Even it is September, the heatwave has not eased so far, and it is getting harder and harder to bear the heat that has lasted for months. The shade and the cooling effect of trees and plants can significantly improve our well-being, but the animals also need green surfaces. In this spirit, the K&H animal friendly groves program turned the yards of 30 educational institutions green. The 100 square meter parks will even attract birds, butterflies and hedgehogs into the immediate environment of children. As a result, the young generation can experience the beneficial effects of plants, and thanks to the educational materials, they can learn more about the harmonious coexistence of humans and the flora and fauna.

We experienced an extremely hot summer and even in September the heat has barely eased. This is becoming more and more difficult to bear – especially in the cities. The situation is worst in inner-city areas: this is due to the so-called urban heat island effect, which means that the temperature is much higher in densely built-in downtown areas than in areas with plants. So even in the suburban areas the temperature is much more tolerable, not to mention the parts densely covered with trees. This can be traced back to the fact that green surfaces reflect solar radiation better than built-in surfaces, and also help cool the environment through evaporation. Measurements prove that while the pavement and the road can be 50-60 degrees Celsius on a sunny summer day without shade, the soil in green areas and shaded parts is only 15 degrees.

“Green surfaces play a significant role in combating climate change, but our own well-being is greatly improved even in a sort time if we surround ourselves with plants. We need trees not only in forests, but also in our immediate environment – and it is up to us how many trees and bushes we plant where we live” – said Guy Libot, CEO of K&H Group. “With our K&H animal friendly groves program, we create a small park in the yard of schools and kindergartens, where they can not only cool off in the shade, but also observe birds, insects, and hedgehogs. In addition, we also help them with educational materials so that young people can become even more familiar with the importance of the organic unity of humans, plants and animals”- he added.

The K&H animal friendly groves program was implemented in 30 kindergartens and schools across the country in the past six months. In this way, the financial institution has already turned 130 educational yards green with the professional cooperation of the 10 million Trees Foundation, since in the 2022/23 academic year 555 trees and 1110 shrubs were planted in 100 educational institutions in the K&H cooling groves program.

In the yards of the institutions participating in the K&H animal friendly groves program, a green area of ​​100 square meters was created each, consisting of 28 plants. The biodiverse parks contains birdhouses, feeders, birdbaths and hedgehog hiding places and offer attractive habitat for the animals.

The program also includes educational materials, as well as a treasure hunt game that is held by the 10 Million Trees Foundation after planting the trees and bushes with the children.

In the summer months, several publications were published about the innovative air filtration technology, which we represent in Hungary.

Among the publications, we would like to highlight a professional article and case study published on the website of the prestigious professional organization, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC).

The technology reduces the operational carbon footprint of buildings, and is also a useful tool in the field of green building certifications and ESG. Serious electricity savings and significant waste avoidance can be realized with their introduction. Details and case study in the article.

From September 18 to October 8, Coface is marking the European Sustainable Development Week by organizing internal webinars for its employees. In line with the event’s purpose, the Group aims to raise awareness about sustainable practices and remind participants of the environmental and social issues we are facing today.

The first webinar begins with a live quiz, engaging employees in exploring various aspects of climate change. After this interactive session, a presentation on greenwashing will help employees recognize misleading practices and learn about deceptive marketing tactics related to sustainability.

The second webinar will be presented by Arnaud Marquis, Director of Sustainable Development and Innovation at Tarkett, a leading French multinational company. Marquis will discuss Tarkett’s journey towards a low-carbon footprint and the steps it has taken to promote decarbonization among its suppliers.

Through these internal webinars, Coface aims to deepen employees’ knowledge of sustainable development and encourage them to embrace more sustainable practices in both their professional and personal lives.

For more information about Coface’s approach to corporate social responsibility, visit: Coface CSR Strategy.

The President of the Republic of Hungary Tamás Sulyok awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit to Mr. Attila Chikán Jr., President and CEO of ALTEO Plc. and President of the BCSDH. The Order of Merit was presented on August 15 by Minister of Energy Csaba Lantos in the Pesti Vigadó.

The prestigious state award recognizes the exemplary work of Attila Chikán Jr. in the field of green energy transition, as well as his commitment to society and the environment, and his openness to innovation. When receiving the award, Attila Chikán Jr. said: “The award primarily recognizes the commitment to sustainability that plays a central role in all aspects of the operations of ALTEO and BCSDH and is the result of the efforts of excellent teams in both organizations. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for their high-quality professional work.”