ClimateSeed launched by BNP Paribas is a social business which has the objective to accelerate the fight against climate change. This digital platform helps organizations to offset their CO2 emissions and so contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Using the tool companies can come into contact with projects offering voluntary carbon credits and seeking financing. ClimateSeed will reinvest all profits in carbon footprint reduction initiatives.

Within the initiative launched in cooperation with Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus companies can support sustainable projects that capture or avoid CO2 emissions by securely purchasing carbon credits. The digital platform offers more than 25 projects including fight against deforestation, energy efficiency, renewables, household devices, water and waste management in more than 19 countries. All these projects have the aim of preserving the planet and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. All the projects are internationally certified and analysed via a strict due diligence process. ClimateSeed’s digital tools allow to attract, retain, engage but also educate stakeholders. Organizations can offset their CO2 emissions at the corporate level but also specifically for their products, services, investments, trips or events to differentiate themselves amongst the competitors and set a great example for their industry.

More information on www.climateseed.com and in this link to an introductory video: https://youtu.be/33NGAhuS7P8 .

Earthworks were temporarily discontinued at several worksites at Liszt Ferenc International Airport to allow sand martins to start their annual journey to Africa. The small migratory birds nested in the earth walls of a trench that had been dug out for a district heating pipe and a construction pit of a cable substitution job back in the spring. The young ones also have taken wing by now. The Budapest Airport team wished them a nice trip, fully appreciating their amazing flight performance: the fragile 13-gram birds cover 4000 kilometers to reach their sub-Saharan wintering grounds.

The sand martin is the smallest swallow species in Hungary. Unlike the rest of the swallow varieties, they do not build mud nests under eaves gutters or beams, but instead drill holes into river walls, loess walls, and sand-pits. Nestlings leave the nest after 22 days on average, but their parents continue to feed them for some time subsequently, persistently collecting flies, mosquitoes, and plant louses for them. For their annual migration they form bigger groups before flying out to Africa in the middle of September.

Experts did not know for a long time where exactly our sand martins spend the winter. Rung specimens have been difficult to capture, and songbirds are too small to carry satellite tracers. It became possible only a few years ago to map their route with the help of light level geo-locators. Recorded data of Hungarian sand martins equipped with tiny backpacks showed that marked specimens wintered to the south of the Sahara, in the region of Lake Chad.

Mapping of their route and wintering grounds is quite significant from a nature conservation angle because the swallow populations have been shrinking dramatically all over Europe, and a deeper understanding the reasons behind it may support their effective protection. Climate change, intensive agriculture using insecticides, and disappearing habitats are the main factors contributing to the radical reduction of the number of swallows.

In addition to sand martins, Liszt Ferenc International Airport is also home to house-martins. About forty nests can be found under the passenger boarding bridges that were refurbished and relocated last spring, and artificial nests were also installed onto the building next to the fire water reservoir of the airport, available for the birds next year.

From the perspective of aviation safety, the presence of birds is undesired at the airport, but swallows, fortunately, live in areas that are at a greater distance from runways, thus they do not represent a safety risk.

Sand martins moved into the trench next to the Cargo City construction site back in the spring, therefore earthworks in the affected area were rescheduled for completion at the end of the summer, by the time the birds successfully brought up their nestlings.

As the operator of Liszt Ferenc International Airport, Budapest Airport is making great efforts to protect the environment, including wildlife in its area, as several protected species of animals and plants can be found at Ferihegy, whose presence is monitored on an ongoing basis.

In 2019 the certified B Corporation Biofilter Co. is scoring in the top 10% of all B Corps across the Globe as became a ”Best For The World: Governance” honoree.

We vote everyday for the world we would like to live in with our purchase, the food we consume, the partners we cooperate with and with our loyalty to our workplace. As we make our decisions day by day we become tiny but determining part of a global system full of sensitive connections in which we as consumers in the full awareness of our personal responsibility can use our resources.

Be the change!

With this idea in mind the B Corp certification inspires 3,000 Certified B Corps in over 150 industries and 64 countries to be more mindful of their employees, partners, suppliers, the community and the environment in which they operates.

The Interdependence of the B Corps says:

„As B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, we believe:

• That we must be the change we seek in the world.
• That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.
• That, through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all.
• To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wFokAxFTKs

How can your company become one of the best companies in the world?

The free available B Impact Assessment is the key tool of the successful application in which B Corp measures applicant companies primarily in the areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The requirements of the 200-scores certification criteria offer an excellent self development path both for the companies with and without B Corp certification as we have always the opportunity to take one more step in aim of doing something great for our society, micro and macro environment. The B Impact Assessment is available below: https://bimpactassessment.net/?_ga=2.236857281.1744616629.1568808566-2024448056.1548236028

Biofilter, the ”Best For The World” Honoree

In 2019 September B Lab recognized honorees „for having the highest environmental, community, customer, worker and overall impact by earning a score in the top 10% on the B Impact Assessment, as well as a list recognizing B Corps with the greatest impact improvement (the changemakers).”

“These inspiring companies represent the kinds of business models and impact-driven business strategies that are building a new economy – one that is inclusive, regenerative, and delivers value to all stakeholders, not just shareholders.” – said Anthea Kelsick, Chief Marketing Officer of B Lab.

The Biofilter Co., honored in Governance won the appreciation with the following ongoing actions:

• it operates and contribute to the realization of the circular economy;
• it treats its social/environmental impact as a primary measure of success for its business and the employees receive orientation, training about the company’s social and environmental mission and goals;
• it measures social and environmental outcomes over time which it includes in a sustainability report to inform partners and the society;
• through its inner process control, measures and Ethical Codex it guarantees the proper and transparent operation of the organization.

The list of such brilliant honored companies like the American TOMS or Patagonia is available at https://bcorporation.net/2019-best-for-the-world where at the same time there are much more exciting informations to discover.

We congratulate to every BFTW 2019 honorees and we wish more and more great companies to be charmed by the B Corp experience!

In September Nestlé officially inaugurated the Institute of Packaging Sciences, the first-of-its-kind in the food industry. The new Institute enables Nestlé to accelerate its efforts to bring functional, safe and environmentally friendly packaging solutions to the market and to address the global challenge of plastic packaging waste.   

Speaking at the inauguration, Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO, said, “Our vision is a world in which none of our packaging ends up in landfill or as litter. To achieve this we introduce reusable packaging solutions and pioneer environmentally friendly packaging materials. Furthermore, we support the development of local recycling infrastructure and deposit schemes to help shape a waste-free world. The Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences enables us to create a strong pipeline of sustainable packaging solutions for Nestlé products across businesses and markets.”

The Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences focuses on a number of science and technology areas, such as refillable or reusable packaging, simplified packaging materials, recycled packaging materials, high-performance barrier papers as well as bio-based, compostable and biodegradable materials.

Stefan Palzer, Nestlé CTO said, “Reducing plastic waste and mitigating climate change effects through cutting-edge technology and product design are a priority for us. Nestlé experts are co-developing and testing new environmentally friendly packaging materials and systems together with our development centers, suppliers, research institutions and start-ups. Located at our Nestlé Research facilities in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Institute also leverages our existing research capabilities in food safety, analytics and food science.”

Commenting on the inauguration, Sander Defruyt, New Plastics Economy Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “Nestlé was one of the first companies to sign the  New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, setting concrete targets to eliminate plastic waste and pollution at the source. It is great to see the world’s largest consumer goods company now increasing its research focus and capacity to deliver on these ambitions.”

Nestlé is already making progress towards its  2025 packaging commitments, and has launched novel packaging solutions. For example, Nestlé packaging experts and suppliers developed products in recyclable paper packaging such as the  Nesquik All Natural cocoa powder and the YES! snack bars in under 12 months.

In September Nestlé announced its ambition to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It embraces the most ambitious aim of the Paris Agreement, to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. Ahead of the U.N. Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit this month, Nestlé will sign the ‘Business Ambition for 1.5°C’ pledge.

With this announcement Nestlé is accelerating its climate change efforts. This builds on a decade of work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Over the past four years, Nestlé has aligned its objectives with science-based targets to keep the temperature increase below 2°C. The company is determined to play a leading role in tackling climate change. Over the next two years, it will lay out a time-bound plan including interim targets consistent with the 1.5°C path. Nestlé will review its progress annually to ensure it is on track.

“Climate change is one of the biggest threats we face as a society. It is also one of the greatest risks to the future of our business,” said Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO. “We are running out of time to avoid the worst effects of global warming. That is why we are setting a bolder ambition to reach a net-zero future. Deploying Nestlé’s global resources and industry know-how, we know we can make a difference at significant scale. Our journey to net zero has already started. Now, we are accelerating our efforts,” he added.

To achieve its 2050 ambition, some of the company’s specific actions include:

• Speeding up the transformation of its products in line with consumer trends and choices. Nestlé will launch more products that have a better environmental footprint and contribute to a balanced diet. This includes more plant-based food and beverage options. Nestlé will also look to reformulate its products using more climate-friendly ingredients. Consumer demand for such products is rapidly increasing, and Nestlé’s core strategy is in line with this shift. The company is also moving to alternative packaging materials.

• Scaling up initiatives in agriculture to absorb more carbon. Nestlé will strengthen its programs with farmers to restore land and limit greenhouse gas emissions. This includes improved management of its dairy supply chain. Nestlé will step up efforts to protect forests by replanting trees and enhancing biodiversity. All of these initiatives will help build resilient agricultural communities.

• Using 100% renewable electricity in Nestlé factories, warehouses, logistics and offices. A third of Nestlé factories (143) are already using 100% renewable electricity. Nestlé will continue to increase the use of energy from renewable sources. This will enable suppliers to invest in new infrastructure such as wind and solar farms.

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C requires transformational change across industries, governments and society as a whole. Nestlé will continue its advocacy for government policies to ensure all sectors move faster towards 1.5°C. Supportive legislation could help to reduce barriers to expanding renewable energy markets, incentivize innovation in the agriculture and forestry sectors to capture more carbon, and help to establish carbon pricing.

Magdi Batato, Executive Vice President, Head of Operations at Nestlé said: “To align our goals to the 1.5°C pathway, we are transforming our operations. This will lead to a major shift in the way our ingredients are produced and sourced. We will need our suppliers to embark on this journey with us. The task is huge but we are determined to make it happen.” 

Nestlé’s 2050 ambition adds to its ongoing work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain. The company is making its distribution networks and warehouses more efficient by optimizing routes to reduce fuel consumption and to lower carbon emissions. In the company’s top 100 distribution centers, greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by close to 40% over the past four years. Nestlé has intensified its activities to ensure the responsible sourcing of its raw materials and it has made significant progress toward its zero deforestation goal. Since 2014, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across its entire value chain is equivalent to taking 1.2 million cars off the road.