Sustainable Beauty Award in the “Sustainable Packaging” category.

Establishing a collection ecosystem in Egypt

The extended partnership, backed by Henkel’s consumer goods businesses Beauty Care and Laundry & Home Care, continues to focus on two aspects: Further increasing the integration of Social Plastic® in the company’s product packaging and scaling up Plastic Bank’s global footprint to prevent plastic waste to end up in oceans or waterways and to provide opportunities for people in need.

Henkel will support Plastic Bank in further enhancing the availability and integration of Social Plastic® as a resource for packaging. Through establishing a collection ecosystem in Egypt, Plastic Bank expects to reach an additional collection capacity of up to 5,000 tons annually – this corresponds to up to one billion bottles over the five year-period.

Holistic approach to tackling the problem of plastic waste

“Plastic Bank creates a value chain that contributes to a better world. Our partnership with Henkel is a good example of what can be achieved by joining forces and we are delighted about our extended collaboration,” says David Katz, CEO of Plastic Bank. “Together we can create true added value by tackling the waste problem in a holistic approach while at the same time helping people in need.”

“The cooperation with Plastic Bank helps us to pursue our strategy to implement more recycled plastic into our product’s packaging while ensuring a steady income for the collectors”, says Jens-Martin Schwärzler, Executive Vice President and responsible for Henkel’s Beauty Care business. “The partnership with Plastic Bank also enables us to match our consumer’s desires to apply environmental consciousness into their daily lives.”

“Since joining forces about two years ago, we’ve been working closely to avoid plastic ending up in the ocean and improve the lives of people in poverty – particularly in countries without effective waste management infrastructure,” says Bruno Piacenza, Executive Vice President and responsible for Henkel’s Laundry & Home Care business.

“Our collaboration with Plastic Bank is a unique partnership, addressing two of the world’s biggest challenges of today: plastic waste and the lack of opportunity for people in need”, says Sylvie Nicol, Executive Vice President Human Resources and Chairwoman of Henkel’s Sustainability Council. “We are excited to take the next steps – for the environment and a better future for even more people in Haiti, the Philippines, Indonesia and Egypt.”

Commitment for a circular economy

The partnership with Plastic Bank is part of Henkel’s various activities to foster a circular economy and to promote sustainable packaging solutions. The company has set itself specific packaging targets to promote a closed loop for plastic: By 2025, all packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable* and the proportion of recycled plastic in the packaging of consumer products in Europe will rise to 35 percent. Already today, many product packaging already consists of 100 percent recycled plastic. To drive progress in the field of sustainability, Henkel is collaborating with different partners along the value chain and participates in many cross-industry initiatives. For example, the company is member of the New Plastics Economy and founding member of the global Alliance to End Plastic Waste. To learn more about Henkel’s strategy and activities in the field of plastic, visit www.henkel.com/plastic.

On November 5, the exhibition “Our Climate – 360 ° Exhibition” was opened at the French Institute in Budapest, thanks to the French BNP Paribas Foundation and the Hungarian Branch Office of BNP Paribas. The exhibition explores the issue of human-induced greenhouse gas emission and uses a documentary approach to guide visitors through geopolitical, economic, energy, environmental, technological and scientific issues related to climate change. Between November 4 and December 12, the bilingual exhibition featured a number of programs: guided tours for school groups, conferences, lectures and film screenings.

The exhibition was produced in France by Universcience, with the support of the BNP Paribas Foundation, in collaboration with UNEP (United Nations Environment Program). At the opening event, experts, researchers and organizations interested in the topic met at the French Institute, where climate researcher dr. Florent Dominé gave a lecture for the audience on the effects of climate change at the Arctic.

Business that creates opportunities, Economy of the future, Green balance and Everyone’s society – these were the categories in which Effekteam has awarded the different environmental and social investment programs of companies. Economic operators that are committed to change and invest their capital and resources into projects, products, services or businesses that have a positive and measurable effect, and create value for both the investors and the communities involved, can aspire to take home one of the Effekt 2030 awards. This year’s winners were awarded during the Közösség. Hatás. Jövő. (Community. Effekt. Future) conference.

Effekt 2030 – The award of community investments aims to present exemplary programs of companies and their innovative initiatives, and by awarding these, to contribute to sustainability and CSR initiatives of the business and startup sector and inspire company decision makers to increase their professional and personal engagement in these territories. The three categories of the award were developed in line with the UN’s SDGs – companies can now apply in the categories of Economy of the future, Green balance and Everyone’s society. The jury then selected 3 companies from each category, altogether 12 participating in the finals.

“While selecting from the projects, we have considered the aspects that are reflected in the slogan of our association as well: we have analyzed the mutuality, measurable results and innovative aspects of the projects on the dimensions of effect and future. We have selected those that have measurable, positive social and environmental impacts and are in line with the company’s business operations. The future belongs to sustainable business models, but this can only be reached with sector-wide cooperation and partnerships” -said dr. Klára Molnár, director of Effekteam.

The category Business that creates opportunities was won by Tesco-Global Supermarkets, for their program Food saving at Tesco. As part of the program, workers of over 170 supermarkets’ collect food that is still consumable, but no longer available for sale, to benefit the work of the Hungarian Food Bank Association, which then delivers these to those in need. So far, they have donated over 53 million portions of meals. Numil Ltd.’s Nutricia Home service, which helps over 1500 patients in treatment and their relatives with providing eteral tube nutrition, was also on the shortlist, along with Liferay Hungary’s Employee Volunteer Program, during which the company has supported the work of InDaHouse Association that helps young people break from the circle of poverty.

In the category Economy of the future, Invitech ICT Services won the award. Their smart village program helps small municipalities with digital catch-up, thus contributing to the development of the education and healthcare sector, equal chances programs, the recovery of tourism and strengthening local businesses. The finals also included K&H Group’s Start it @K&H Incubator program, which supports startup businesses and UniCredit Hungary’s Lépj velünk! (Take a step with us!) social innovation program. The latter supports initiatives that reduce the economic vulnerability of disadvantaged groups in a sustainable way.

The category of Green balance, the jury has awarded E.ON. The company’s EnergiaKaland (Energy Adventure) program aims to help teachers in broadening children’s knowledge about energy and to develop a conscious approach to using it. The project, which was developed in alliance with the relevant governmental branches, provides learning material for teachers, pupils and students between the ages of 5 to 18. SPAR’s global program, entitled Together with consumers to protect the environment, which provides energy saving and environmentally friendly solutions, was also nominated for the finals, along with Procter&Gamble’s GoGreen initiative, which aimed to educate the company’s employees about environmental protection.

Coca‑Cola Hungary has won the category of Everyone’s society. The company’s #YouthEmpowered program helps disadvantaged young people, young parents and people living with disabilities by providing practical knowledge and motivation, in order to help them find their way on the labor market. The program’s free trainings have already involved over 6200 participants.

OTP Bank accessibility program and awareness-raising campaign was also recognized, for having equipped hundreds of their sites with „talking” ATMs and video-interpreters that help the blind and the hearing impaired with administration by offering support. Accenture Kft’s Skill2Succeed – Rajtad áll a jövőd (Your future depends on you) program, which helps disadvantaged children to cope with the challenges of everyday life, was also shortlisted.

The public vote’s winner was Tesco-Global Supermarkets, for their Food saving at Tesco program. The jury has also donated a special prize this year to OTP Bank’s accessibility developments, and for their efforts to work together closely with professionals and NGOs while executing these.

Members of the jury were: Réka Matolay, teacher of Budapest Corvinus University, Bálint Nagy, director of Pénzcentrum.hu, Agrárszektor and HelloVidék, Éda Glória Pogány, sustainable business leader of Sygenta Eastern-Europe, Gyula Szabó, president of Ökoszolgálat Hungary and Alinda Veiszer, tv and radio editor, presenter and journalist.